Pallet Table

This table is constructed from reclaimed lumber. The top of the table once had the life of a pallet and was most likely destined for a landfill. The base is constructed of old shelving material.

I have been getting a guilty conscious lately from purchasing wood at lumber superstores such as Lowes and Home Depot. I know that most if not all of the wood that they sell is not from sustainable forests. There are some projects that require new wood to be purchased and I understand this need but there are also many projects in which reclaimed lumber is a great, and in some cases a more expensive, alternative. Reclaimed lumber can come in many shapes and forms. Some of it is sold with zero or two sides planed. If you have access to a table saw you can take the planing into your own hands and reveal some amazing wood that has been hiding behind 100 years worth of weather and grime. The beauty of it is that you can find really gorgeous woods that may no longer be available due to logging restrictions or lack of the tree resource due to unsustainable practices. The Rebuilding Center in Portland, Oregon, caters to this reclaiming need. They accept donations but will also dismantle houses from the basement to the roof and then offer the lumber to the public for sale. This is a wonderful opportunity for people to think creatively about reclaimed lumber uses.