Make-up / Dresser

Using nothing but reclaimed wood (glass carrying A frame/pallet)

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What i used:

Worktop
Timber (reclaimed wooden A frames for carrying glass)
Saw (circular, jigsaw and handsaw)
Tape measure + pencil
Set square
Spirit level
Cordless drill (with hammer function)
Power sander
Sandpaper
Screws and Rawl plugs
Sponge
Wood stain (Rustins Light oak)
Wood glue
LED battery powered lights (found in shed, possibly left from xmas)

Things i bought:
Pack of 2 square shelves £3.99
Vintage style mirror £4.99
Love heart boxes with handles £3.99 a pair
2 x vintage style laundry baskets £7.99 each

i didn't really draw a design for this project, as i started off with intentions of just making a floating shelf, then i just changed my mind every 2 minutes until i ended up with what you see in the picture.

if you haven't got access to a load of pallet wood like i was lucky enough to, then i would reccomend you draw a design so you can work out exactly how much wood you need.

by chance the building site i was on had a delivery of heavy duty glass doors and windows, and came on some huge wooden A frames (similar to the first picture but bigger, and there wasnt gaps between planks)

the second picture is what i was left with after stripping the pallets, but i had about another 10.

What i used:
Worktop
Set square
Pencil
Circular saw (jigsaw, handsaw, whatever you have)


One of the pieces i had was 400mm in width, which i decided i would use as it wouldnt use too much of the space i had available. It also meant not having to cut any individual planks in half.

my shelf also had to be 1200mm in length to sit from wall to wall.

using a set square i marked out 2 lines (each one 600mm from the centre so i could keep the central supporting timber intact)
I cut these with a circular saw but you can use which ever saw you have handy.

I also cut a scrap piece to 1200 to be glued to the front later on. (this will give it a more chunky look, and less like reclaimed 18mm pine)

What i used:
3 off-cuts of wood
600mm Spirit level
Pencil
Drill (sds drill or cordless drill with hammer function)
Rawl plugs
Screws

I marked out a spot on the wall at a height i was happy with (around 800mm off the ground)
Then using the spirit level i drew a line around the 3 walls where the shelf would be

then using the drill, i drilled holes in the wall, put in rawl plugs, and then fixed the wood onto the wall with screws.

as long as these are all level, it doesnt matter too much about the apppearance, as it will be covered anyway.

What i used:
Worktop
Drill
10mm drill bit
Jigsaw

Using another piece of the free timber i collected (pic 1)
i marked out some lines in random places (so all the planks would be different lengths and in a random order)

Then i used the drill bit to put a hole on each line, this would allow me to get the jigsaw blade in and cut the lines.

Picture 2 is the finished shape

What i used:
Power sander
Sandpaper (60 grit 100 grit 120 grit)

Using a power sander i give a light sanding working from 60 grit (roughest) up to 120 grit to get a smooth edge on top.

i sanded any hard to reach corners edges by hand.

What i used:
Wood glue
Cordless screwdriver
20mm screws
Rustins 'light oak' stain
Sponge

I applied a light (and i mean light) squirt of wood glue to the wall support before quickly lying the shelf on top.
Using the cordless, i sunk 3 screws into each wall support for a bit of extra strength.

Then the 1200mm piece i cut and saved earlier was to be glued and screwed to the front to make it look less like a pallet.

once it was all screwed in place i decided to stain it now, to give me time to work on some more bits on the backboard.

Using a sponge i applied a light even coat to the full shelf, then left it to dry.

What i used:
Drill
Hole cutting drill bit
Jigsaw
Screws (to hang box shelves and add extra support to the back)
Sandpaper

Using the hole cutting drill bit i cut out two pairs of holes in random places (picture 2)
Then using the jigsaw i cut the holes into heart shapes
(light sanding on the cuts to get rid of sharp edges)

Then i flipped it over, and used some of the off cuts to screw into the planks to keep it fairly sturdy. (remembering to avoid putting any behind the hearts i had cut out)

Then as per the square shelf hanging instructions i added screws to allow the shelves to be fitted later on.

Also a screw was added to hang the mirror on later.

What i used:
Rustins 'light oak stain'
Sponge

Just like last time, a light and even coat of stain applied using the sponge, and then its left to dry before moving.

This step wasn't planned, and was only included as i found a small string of battery powered led lights while digging in the man cave fore some more screws.

i held the lights in place with some tape first to test the placement.
Then i secured them with some little 'U' shaped tacks i found in my toolbox.

What i used:
Drill 8mm masonry bit and 8mm wood bit)
Rawl plugs
Screws

Using the wood bit i drilled through the wood and then the masonry bit to go through the wall.

Inserted rawl plugs and then screwed the backboard to the wall.
(i put the screws in places the mirror and shelves would cover)

Now it was time to stick all the decorative stuff on.

Thankyou all for looking, i hope you like it.