DIY Project

Pallets · Christmas · Teens

Pallet wood sign

A rustic hand-painted sign built from reclaimed pallet boards, one of the best things to make and sell.

Pallet wood sign
LevelAdvanced
AgesAges 14 and up
Time4 hours plus drying
Cost$0 to $20

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Use only pallets stamped HT, never MB, and wear gloves, glasses and a dust mask the whole time.

  1. Step 1: Check the stamp
    1

    Check the stamp

    Find the IPPC stamp. Use it only if it says HT. Never use one marked MB.

  2. Step 2: Pull the boards
    2

    Pull the boards

    Grown-up step: pry off 4 or 5 boards. Work slowly near the nails so the wood doesn't split.

  3. Step 3: Pull the nails
    3

    Pull the nails

    Hammer the nail points back and pull them out with the claw.

  4. Step 4: Cut and sand
    4

    Cut and sand

    Saw the boards to the same length, about 18 in. Sand off splinters wearing a mask.

  5. Step 5: Brace the back
    5

    Brace the back

    Line the boards up side by side. Screw or nail 2 scrap braces across the back.

  6. Step 6: Paint the words
    6

    Paint the words

    Paint a base color, then stencil your words. Dry brush lightly for a worn look.

  7. Step 7: Add a hanger
    7

    Add a hanger

    Nail a sawtooth hanger to the top brace.

Edie's tip

Ask hardware and garden stores for free HT pallets. Many are glad to get rid of them.

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