How to
Create a bar shelf from a pallet
Wood is expensive, pallets are free, and wouldn’t you rather spend your money on whiskey?
Here is a simple guide to turning a wood pallet into a bar shelf.
7/26/2022
Use a mallet and wood block to pry the boards you want to remove. There are a ton of bad ways to break apart a pallet, this is the least bad pallet breakdown guide in our experience, remember to wear glasses or eye protection: (pallet breakdown guide ).
If your shelf will be holding anything heavy (i.e. lots of booze), make sure to use thicker board at the bottom and use screws to hold the base. Consider a thinner board for the base panel if you want to see the labels of your bottles. It is smart to put a test bottle to see how it looks before sanding.
After you have the desired size, you will need to sand the wood. Start with a medium-grade sandpaper (100 grit) and work your way up to a finer grade (180 grit). This will help create a smoother finish and prepare the wood for staining.
Grab a 2-in-1 light wood water-based stain and apply a couple coats until it looks good. Apply in the direction of the grain and avoid blotting. Pro-tip is to test on the back of the pallet to practice.
Finally, hang your new shelf making sure to attach to a stud and enjoy your handiwork! Before you invite your friends over, all you have to do is find the right bottles and cocktail recipes. I know a guy who can help you with that 😉