Man Turns $0 Old Wood Pallets Into A DIY Project That Sold For $1,000

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Whether you're looking to get into the woodworking business to sell custom furniture or you're a hobbyist looking to create something for your own home, Morley Kert is someone you'll want to pay attention to. He turned 3 old wood pallets that he got for free into a DIY desk that anyone can build, and was able to sell for $1,000.

Now, he's not the only person to ever repurpose wood pallets into a desk. But what makes his creation unique is the intricate hexagon pattern he created on the desktop using wood pallet scraps. The finished product is a creative work of art as much as it is a functional piece of office equipment. He also documents not just his building process but also his sales process on his social media channels. From sorting through a pile of pallets to shipping the final product, he shares it all.

To build his desktop, Kert used a variety of tools, including a reciprocating saw, a table saw, a Vestil SKB-DLX Steel Deluxe Pallet Buster, and an electric sander. He also used super glue, penetrating epoxy, epoxy resin, and black epoxy pigment. He finished it all off with a wood stain. For the legs of the desk, he attached an adjustable standing desk frame, proving that standing desks don't have to be an eyesore. However, he ended up selling the desktop alone and returning the adjustable desk frame. While the wood pallets were free, he spent $246 on supplies to create the desktop and sold it for $1,000, leaving $754 after material costs.

Morley Kert really nailed this affordable DIY wood pallet furniture idea that you can make and customize. To do it yourself, start by selecting clean, undamaged pallets with no signs of chemical spills or contamination. Look for an "HT" stamp indicating heat treatment, then dismantle the pallets and save the usable wood slats. Sand them down and even out the edges. Grab a large sheet of plywood to use as the base of your desktop, cutting it to your preferred size.

If you want to create a custom desktop design like Kert, use the table saw to cut diamond-shaped pieces out of your pallet slats. Begin arranging the diamond-shaped pieces on top of the plywood, creating groups of three diamonds to form a hexagon. Repeat that across the entire surface of the plywood, leaving small, consistent gaps between the pieces. Alternatively, create whatever design you'd like with the pieces or leave the pallets whole and lay them together in a horizontal pattern. Once you have them laid out how you like it, you can super glue all of the pieces down.

Create a frame around the desktop using suitable wood, ensuring that the edges are securely attached and sealed before pouring the epoxy. Pour in a layer of penetrating epoxy and let that dry for 2 to 5 days, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Kert mixes black epoxy pigment into the resin before pouring it over the desktop, using enough to cover the desktop without overflowing the frame. Let that cure for at least 7 days. Sand the cured surface to reveal the intricate wood pattern, then apply a finish that's compatible with both the wood and epoxy.