Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or used products into new materials or products, but never breaking it down chemically. Thus creating a better quality of life and better for the environment with out waste.
Upcycling first became an idea in 1997 with The Upcycling Concept a German book written by Gunter Pauli. In the book they talked about how Upcycling is the opposite of downcycling, which is the other half of the ecycling process. Downcycling involves converting materials and products into new materials of lesser quality. Most recycling involves converting or extracting useful materials from a product and creating a different product or material. Upcycling has seen an increase in use due to its current marketability and the lowered cost of reused materials.
·7·
UPCYCLED PALLET PROJECTS
UPCYCLED PALLET BAR STOOLS
Beautiful bar stools made from upcycled pallets. These bar stools have a very modern/rustic look that goes great with almost any kitchen or bar. Build these butes in thirteen easy steps. They cost right around $30 a piece to make, only buying the faberic you want and nails/screws.
STEP 1:
Lay pallet out on the ground, then with the hammer start pulling the boards off of the frame of the pallet.
seat of the cushion or use some padding between the wood and faberic. So cut the faberic into a big enough piece to cover the seatand wrap it around the seat of the stool and intack it with a few short staples.
STEP 2:
STEP 8:
Take the disassembled pallet and measure out the length of the legs for your bar height. You can either have 3 or 4 legs for the bar stools, just make sure you have pulled apart enough pallets. Mark the legs with a line for cutting excess wood off.
STEP 3:
With three or four of the boards set them together on the ground and make a circle on the wood with a marker. This will create the seat of the stool.
STEP 4:
After all the marks are made for cutting get out the saw and start cutting up the pieces for assembly.
STEP 5:
Now moving on to the legs flip the bar stool deat up side down and place one of the legs on on it a drive a few nails at an angle through the leg into the seat. Make sure that it seems sturdy.
STEP 9:
Now finish the other three legs of the stool.
STEP 10:
After assembling the other three legs flip over the stool and set it right up. Make sure it sits level on the ground, use your level to make sure. If not trim a little of the bottom of the legs and then check them with the level again.
STEP 11:
Layout all your pieces on the ground to keep track of where you are with the assembly of the stools. Don't worry about the way it will sit on the ground quite yet, we will get to that part soon.
Now its time to cut some braces for the bottom of the stool legs they should fit perfectly inbetween the four legs. You'll take either scraps or new planks from the pallet and mark them and cut them. To insert with nails at the bottoms of the legs for extra support.
STEP 6:
STEP 12: (OPTIONAL)
Next take the circle of the bar stool and nail them together from the top. Into a piece of scrap that you just removed from the legs or the seat part. this will make it easier to mount your faberic and legs.
STEP 7:
After assembling the seat lets move on to the cushion of the seat you'll want to double layer your faberic on
Now that you have finished with everything you can paint or stain the legs of the stool to make the area you plan on having these butes!
STEP 13:
Now test your new bar stool that you just upcycled in that area!
SUPPLIES:
DRILL SCREWS/NAILS MARKER SAW
PALLETS HAMMER FABERIC LEVEL
UPCYCLED PALLET TABLES WITH DRAWERS
Beautiful tables made from upcycled pallets. These tables with drawers have a very modern/rustic look that goes great with almost any room in the house. Build these butes in thirteen easy steps. They cost right around $20 a piece to make, only buying the screws and crates.
STEP 1:
STEP 8:
STEP 2:
STEP 9:
Disassemble three to four pallets; Using a hammer pry the boards free from their frames. Measure out the cutting marks from for the length, height, and width of the table. Using your marker make tick marks for where you will make your cuts.
Now flip the table over on its top in order to install the legs. Installing the four legs by nailing/screwing them from inside the cavities where the drawers will sit.
STEP 10:
Now that you have marked all the boards you will cut them out with your saw.
Now flip the table back over on its four feet. Check to make sure its level by placing your level in the middle of the table. If not level make adjustments by sawing off little bits of the legs.
STEP 4:
STEP 11:
STEP 3:
After cutting them all out it is time for assembly of the table. You will most likely want to use screws for this process. Assemble the main box, for this you will need to set up the wood for the bottom of shelving and nail/screw them all together.
STEP 5:
Then set up the two to three sections where the crates will fit in and the sides of the table. Use the level to make sure your at a ninety degree angle. Then nail/ screw them into place.
STEP 6:
Now it is time to put the top of the table on the bottom of the assembled part you just put together. Lay the pieces across the top of the drawers and bottom assembled piece and nail/screw them together.
STEP 7:
For the next step you will want to tip the table over on its face and repeat the last step to install the back side of the table.
Insert the crates into the section of the table.
STEP 12: (OPTIONAL)
you can paint or stain the table to match your room. TADA finished!
SUPPLIES:
DRILL SCREWS/NAILS MARKER SAW
PALLETS HAMMER CRATES LEVEL
· 13 ·
UPCYCLED PALLET BED
Wonderful bed made from upcycled pallets. This bed has a very modern/rustic look that goes great with almost any zstyle of bedroom. Build this bed frame in thirteen easy steps. They cost right around $5 to make, only buying nails/screws.
STEP 1:
First you will need a large amount of pallets to create this bed. For a twin bed you are looking at five pallets, Queen size 10 pallets, and King size 16 pallets. Make sure you know the size of the mattress to determine the amount of pallets.
STEP 2:
After determining how many pallets you will stack a layer of two for the height of the bed.
STEP 3:
Then for the head board you will put them standing vertical against the wall at the top of the stack of pallets.
STEP 4:
Now nail/screw the head board in place to the base of the pallets and the wall it stands against.
STEP 5:(OPTIONAL)
You can paint or stain the stacks of pallets to match the surrounding.
STEP 6:
Place mattress on the stack of pallets and make the bed. TADA! DONE!
SUPPLIES:
DRILL SCREWS/NAILS MARKER SAW
PALLETS HAMMER LEVEL
UPCYCLED PALLET PLATE SHELF
Innovative shelving made from upcycled pallets. This shelving has a very rustic look that goes great with almost any room to hold things on the wall. Build this shelving in seven easy steps. They cost right around $5 a piece to make, only buying the hardware.
STEP 1:
To begin you will need one pallet and a hammer. Start by removing every other plank from one side. You will pry it off by wedging the hammer in between the board and frames and pulling.
STEP 2:
Make a few marks on the wall to line up the pallet on the wall for where you plan on hanging the shelf.
STEP 3: (OPTIONAL)
You can paint or stain the pallet to match the rest of the area you are planning on placing the pallet.
STEP 4:
Next turn the pallet on its side and hang it on the wall. This step will require assistance from another person to hold it in place.
STEP 5:
Then insert a few screws on the top and bottom to hold it tight to the wall.
STEP 6:
In the blank areas on the pallet hammer a few nails at a diagonal, so it holds the objects in place without falling off the shelf.
STEP 7:
Then place your objects on the shelf and TADA! Finished!
SUPPLIES:
DRILL SCREWS/NAILS MARKER SAW
PALLETS HAMMER LEVEL
UPCYCLED MASON JAR PROJECTS
UPCYCLED MASON JAR PLANTERS
Beautiful Mason jar planters made from upcycled jars. These planters have a very modern/rustic look that goes great with any environment. Build these butes in thirteen easy steps. They cost right around $15 a to make, only buying the dirt and seeds.
STEP 1:
Find some old mason jars that you have no use for anymore. You can have any size you want just make sure you buy the right size water basin for under the jar.
STEP 2:
Take the mason jar and drill one hole in the bottom of the mason jar. This will be the area that the water can be absorbed from the water basin underneath the jar.
STEP 3:
Now place your jar on the water basin.
STEP 4:
After being placed on the water basin you will take your bag of dirt and pour it in the mason jar. Only fill it just about three quarters of the way up. In order to leave enough room for your plants to grow.
STEP 5:
Plant your seeds and TADA! Finished.
SUPPLIES:
MASON JARS WATER DISH FOR A PLANTER
BAG OF POTTING SOIL SEEDS
UPCYCLED MASON JAR LIGHTS
Mason jar lights are easy, beautiful transformations for existing hanging lights or light fixtures in your home. You can easily replace a fixture with a mason jar using the ten easy steps below. This project costs roughly $25 to create.
STEP 1:
Find the right mason jar for your light. The size of your socket/desired lightbulb will determine the size of your jar. Normal lightbulbs, energy bulbs, Edison bulbs, etc fit best in quart-sized jars at a minimum because they have room to breathe inside the jar.
STEP 2:
Trace your sockets circumference of your socket on your jar lid with your marker.
STEP 3:
Punch holes in your lid. You can either use a drill bit or a nail. Use the drill bit to punch holds around the circle you just drew on the lid. Make them fairly close so its easier to take the circle area out. Do the same thing with a nail using a hammer to puncture the metal.
STEP 4:
Removing the circle. For this step you'll want to make sure your VERY careful to not cut yourself. So take some scissors and push them through one of the holes in order to make a big enough hole to cut the rest of the metal out.
STEP 5:
After removing the circle you drew you will then again drill five holes around it and spread them out. This will allow heat to escape the jar. This is a critical step – without venting holes, you risk getting your jar too hot!
STEP 6:
After putting the rim of your lid over the lid itself, go ahead and fit your socket through the lid. Hopefully, the circle you cut allows you to push the socket through with little difficulty and allows the “teeth” of the lid to grip the socket for some support.
STEP 7:
Attach your socket ring.Go ahead and screw your socket ring onto your socket. The ring should hold your lid tightly to the socket.
STEP 8:
Add the light bulb you selected for the jar.
STEP 9:
Then add the mason jar around the light bulb and screw tightly and TADA your done!
SUPPLIES:
MASON JAR LIGHT BULB WIRE LAMP SOCKET
SCREWS/NAILS DRILL BITS DRILL NUTS
UPCYCLED LIGHT BULB PROJECTS
UPCYCLED LIGHT BULB OIL LAMP
Modern oil lamps made from upcycled light bulbs. These oil lamps have a modern and futuristic look that goes great with any environment. Build these classy decor in thirteen easy steps. They cost right around $7 a piece to make, only buying the wicks and grommets.
STEP 1:
First, take your drill and drill bit and tap at the bottom of the light bulb, until you break the black glass. The black glass is located in on the very bottom of metal part of the light bulb.
STEP 2:
Then tap on the inner tube inside the bulb with the wire in it, then extract the insides of the beast. This is a little messy, so you will want to layout a paper towel to catch the mess.
STEP 3:
Now, go grab your granular substance (sand works best) and put some into the bulb, now add water and swirl the mixture, while your swirling you'll notice that the inner white coating will flake off. But hopefully it is a clear light bulb already so you can avoid this step.
STEP 4:
Once all the white coating has detached itself from the inside of the bulb, rinse the bulb thoroughly and set it aside.
STEP 5:
After you have cleaned the innards of the bulb and washed the inside, grab your end of the light bulb and slip the grommet in the small hole we punched in the very bottom earlier. You will do this by pinching the rubber grommet in half and slipping one end it in the hole first. Make sure it makes a tight seal.
STEP 6:
Now that you have the grommet inserted it is time to fill the light bulb with oil. Very carefully pour it in to the small opening at the very end of the light bulb. You will probably want to do this over the sink or the paper
towel you use earlier.
STEP 7:
Next step take the wick and feed it down into the grommet inside of the light bulb. So it sits in a loop at the bottom of the oil. Then at the top make sure it only sticks out a half inch, so you can light the wick.
STEP 8:
And to finalize the process we are going to take the block of wood and a dab of glue. Then stick the light bulb on that dab of glue and hold it there until it sticks. TADA! Finished.
SUPPLIES:
DRILL SCREWS/NAILS MARKER SAW
PALLETS HAMMER FABERIC LEVEL
UPCYCLED LIGHT BULB PLANT HANGERS
Whimsical hanging light bulb plant hanging vases made from upcycled light bulb. These vases have a whimsical look that goes great with any room for decor. Build these butes in seven easy steps. They cost right around $5 a piece to make, only buying the wire/ string
STEP 1:
First, take your drill and drill bit and tap at the bottom of the light bulb, until you break the black glass. The black glass is located in on the very bottom of metal part of the light bulb.
STEP 2:
Then tap on the inner tube inside the bulb with the wire in it, then extract the insides of the beast. This is a little messy, so you will want to layout a paper towel to catch the mess.
STEP 3:
Now, go grab your granular substance (sand works best) and put some into the bulb, now add water and swirl the mixture, while your swirling you'll notice that the inner white coating will flake off. But hopefully it is a clear light bulb already so you can avoid this step.
STEP 4:
Once all the white coating has detached itself from the inside of the bulb, rinse the bulb thoroughly and set it aside.
STEP 5:
After you have cleaned the innards of the bulb and washed the inside, grab your end of the light bulb and slip the grommet in the small hole we punched in the very bottom earlier. You will do this by pinching the rubber grommet in half and slipping one end it in the hole first. Make sure it makes a tight seal.
STEP 6:
Pry the metal surrounding the opening to accomplish this (and it can always be squeezed back into place using the pliers), but try to avoid that, as those edges can be sharp.
STEP 7:
To hang your vase tie a piece of twine around the silver cap securely and then insert the flowers, water, and hang it.
SUPPLIES:
DRILL LIGHT BULB
WIRE DRILL BITS