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Recycled timber planter box

ndz1985

Recycled Planter box

Picked up 3 skids from the trash at the Ringwood and Bayswater stores, broke them down and cut to size with an Ozito Mitre saw.

I had some merbau panels left over from my deck that I used as a base inside the box. The base is held up by some legs I cut and attached to the frame. Banged it all together with some pin head nails and wood glue. The aim was to only use what I had on hand.

I lined it first with weed mat and secondly with plastic liner, both purchased from Bunnings. I fastened it with an Ozito staple gun. I put holes through the liners to allow water to seep.

I'm terrible with mitre cuts and measurements so the topper is a bit out of whack but perfectionism wasn't a requirement.

I will put some spacers under the legs to lift it up to prevent it sucking up rain water.

I'm considering oiling it but I like the natural look. Thoughts?

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Comments

EricL

Hello @ndz1985

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your recycled timber planter box project.

That is an excellent use of throw away pallets. Your mitre cuts look fine to me, and they fit very well together. If you have some decking oil left in your shed, I propose oiling the surface of the planter box as this will add an extra layer of protection and extend its service life. If you don't oil it, it will start to loose its bright timber finish and start going grey as it ages in the sun.

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful project.

Eric

JoeAzza

@ndz1985 , Great job, well done , I agree with @EricL , oil it and coat it it with decking oil too, I made a planter box using pallet material similar to to yours, it warped within in few months out in the weather, it was was left in its natural state, I should have oiled it to protect the raw material, lesson learned 😪

ndz1985

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/47396#Comment_47396

Thanks both. Here is the finished product with 2 costs of oil.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85772#Comment_85772

Looks sensational @ndz1985. Well done!

Many thanks for sharing the finished project.

Mitchell

richard-sydney

Just as a note of caution, I also built some planter boxes using timber recovered from pallets. Nailed them together and lined the inside with plastic sheeting in a style very similar to yours (however I didn't lift them off the ground). After about a year the timber had become so rotten the planks were falling off, and after about 2 years they had disintegrated completely. I found the plastic had also largely disintegrated as it wasn't UV resistant.

Most of the wood went in the green bin, and most soil went back into the garden. But some was contaminated with plastic particles and went in the rubbish bin.

I'm not sure if lifting the boxes off the ground, or using UV resistant plastic, would have done much to lengthen their lives. I'm pretty sure the timber was untreated pine and just not intended for prolonged exposure to the elements. Hopefully your merbau and oil treatment will make a difference.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/47463#Comment_47463

Hello @richard-sydney

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience in regards to the use of pallets as planter boxes. You are correct in regards to the life span of the pallets. Let me tag @ndz1985 to make sure they are aware of your recommendations.

Eric

ndz1985

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85781#Comment_85781

Thanks for the info.

I have just started a 2nd planter box using fence palings and treated H3. We can make comparisons to the state of the 2 planters in a years time.

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