Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. There is no additional cost to you whatsoever.
Whether you might be working with repurposed wooden or reclaimed wooden, one factor will change into clear rapidly. You want good instruments, diverse abilities, and many persistence. Your wooden undertaking is unlikely to be a fast and straightforward job that you would be able to bang out in lower than an hour.
Before you start any undertaking, be sure you have a selected objective in thoughts. Will you assemble a bookcase? A wine rack? Or, will you simply be crafting and experimenting to change into conversant in the properties and traits of various kinds of wooden? Take all these questions into consideration earlier than you begin.
Repurposed vs. Reclaimed
First, a fast lesson on the variations between repurposed wooden and reclaimed wooden.
- To repurpose wooden, generally additionally known as upcycling, is to take good materials and reuse it for one thing aside from its initially supposed function.
- To reclaim wood is to salvage materials that has reached the tip of its existence, revitalize it in order that it’s usable once more, and both use it for both its unique function or for a brand new function.
In brief, reclaimed wooden might require extra steps to arrange it earlier than you get a completed product. But, extra importantly, by working with both kind of wooden, you save supplies from ending up undesirable in a dumpster and, ultimately, in a landfill.
Ready, Set, Repurpose!
The first step in tackling your undertaking is to find out which kind of wooden — reclaimed or repurposed — you wish to work with.
Pallets, crates, containers, and doorways are nice base supplies to get your undertaking underway. But except you’ve got a prepared provide of such gadgets, you’ll need to get inventive in finding the required provides.
Tip: Retired barns, delivery crates, salvage and boatyards, storage gross sales, and auctions are nice places to acquire old wood or furnishings items needing some TLC or an entire rebirth.
Shelving
If you’re new to the world of reclaiming and repurposing, building shelves is a good way to hone your woodworking abilities whereas including storage to your dwelling house. And in the event you’re a veteran craftsman, the endless possibilities of shelf design can supply ample complexities to problem your abilities.
Whether rising your kitchen capability, bettering entry to recordsdata and books in your workplace, or enhancing your lounge décor by way of the show of accent items, open shelving offers an incredible various to cumbersome furnishings — saving you cash and treasured dwelling house.
Desk
A desk is a necessity for any house — and never simply houses with college students.
Building a wooden desk generally is a little extra concerned if you’re unable to seek out one massive piece of wooden to reclaim or repurpose for the desktop. And you’ll want a number of items. Again, you’ll discover all kinds of doable desk designs to problem even probably the most skilled woodworker. And your arduous work shall be rewarded when the ultimate product is remodeled into your private home’s management station the place every day family enterprise is attended to.
Walkway Pavers
While this undertaking might look troublesome at first look, it’s really one of many easier woodworking tasks that may enhance your private home’s curbside enchantment. Because you’ll be working with smaller items of wooden reduce from bigger items of reclaimed or repurposed wooden, you’ll have infinite choices to contemplate. And, relying on the design you choose, walkway pavers generally is a very forgiving undertaking, permitting you alternatives to restart in the event you make errors alongside the best way.
If you might be already helpful with a hand or energy noticed, your largest problem shall be deciding on a design. Once you’re began, this undertaking can take form rapidly, setting you on a unique path very quickly.
Endless Possibilities
Still in search of inspiration? A primary-time wooden crafter or seasoned artisan in search of different undertaking concepts? Here are some extra concepts for methods to reclaim or repurpose wooden:
- Accent items (artwork, mirror, tray, wall hangings)
- Furniture (bookcase, chair, espresso desk, nightstand)
- Headboard
- Planter
For extra undertaking concepts, take a look at this information for brand new woodworkers: 50 Small Wood Projects That Are Simple and Easy.
Working with reclaimed or repurposed wooden not solely permits you to lower your expenses by constructing your personal furnishings and accent items, however it additionally creates an actual wow issue to your private home’s exterior or inside décor together with your personally crafted, one-of-a-kind items. Plus, you’ll even be serving to the setting by retaining these supplies out of the landfill!
Want extra concepts? Check out DIY Home Décor out of Pallets: a Beginner’s Guide
Feature picture by Anna Shvets from Pexels. Originally printed on April 26, 2016, this text was up to date in April 2021.
