I built this fun, rustic Rustic Pallet Footlocker out of just two pallets, and it was very budget-friendly! This project only cost around 10 dollars. :D
Here’s how I built this Rustic Pallet Footlocker:
I started by finding one long pallet and one regular-sized pallet. I used a DeWalt drill to attach the deck boards with deck mate screws, with the bit star head. I also needed a good claw hammer and a flat pry bar to disassemble the pallets. I found that a “cat’s claw” or “kitten’s paw” pry bar worked well for the difficult nails. I used a few more tools: a Skilsaw for cutting the wood, and a pencil and a square to make sure everything was even and square, and also flush. I drilled two 7/8″ holes centered in the lid 2″ from the edge using a hole saw.
Finishing my Rustic Pallet Footlocker:
I used a sander to remove the splinters and smooth it down. I wanted this chest/trunk to look rustic, so I didn’t sand too much of the character off; just mainly the bad spots in the wood and where there was writing or stamping.
I drilled two 7/8″ holes centered in the lid 2″ from the edge with a 7/8″ hole saw. I bought two pieces of 3/4″ rope cut to 3′ long lengths from a local home center. I tied a knot at one end and pushed it through from the bottom and then tied a knot at the other end of the rope. That lifts the lid off the chest just fine.
Once I smoothed it down to my liking, I stained it using Minwax Golden Oak. I just put one coat on it. I let it dry thoroughly, then applied a coat of Minwax satin polyurethane on it.
I installed two sturdy handles on the outsides, and now I have a very handy Rustic Pallet Footlocker for extra storage (and a fun conversation piece).