Easy Lawn And Garden Tool Storage Pallet Project | How-To

Gardening tools can be quite a mess when left unchecked and without a proper storage room or area. Fortunately, you can fashion your own rustic-looking garden tool storage by recycling old shipping pallets, rake heads, and some cheap hardware.

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How to Make a Garden Tool Storage From an Old, Recycled Shipping Pallet

DIY Garden Tool Storage Materials:

• One or two pieces of 40″ x 48″ recycled shipping pallets
• Paint or wood stain
• Clear varnish
• Two pieces of recycled or used heads of bow rakes
• Four pieces of 12″ x 1/2″ galvanized anchor bolts
• Eight pieces of 1/2″ washers
• Four pieces of 1/2″ nuts
• Six pieces of 3″ deck screws

DIY Garden Tool Storage Tools:

• Crowbar
• Tape measure
• Hammer
• Adjustable wrench
• Level
• Paintbrush
• Drill with a Phillips head screwdriver bit, 1/2″ bit, and 1/4″ bit

Step 1: Prepare Your Pallet

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Carefully inspect your pallet for any damages. At the same time, you should also tap down nails that might be protruding from the pallet.

To minimize damage repairs, you can choose to buy either a new pallet or an old one in good condition. Try to pick the best pallet you could find from the moment you go to the store.

After any repairs, wipe the pallet clean with a damp cloth.

Step 2: Pry a Slat from Your Pallet

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With your claw hammer or crowbar, gently pry a slat from your pallet. Remove the second slat from the pallet’s end.

Remember to be careful when prying. You don’t want to break or split the wood.

Step 3: Attach the Slat to the Pallet’s Bottom

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Make an enclosed cubby using the slat you just removed. Attach it to the pallet’s end with a hammer and some nails.

There might still be some nails attached to your slat that might have just been driven in. If necessary, however, don’t hesitate to use additional nails.

Later on, when you mount your rack, you can use this cubby as a garden tool storage for small pots and similar items.

Step 4: Measure Placement for Anchor Bolts

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Select which side of the pallet looks cleaner and generally more attractive to the eyes.

On this side, measure 14″ from the pallet’s top. This is the end on the opposite side of the cubby.

On both sides, make marks on the 9″-mark and the 12″-mark. You’ll drill anchor bolts here that you can use to hold and store long-handled tools.

Note that pallets are not always made similar to one another. If the 14″ measurement from the pallet’s top falls in one of the gaps between the slats, feel free to adjust their placement by a few inches.

Step 5: Drill Holes for Anchor Bolts

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With a 1/2″ drill bit, drill some holes for your anchor bolts at the points you marked.

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Step 6: Attach Anchor Bolts

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Behind the hole you drilled, place one nut and washer while simultaneously placing a complementary nut and washer on the opposite side. Thread your anchor bolt through to secure it.

Repeat this process with the other three holes. This should give you a pair of brackets you can hang your tools from.

Make sure to tighten the anchor bolts with an adjustable wrench. You should turn the angled tip to face upwards.

Step 7: Prepare Bow Rake Heads

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Your rake heads might already have holes on them depending on how they were attached to the handles.

If they don’t have holes on them, however, use a 1/4″ drill bit and drill a hole through all the rake handle mounts. You will need to do this as you will be mounting your rake heads to your pallet in the next step.

Step 8: Mount Rake Heads

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Measure 20″ and 32″ from the pallet’s top and at the center from the pallet’s sides. This is where you’ll be mounting your rake heads with the tines upward.

With your Phillips screwdriver bit drill, attach your rake heads to the pallet using 3″ deck screws that you’ll drive through the prepared holes.

Similar to the anchor bolts, feel free to make adjustments since pallets are not made in a uniform manner. You might need to make modifications depending on the distance between slats and the size of your rake heads.

You can then use these rake heads as a garden tool storage for smaller, tethered items such as hand tools and the like.

Step 9: Sand Your Pallet

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Start by sanding your pallet especially in the parts not covered by your rake heads. You can use an orbital sander for a more thorough job.

Sandpaper works fine if you don’t have one. You’ll also need it for the parts that are harder to reach anyway.

Use a highly coarse grain paper especially if your pallet is in rough condition. This should help remove flaws and splinters.

Afterward, use medium grain paper and give the entire pallet another run for a smoother finish. Make sure to brush the pallet off to remove any dust and debris before you start painting or staining.

Step 10: Stain or Paint Your Pallet

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Once you’ve chosen the color you like, stain or paint the pallet. This should give it a classy, rustic look perfect for your garden tool storage or shed.

Finally, apply a coat of clear varnish that will help preserve your DIY craft. Varnish protects the wood from wear and tear and keeps the paint or stain from becoming worn away.

This is especially helpful if you’re planning on mounting it outdoors. Varnish can help protect wood from outdoor elements.

Let the first coating dry for a few hours before applying another coating. Varnish needs a minimum of two coats for it to fully penetrate the wood and serve as protection.

Step 11: Mount Your Garden Tool Storage

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You’re all set. You can now use this makeshift garden tool storage to organize all your gardening tools and make them accessible.

To save space, you can also try looking for a wall space in your garage shed, or even at an outdoor location for you to mount the pallet on. If you want to mount it outdoors, try looking for a space with an overhang to protect your pallet from rain and other outdoor elements.

Position your DIY garden tool storage at a height you are comfortable with. Use four pieces of 3″ deck screws and space them equally to attach them to the wall.

Your makeshift organizer should be strong and spacious enough to hold a minimum of 10 hand tools and eight long-handled tools. It should also have enough space to store a few small pots, gloves, and other gardening instruments you might have.

To complement your new DIY garden tool storage, Mr. NK shows you some amazing and useful garden tools you should definitely have:

While gardening itself can get dirty and messy, your tools don’t have to be. This DIY gardening tool storage you can fashion from an old pallet is cheap, fun, and easy-to-do even for a beginner DIYer.

Are there other things you can recycle to make a garden tool storage? Share them with us in the comments section below!

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