I’m working on creating an outside storage bench from old pallet wood: somewhere to sit but with space under the seat to store things like bags of compost and other things that have been cluttering up the growing space in the polytunnel this season.

I started the project a few weeks ago and constructed a back panel as well as identifying a base for it to sit on. Today I was working on the base, removing bits of wood that aren’t needed in order to increase the internal storage space. It was hard going because, with a pallet, the pieces are joined with long annular nails. The rings round the nail shaft give them their name and mean they tend to not come out without a fight. It is even more challenging when you are trying to retain the integrity of the boards you remove

With a combination of tools, including a brick hammer inherited from my Dad’s collection which I hadn’t previously found a use for, I did fairly well but it did take some time. A bit more work is needed, probably cutting down and fitting the planks I removed to fill in gaps in the base. After that, there will still be plenty more engineering and materials problems to solve but at least I’ve made a bit more progress.