Pallet Herringbone Tabletop Tutorial

As seen on the front page of my website, The herringbone pattern can be a really beautiful touch to a table. It can take the piece to the next level, but how do you do using only pallets?

Materials

• Reclaimed Pallet Wood
  • Planks & Beams
• Fasteners (Screws, Nails, Staples, pick your poison)
• Wood Stain & Polyurethane
• Electric Saw

Step 1

Build The Frame

The frame is arguably the most important part of a the table; when it is crooked, frail, or in any other way broken, it sets back the quality of the table greatly. 

• Cut your first four beams to the appropriate lengths
• The size is really up too you, choose what would fit best in your living space. 
  • For a nicer looking table, cut the beams at a 45 degree angle to make miter joints
    • Make sure the cuts are facing the right way so that the beams don't end up inside out or upside down!
• Screw your beams together
  • Make sure that everything is square and level while doing so, or you'll experience some problems later.
• Add the middle beam, going long ways
  • The middle beam will be what connects all the planks in the unique herringbone pattern
  • Make sure that this beam is just as flat and even as all the others

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When you're all finished, you should have something that looks a little bit like this:

Step 2

Laying the Planks

Now that you've made the frame, your on the exciting part, actually making the pattern.​

The first two pieces you put down are very, very, very important. If you get going and and realize that you're starting to go off track of the middle beam, you'll likely have to restart.

Line up your first two pieces like so:

The planks will form a 90 degree angle with each other, and a 45 degree angle with the beams. The easiest way to get the angles right is to lay the planks down on their respective corners, then push them up onto the middle beam.

​Once you've got your first two planks in, use your circular saw to cut the excess wood off the planks along the beams.
Now simply lay the beams in the right pattern and cut off the pieces that hang over the edge.

Step 3

Finishing

Now that you've gotten this far, simply sand, stain, and put on a layer of polyurethane. Then, stick on some legs or do whatever else you want to with it.

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Have any questions or concerns? I'd love to hear your input!