With a few bits of wood and a couple of tools, here’s some of the things I made this summer without spending much. Hope it inspires others to have a go!

Shed

Probably the biggest job of the year and not for me. Here’s the new shed made out of loads of reclaimed bits and pieces, complete with electrics, heating/air conditioning (thanks ebay) and a set of pedestrian crossing lights. Lots of other bits thanks to the guys in the tip.Thanks also to Mitchells reclaim in Norwich. I got so much from them for so very little and shared so many laughs along the way. Two things that turned out to be a labour of love were the maple floor and Norfolk pantile roof. Satisfying when complete, but when you look at a pile of old reclaimed dance floor that smells like musty church and begin to realise how long the job will take…

Free Standing Shelves

Some old scaffold boards (which cost a few quid but the come up lovely). Simply cut a 15 degree angle in the uprights and screw in the shelves with 140mm nails. Angled grind with flap disks and then apply a bit of aqua coat to seal it. Thing I like about these is that they overcome the problem of skirting boards sticking out. Note the ‘man draws’ at the bottom that slide out and include a 4 way electric extensions so you don’t have to fiddle around if you want to plug something in!

Double Glazed Computer Desk.

I had a few double glazed panels I was going to chuck. So I grabbed some pallet wood from Travis Perkins and off I went. Again, flap disk on the angle grinder and some aqua coat. It only took a few hours and didn’t cost a penny to make!

Chunky Adjustable Shelves.

Unfortunately, the free standing shelves didn’t give me enough shelf space so I made these. It’s basically a pallet wood box, some twin slot shelving and bookends, with scaffold board shelves that appear to float as they are fitted the ‘wrong’ way round. Good thing is that you can adjust the shelves so if you have books etc that don’t fit, you can move them up and down. One of the things I  love about free wood is you don’t get too precious, so when you are wondering where to store a knife for example, you can just bang it in the end!

 

 

Parrot Tree

One of my parrots likes to be outside so I made this tree out of fallen willow wood on a pallet wood base. She loves it! Again, didn’t cost a penny to make and only about 30 minutes.

Coffee Table (for my son)

 

 

Espresso Lights

These tins came for free from a restaurant in Norwich. I just chopped off the end, cut a hole for the light fitting and that was it. The fitting was pennies, and with an LED bulb inside it looked amazing and super economical to run!

Propeller Touch Light (in progress)

After knackering this propeller on my boat and replaced it with a second hand one from ebay, I sort of grew attached to it and thought it would make an interesting light. It’s work in progress as not sure how to get the aluminium cleaned of the old paint and limescale. Using a dimmable LED filament lamp, and a touch sensor module, you can touch it’s blades to turn it on/up/off which is cool. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of these amazingly simple things to make and have a go yourself.