DIY Wood Pallet Storage Crate Box On Wheels

Do you have extra pallet wood laying around? See how we created a large storage box to help keep our basement organized using the free wood we already had.

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Our Design

When we first started to design our children’s craft room closet, we knew we would stop the shelves 2 feet off the ground. We debated about what to create for the floor. We wanted to create a large storage wooden storage crate to help keep our basement from not getting overtaken by toys and books.

If you have young children, then you know how easily this can happen. We have found the more specific places we have to put things, the better. And a higher chance that our children may actually put things back where they belong.

DIY Crate Design

The most important thing was that this storage box would be on wheels.

I shopped around and was debating about using a premade crate that you can get anywhere.  However, the biggest issue was that they would not be tall enough for our space. 

So what do you do when you can’t find what you want, DIY of course! In this case, a LARGE DIY wooden crate on wheels from a pallet (since we had the wood).

What can you make out of one pallet?

There are so many things that people love to make out of reclaimed wood. Not only are you recycling, but you most likely are getting the wood for free. And who doesn’t love that?

• DIY Art display 
• DIY artwork: you can stain or paint something simple to create a one-of-a-kind work.
• Pallet Wine Rack (check out the one my husband made before this blog even existed)
• Storage crates 
• Outdoor Rockwall or toy (we used new wood for ours in our backyard, but have seen amazing outdoor toy ideas using pallet wood)
• Small end table for your deck
• Pallet wood furniture: think benches and sectionals.
• Wood shelf
• Raised garden bed (again we went with real cedar for ours)
• Mail holder for your entrance

With a little elbow grease, you can create pallet DIY projects to fit your needs. 

Pallet Finding Tips

Luckily my husband has access to crates that normally are getting thrown away. We have a pile in our backyard that we have saved just in case.

Most construction or industrial businesses have leftover pallets and you should be able to find some for free or close to free.

You can also look on Craig’s list or in your local Buy-Sell-Trade Facebook Group (learn the lingo of these groups in this post).

Quick Pallet Tip: Make sure that you are always getting permission to take crates, etc. The last thing you want is to get into trouble for thinking you were taking free wood.

Before You Begin

You can modify these plans to create a wooden box of any size. Just note this DIY box project ended up taking more time than originally thought.

We have found that pallet wood, while free, does require a decent amount of prep. 

In hindsight, we are still happy we did this box project, even if we couldn’t believe how long this took! I would say this happens to my husband regularly.

Luckily we now have a very large storage crate that we can add to our children’s craft room.

No one said DIY is always easy, but you do end up with something custom that would have cost a lot more to purchase. 

Step 2: Take apart pallet wood.

To do this we used two (2) claw hammers (See picture). The goal is to not damage the horizontal wooden “strips” or the backside vertices.

The pallets will have or should have three (3) vertical strips underneath the horizontal “strips”. Separate the horizontal “strips” from the vertices.

Each horizontal will have one (1) or two (2) small nails connecting it to the vertical. In taking the pallets apart we broke appx. six (6) horizontals.

Step 3: Cut everything to size.

Once the pallet wood is separated out cut everything to size. You don’t want to waste any time sanding pieces or parts of the wood that will not be used.

Don’t Worry About Dirt and Oil

Also if the pallet has dirt or oil on it. Don’t worry about it and don’t clean it. The sanding will take care of it.

Step 4: Sand Your Wood

Once everything is cut to size start sanding. We used this palm sander.

Depending on the condition of the pallet wood this may or may not take a while. We started with 65 grit sandpaper then went to 85 grit, then 120 grit, and then 220 grit.

Step 5: Begin To Build Box Sides

Next, use wood glue and brad nails to build your “box”.

You will build one side at a time. Attach one horizontal wood piece in the middle of your box supports.

Step 6: Build 2 Sides

Continue using a brad nailer and wood glue to build the sides of the box.

Step 7: Attach Side Together

Then attach two sides together with a similar technique to build the box.

Step 8: Clean Glue As Working

Use a damp paper towel to wipe up any overflow from the glue.

Step 9: Make Bottom

Attach wood pieces along the bottom of the box.

Step 10: Apply Stain

With the box now assembled choose your favorite stain color (ours is Minwax’s Red Mahogany) and apply. Check out all of the projects we have used this stain color on!!!

Step 11: Add Spray On Poly

Once the stain has dried use a spray-on poly vs. brush-on poly. We used spray poly, due to needing to poly the outside, inside and bottom of the crate.

Use three (3) light coats and sand between the first and second coats only.

Step 12: Attach Casters

Once everything is sprayed and polyed attach the casters.

Make sure you choose to put the casters far enough on the inside (from the outside edge) for the drill and drill bit to fit (size of the drill vs. the inside face of the wooden crate).