He Turns Pallets Into Rustic Benches

He Turns Pallets Into Rustic Benches FARM HOME Furniture 34-1-6 Wood pallets are the perfect material for making low-cost, rustic-looking benches, says Jim Chavez, Albuquerque, New Mexico, who makes customized benches - complete with decorative carvings - for his friends and relatives. He gets wood pallets for free and uses them for the seats and leg braces, while the arms and legs are made from used 2 by 4's and 2 by 6's. When construction is done, he finishes the benches off with water-based stains. The pinewood backrests are the only wood that he buys for the benches. That's where you'll find the carvings. "I enjoy carving, so living in the Southwest, designs such as roadrunners, geckos, buffalo, Indian dancers, sunbursts and crosses are carved onto the backs," says Chavez. "At first I gave the benches away to family members, who suggested I should sell them. I've sold a few at a local store for $300 apiece. I can't make the benches wider than 4 ft. because that's how big most pallets are." Chavez is an upholsterer by trade and recently upholstered a leather cushion seat for a bench that he and his wife use inside their house. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Chavez, 2832 La Vega Dr., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87105 (ph 505 315-8222; Sachz54@q.com).

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