Turning a Free Pallet into My Dream Desk

[@josh-sheldon]

who's ambulance was that!

[@MorleyKert]

Ayyy thanks for giving us the tour! Amazing build.

[@josh-sheldon]

@@MorleyKert thanks man, of course! Great meeting you! Also loved all the storytelling you sprinkled in here, it makes it feel like so much more than just a desk build.

[@haha-noob]

@@josh-sheldon blud i love yo game cuh

[@OnceUponReddit]

After working in EMS for 8 years, I don't think I could ever live out of an ambulance no matter how well cleaned it was

[@hannahpinson4361]

I think that dreams are relative. If your dream desk is a simple top made of pallet wood for your van, then you have a dream come true. My dream job is a bookkeeper. People think it's a stupid career to desire, but I'm in love with bookkeeping. We all have our own dreams. Also, love how the van is coming along.

[@MorleyKert]

💯❤️

[@ryanriaz]

Dreams are weird, just bc others have different thoughts doesn’t mean that yours is stupid. I think everyone should stop caring about what others think and get into what they love. My friend loves teaching and he had better opportunities but he picked to be an English teacher, most made fun of him but he said that what he loved to do as a kid 🤷‍♂️ i dont see problem with that. Im an extrovert i prefer an online job or drop shipping so i can travel and work at the same time. Im kinda person who stays in one place i like and than when im done i move to another, i dont wanna buy a house just wanna go from place to places. I stayed 1.5 years in paris but than i wanted to go to Australia i stayed with a ppl who live near ocean and explore islands and forest for fun. Im currently there for 9 months camping days in remote islands, hand fishing, eating as many lobsters as we can 😅, j learned surfing, foiling, holding breath for 5 minutes, hand catching fishes, defeated my fear of sharks etc. now i wanna live in luxury so i think dubai or saudi arabia is the move. Since living in Australia i made more money bc all i was doing was living in a tent and eating sea food, i think its time to blow it in dubai 😂

[@samuelpoarch3237]

And bookkeeping is cool!

[@jnelsen60]

Every guy's got his dream, am I right? I had a doozy myself last night. Get this - a corn-fed harvest mouse, a hooker, a nun, a Flemish peasant woman, whips, chains, whistles yo-yo's, a circus midget. My grandmother riding by on a bicycle give me the finger, and a duck!

[@Milorunstheworld]

Of course they're relative, hence why he said "my dream desk" in the title.

[@andrewgalbreath2101]

My husband and I ran into you and your wife at Maker Camp. I was sure you were a youtuber, but it took me this long to find your channel. Great stuff, and I'm very excited for y'all!

[@reddevilsuperstar]

Honestly I think it’s not only the builds that you do that attract people to your videos, but it’s your positive quirky approach. Staying positive even when you run into mistakes and finding the solution, keep at it.

[@kathymarshall220]

Sanding as the sun sets over the sea, Macrame on a misty mountain morning, Driving through life as a family, A new adventure at every day’s dawning. May your wheels carry you wherever you need to be, and your hearts lead you to whatever you need to see! Happy travels ❤

[@nexusdodge]

Congrats on getting married! And thank you for all the woodworking tips! Looking forward to all your new adventures, be safe and enjoy!

[@mikededmon]

Last month I completed building a standing desk top using a ton of recycled lumber from our basement. I had taken down a bunch of old pine partition walls that were put up in the 50's. I cut them into strips. Ran them through my planer and did a large glue up. Then I had to build my own flattening jig, which worked like a charm. (very proud of that one). Finished with staining and sanding and now I am typing this from said desk. It's always a good reminder to build something just for yourself. I always build for others. So, I can completely relate to this one. And, beautiful work. Congratulations on the wedding. It looked like it was a blast!

[@wielie1512]

It's a type of gum tree, most likely Eucalyptus Grandis also known as Saligna. It's from AUS but has been planted worldwide due to it's good qualities, including China where this pallet is from.

[@OnceUponReddit]

It looks a lot like young redwood

[@Top_Space_Ninja]

Good quality wood, but too many bushfires... (Eucalyptus oil)

[@Yous0147]

Beyond all the other things you did on the desk, seeing those rounded edge corners at the end was super satisfying. Best of luck and hopefully moving in and moving out will be a great journey for the both of you.

[@bzballizamazing]

Congratulations on getting married brother! Hope it was everything you and Eden dreamed it could be!

[@Finxh]

what a journey, hope you guys have an amazing time doing what you love. I look forward to the next pallet transformation video shot from picking it up in the van to working on it in the van to selling it and delivering it in the van

[@TruthAndMoreTruth]

I would have never though making easy cutting boards out of pallet wood would be a successful career. You tube is something else.

[@codym6340]

The pinker wood is Doug fir. Essentially hardest of the 'softwoods'

[@cameronmiiller6524]

Hey man I'm a woodworker in Australia and part of my job is timber identification for reclaimed Aussie hardwoods. I'm pretty sure from what I can see in the video you have some sort of eucalypt on your hands, my best guess is rosegum although it is very hard to determine the species from just the video. Love the work brother!

[@SeaFanStudio]

I know it as Red Grandis Eucalyptus, and I agree! Having worked with that wood a good bit, this really looks like it!

[@DingoMakes]

The pallet king strikes again! I love how you bring life to neglected wood, keep it up amigo!

[@MorleyKert]

Thank you so much!

[@timstark3312]

I'm REALLY glad you shared this video. On Sunday, I was literally cutting similar strips from some pallet salvage, and I decided not to record the process because I thought maybe the dimensions were "wrong" for a "real" tabletop. I thought it could work, though, and you've proved it. Now to find out if I can do it, too. Cheers & safe travels!

[@Cvoge1972]

Great video. I would definitely recommend getting some track saw guide rail clamps. That would let you clamp the track from below and avoid having to move the clamp mid-cut. Any time you shift the clamps like that, you could bump the track and throw the cut off.

[@themullenmarketwoodworking]

Been woodworking 10 years, never saw that table saw jointer jig idea! Thanks man, and keep it up!!

[@TreeLokPNW]

Same! I have the table saw jointer jig with the clamps. This method is so much easier.

[@kurt5782]

you can do it without a track saw. you just have to measure, measure, measure and use a straight edge with a circular saw. I did it and built an entire kitchen. i jus used clamps and levels to get straight lines

[@crashkg]

Maybe when you reach LA you can have a community meet up. There are bound to be a lot of fans of your videos out here. Thanks for your videos.

[@theMikeofLife]

You can buy clamps that slot into the bottom of the track so you can grip a piece or a work surface without having to stop and move your clamps

[@Toxic_Panda97]

literally 45 seconds in and I'm like "nah, close"

[@robertgarland9342]

Thanks for the tip on using the table saw as a jointer. I never thought of that idea. I've always wanted a jointer but could never afford one and did try to make one out of an old large electric planner but that didn't last long. Hope the van build goes well. Looking good so far.

[@quentinl6256]

the fact that your mum is your top patreon is the most wholesome thing ever.

[@katingaman]

i bet people would like to see an epoxy serving board of something of that sort with the edges of the table you cut off, it would be cool

[@MrMonstamasha]

Pallet wood for anything you'd eat off or that touches food is probably not the best idea, even if you use a food safe finish you have no way to know it's not leeching chemicals out of the wood that actually make it not food safe (I do think it would look great though!)

[@accordxtc319]

Great to see the van build coming along. I've always wondered with these van builds, hows does insurnace work. If the vechicle is in an accident does it cover a hotel to live in. I do know that when taking a a car to another country and an accident ocurs the car stays in that country as insurnace doesn't pay for it to come back. So many questions. Maybe you could share things like that, I know any other van life channel does not.

[@redfox05nl]

Yes this. Interested too

[@Thegreatmryoshi]

It was really neat. However, I miss your videos about free 3d prints. Can't wait for the next video

[@JamesWelbes]

Calls using the planer the "old fashioned way" 😂

[@davebauerart]

Perfect desk for the next adventure. Thanks for sharing that table saw jointer trick.

[@didier7713]

Nice build brother! Festool also sells little clamps you can slide in your track. Thats pretty handy so they wont get in the way

[@andyi9001]

I don't know what the pinkish wood is. The only wood I've seen that looks even close to that is buckthorn. The heartwood of buckthorn is practically red when it's cut down and turns a pinkish hue when dried. I doubt, however, that buckthorn would be used to make pallets because its an invasive species in North America. Unfortunately, I'm battling buckthorn all the time on my property. At least the larger invaders provide a nice campfire after they're split and dried. Smaller stuff becomes pinkish hued wood chips for my plant beds. Congrats to you and your lovely bride on your nuptials! I enjoy your videos.

[@EJDM.86]

Judging by the colours it looks like its a type of Mahogany, I do work with wood but there are alot that look very similar so it is a tough tell. Keep up the fantastic work :D

[@Johnny-apples4]

lmao mahogany for a pallet?? Not in a million years buddy

[@EJDM.86]

@@Johnny-apples4 I just said looks like a type doesn't mean it actually is, and again pallets are made out of all types of wood so it could be

[@IFUJUSTSMILE2]

Kubota uses mahogany in their pallets when shipping their tractors. That was my guess as well.

[@Hooficane]

I've always heard a lot of pallets are made out of white oak. Could be that but doesn't explain the pink hue

[@filaro1964]

Those pallet are often made with red maple and sometime with paper birch.

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

Pretty sweet desk.....i haul some pallets near trashbins omw from work to home and make windowsill planters from them over the weekend. Learnt everything from youtube tutorials over the course of an year.....once you spend a year on this you cant stop lol

[@35mikeking]

Congrats to you and Eden on your marriage. May God richly bless both of you. Also... THANK YOU for that jointer hack!! I will be using that.

[@JeffDavis_is_JeffDavis]

bring yourself to Redondo Beach! We'll welcome you with open arms...some good home cooked food, and I have quite a few pallets!

[@nithishkgnani]

The only reason I clicked on this video right away was because of the reason I had subscribed. The humble old pallet!

[@n8simpson]

that planer has some sweet dust collection! Cool desk

[@shanomac]

Your content is always so wholesome and enthusiastic. Loving the content and the journey - thanks Morley

[@deluxedoorman]

Amazing work as always! I’m so stoked to see yours and Eden’s finished build.

[@dainermade]

Hey dude! You know o loved that. Especially the dream explanation. ❤

[@ninjaex650]

Morley, you have GOT to visit Michigan in your travels! Great looking desktop, I love the thrifty nature of your channel. Best of luck with the van-life endeavor!

[@SAUdustBuilds]

Looks like a fun project. I really need that blue pry bar. Can’t wait to see the van done. You should hit up a weigh station when it’s done and see the total weight compared to a brand new empty van. I’m curious to see the difference.

[@carlosgcespedes9074]

That wood is "eucalipto" . There are a lot of them in Australia and South América. Their leaves are the food of 🐨. Saludos desde Argentina mi amigo.

[@TotalBoat]

The van is really coming together! The desk turned out beautifully - awesome work!

[@marcoskrasno]

Heyy that looks like eucalyptus wood, seeing the pink color. Nice hardwood. Cheers from Argentina!

[@MorleyKert]

Cool! Thanks for watching :)

[@Wombat2020]

Could be redgum

[@isaaczeitoun7767]

Really excited for you in your new journey, but im going to miss your build videos!

[@elainajourney]

I’m so upset with KZbin for not showing me your videos. On the bright side I have plenty of videos to go back and watch! I’ve also adjusted my subscription to get all notifications

[@davidkroft9955]

Love the reflection on where you once were and where you are now! Amazing memory maker desk top!

[@99Factslife]

At last a fine video of making something after a long time really missed you a lot

[@OscarMorrison]

Looks very much like Tasmanian Oak or Australian Harwood (very common here in Aus)

[@MichaelSchlecht91]

back to your roots of pallet wood ya love to see it

[@Jillian7707]

Is your current shop in the garage of your apartment? Where are all your tools/equipment going once you officially move out?? Also congrats on the wedding!!!

[@Catchtothegrease]

First time watching ur videos !! Great energy I love the way you can turn something we consider trash into something very valuable!! ❤

[@liameverything4444]

Yay my favorite KZbinr posted a video keep up the great work as always

[@SyrtexRG]

If you ever want to know if wood is hard or soft, try to push your fingernail into it. If it leaves an impression its soft. No indent, hardwood.

[@dart336]

Be sure to check harbor freight on the way down. they got a 1700lb rated DIY trailer kit for 550. I had a labor day coupon for their haul master brand. Ended up paying 412. It's pretty sizable 48 inch by 96 inch. My handyman pulled my smaller 1200 lb trailer in his passenger van like it was nothing. I camped on it for 8 days with it under a 10x10 pop up, just using a rug, a camping polyester blanket, a fleece blanket, pillows and my medium to large dog. My only regret is not ordering the proper walls for the pop up. Used tarps and sun mesh with zip ties instead. the rain got through and ruined a 0F big and tall sleeping bag. not to mention the ability to haul bulk tools, food and random free pallets with you.

[@renzocarini3711]

Thats Acacia wood, its mainly used in asia for shipping pallets. I know because i ended up getting a bunch of those pallets to make an accent wall, if you put on some danish oil on it, the colors will pop up really nice!

[@SeaFanStudio]

I have worked a good bit with Acacia wood and haven't ever seen any that matches this coloring. To me this looks like Red Grandis Eucalyptus.

[@thediydadreading]

If I could make some suggestions on where to visit on your travels... Go see Brent at Cerro Gordo in Death Valley and Jordan and Kaley in Panama (The Nomadic Movement). Both great content creators who I think you have a lot in common with in terms of your drive and personality!

[@SDMPoahway]

I really like that tool for breaking a pallet down. I picked up 25 but after taking one apart I gave them away

[@padraicpodge]

Great video as always. I would have rounded the corners as I’m sure a few hits and bumps will be prone to in the future! All the very best in your future travels!

[@mccflo99]

"LUXURY" vinyl plank flooring? Hahahahahaha

[@annettehaley3338]

Congratulations on the wedding ❤

[@Shep720]

Yay finally a wood working video

[@JGV_IX]

Congratulations on the wedding!! Great build and LOVE the table saw jointer tip!

[@FrankTheTank417]

You really need to get some of those cheap track saw clamps. DeWalt sells some for like $8. I just bought them for my Festool track saw and they work perfectly.

[@jeremyspecce]

Good to know the Dewalt ones work with the festool. I have the festool ones but I wouldn’t mind trying the Dewalt. Might work better in certain situations.

[@SAE_handworks]

it is for sure :) and you just give me feeling and the power to keep it up as well

[@peterwinter8028]

That table saw jointer is a genius idea!!!

[@jackthomson73]

Very well done,sentimental accent piece. This was the first video of yours I have watched and it was awesome. Your attitude and smile is infectious. Looks like a great job on the van. 👍. Congratulations to you and your wife 👏. All the best on your adventures and I’ll definitely sub to tag along. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@JanaLongBeingBoomerYoga]

Stumbled on your channel and decided to subscribe! Great wood work and thanks for all the good marketing info! Yucca!

[@kfwoeltje]

Great project. It was nice to see you at Maker Camp

[@kfwoeltje]

PS - let me know if you're coming through the Milwaukee area

[@KarateMami]

Congratulations on your wedding ❤❤❤❤

[@stephaniemoore-fuller9082]

The two pieces you cut off the ends could be cutting boards for your van kitchen!

[@MorleyKert]

I thought that but they’re a little small!

[@DaddySang92]

Landed on your vids, felt click-baited, then your message sent it home by the end - got a like and a new sub! Well made video and good luck to you & your wife's adventures to come!

[@ifollowjesus1667]

So happy for you man! God bless

[@TheGrm7801]

By the looks of the pallet it must be a standard 48x40 shipping pallet which are build using SYP softwood HT Lumber has a nice grain so it might be a grade #2-3

[@erickgroleau9881]

Proud of you!

[@Bearded-Viking-WoodWorks]

Eucalyptus aka Red Gum ! One of my fave

[@paulmccullough7352]

Eucalyptus has over 900 species. its very unlikely that it is Redgum.

[@NimThree]

I adore this guy's energy! Great vid, keep it up😊

[@MorleyKert]

Thank you!

[@WinchesterxNL]

Looking quite amazing! Simple but very effective. Wonder what you're going to do with all your tools once you end up living in a van. Good luck with all of that though! I personally wouldn't be able to do such a thing.

[@subwayfacemelt4325]

Persistently pompous, privileged prognosticators pestilentially proclaim: properly proficient, perfectly planned, prior preparations purportedly plentifully prevent plaguey, peace-poor performance parameters perpetually pauperising predominantly poised people's proximate projects prematurely!! Too many commas? You guys rock!! The quality of this presentation was excellent and I think you're a rad personality. Thank you very much for your videos, they're inspirational demonstrations of ingenuity.

[@NinaThoren]

Very nice desktop Morley! When I saw the finished work I also thought "That could be a good cutting board too" Looking forward to see the finished van build!

[@gregkrazanski]

morley rocks, just love him

[@Earl3]

Nice work! Love the storytelling in this one!

[@bysalla]

My brain really wanted you to round the corners. I fear sharp corners in small spaces...

[@smashyrashy]

Fear not

[@emildyrnes7157]

Looks great! But that joiner rig will flatten out the sides, but not make the edge straight. Would be better to clamp the track saw to the wood and use that as a straight edge. Also the desk looks very warped. Any smart tricks for straightening it?

[@jeremyspecce]

Can you explain what you mean that it will flatten it out but not straighten the edge?

[@emildyrnes7157]

@@jeremyspecce Hi, imagine cutting a banana on a mandolin. If you follow the curvature of the banana, you will have a piece with an even thickness. But the piece will be bent like the banana. This is what he did. If he had clamped the banana to a square piece of cardboard and shaved on the mandolin, you would eventually have straight pieces that are also even.

[@beachthor1]

My god he did it again. Great work!!

[@Jan-el2iz]

Yucca, lol. You are amazing doing the wood work you do. Jan from Tenn.

[@TheEnragedGamer]

I work in a warehouse we get tons of good pallets we had to throw away abunch last week cause we had so many

[@JJ-rz1bl]

happy marriage 🙃 I'm so happy for you to and enjoy your amazing van and desk :))

[@fluppir]

I live in an area where they plant and harvest bluegum trees, its a type of mahogany. Thats what you have there !

[@paulmccullough7352]

Bluegum is nothing to do with Mahogany. its a Eucalyptus.

[@fluppir]

@@paulmccullough7352 My bad !!! Thank you sire, you are correct yes..

[@tashaallstott6570]

Been planning a 1500 gal. Fish tank and was fishing around with idea of incorporating palettes into it. :P

[@Shotiv889]

that would be my dream chopping board.

[@susanfugate6878]

Very interesting to go from a table to Yuka. 😊 Great content. Thank you.

[@AndrewSzeto]

ya morley! loving that intro!

[@SunChaserEUC]

Oh no! I didn’t even know there was a Catskills maker fair! That’s like 40 minutes from me!

[@jacoblinse4477]

You should build a small work shop trailer you can tow along with the van that holds all your tools

[@MorleyKert]

No thanks, I’d like to start minimalist and work with other makers along the way. I’ll bring some compact tools and perhaps pick up some more

[@jacoblinse4477]

Fair enough

[@lawrencedavidson6195]

Very nice build! Greetings from Jamaica.

[@JesperMakes]

Awesome video mate!

[@MorleyKert]

Thanks man!

[@ReneePosthuma22]

That’s a classy desk!