Make a Rustic Shadowbox from Reclaimed Pallet Wood

A shadowbox is a great way to display your favorite collection, frame a photo or piece of ephemera or house a miniature scene. Using reclaimed lumber, like the slats from an old pallet, is a great way to get a rustic or vintage look while re-using materials that might otherwise go to a landfill.

In this video, Joe Rotella, founder of Create N Craft, shows how to use a Proxxon Table Saw to create an 8”x10” shadowbox with a recessed back from old palette wood.
The Proxxon Table Saw gives you perfectly straight cuts and is can easily cut wood, non-ferrous metals, plastics, Plexiglas, fiber-glass reinforced sheets, foam and many other materials.

Are you a fan of vintage Christmas decorations? Well then, you're going to love how the finished box was decorated. Look for the blog post coming up on Thursday, December 10, 2015, for the finished project.

What You’ll Need

• Proxxon Table Saw
• Slats from an old pallet (2 at least 12” long and 2 at least 10” long)
• 1/8” plywood or Luan for the back (about 10” x 12” so you can trim it to size)
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Safety glasses
• Wood glue
• Hammer and finishing nails (optional)
• Corner clamp (optional)

Steps to Follow

1. Trim one end of each of the 4 strips of wood to be sure they are square.
2. Cut two pieces at 12” long and 2 pieces at 10” long.
3. Cut a 45° mitered corner on each end of each piece, about 1” from the end of the piece. That gives you 2 pieces 10” long and 2 pieces 8” long.
4. Cut a groove about 3” from the front edge of each piece, about ½ the thickness of the wood, and wide enough to fit the back panel. This gives you a recessed groove to hold the back in place.
5. Trim the 1/8” plywood to fit the groove of the shadowbox.
6. Assemble using wood glue. Optionally use finishing nails as well. TIP: A corner clamp makes assembly even easier.