REVAMP REPAIR recycle

Bring vintage charm to garden get-togethers with a drinks stand and caddy made from retro crates

Summer afternoons in the garden aren’t complete without refreshments, so serve them in style on this crate drinks stand with a co-ordinating caddy, featuring sections for bottles and glasses. Either source plain crates and paint them in bright colours, or look out for a mix of branded crates for a quirky, mismatched stand.

1 To make the stand, cut two 110cm lengths from the pallet wood and cut 45 degrees off from each end, with the cuts mirroring each other. Then cut one end of this into a 90-degree point by mirroring the 45-degree cut at this end.

2 Cut two lengths measuring 37cm, with one end a 90-degree cut and the other at 45 degrees. Again, mirror the 45 degrees at this end to form into a 90-degree point. Once cut, sand and varnish (or wax) them. Allow to dry to the product’s instructions.

3 Lay one of each of the 110cm and the 37cm lengths on a flat surface at 45 degrees and perpendicular to each other to form an upside-down Y-shape. The two points closest to you must be the 90-degree points and forming the top of the inverted Y-shape. These are the feet. Line up the points along a straight edge, such as the edge of the table or the flat surface you are working on, for an even level.

4 Once you are happy with the position, mark with a pencil. To connect the wood with dowel fixings and glue, mark two drill points matching the exact locations on the connecting piece. Using the drill and 6mm drillbit, drill matching holes of half the dowel depth, glue the dowels and slot the wood together. Repeat to assemble the other leg.

5 The easiest way to position the crates is by laying one of the Y-shaped legs on a flat surface and placing the crates on top. The bottom crate can be positioned by aligning both the top corners with the outer edges of the inverted V-shape (of the Y). Bring the crate up without passing the outer edges. Secure it with four screws using the drill and screwdriver.

6 Position the top crate by aligning its bottom corner with the back edge of the leg. Slide it up the leg without bringing it any higher than the total length. Again, secure this crate with another four screws. The middle crate can be positioned by running a straight edge between the top and bottom crates. Measure the centre point with the tape and secure it in position with another four screws. Flip this arrangement over onto the other Y-shaped leg to mark the mirror positions, then attach the crates to the other leg in the same way. Saw off excess wood if needed, sand, then re-varnish or wax.

7 To make the caddy, measure your crate and calculate how many dividing walls you will need. Measure the inside length of the crate and cut two lengths of pallet wood to this length. Calculate the width minus the pallet wood thickness and the number of intersecting pieces. This will give the measurement of the shorter perpendicular walls. We cut 12 of these (four on each row) to form equal gaps. Sand with 120-grit sandpaper or a sanding machine.

8 Lay out one of the longer walls and measure where the shorter perpendicular walls connect to it on one side and glue together. Mirror this with the other longer wall and allow to completely dry. Place these inside the crate with the shorter walls pointing outward, with a dab of glue on them – you may need a mallet to knock them in. Place the remaining shorter walls along the centre row with a dab of glue on each side.