Clever Ways to Reuse Pallets

[ChiefBodie]

Very surprised to see pallets used for indoor wood flooring.

 

[sixdogs]

Speaking of pallet uses...
what methods do folks use to tear pallets apart and still have useable material? I have cut the nails, used a hammer and nail bar and also just busted them apart with a sledge. All 3 work but are very time consuming. Anyone got a slicker trick?

I've tried them all but the best for me is a large claw hammer or large, iron-type, claw-looking bar. You have to just lever the nails out if you can. Most you can; some you can't.

I've picked through some great pallets to find a nice amount of hardwood boards in walnut, cherry, ash, maple and other desirable species. On some pallets for heavier goods I picked some 3"x4"x6' and 4"x6"x 8' long pieces in the same species. A small nail hole or spiral nail hole is barely visible, if at all, in many finished products.

There is some very valuable wood out there for the taking.

 

[masseyrider]

There's a green house not far away (half mile) that puts out pallets couple times a week.
I don't know what they get delivered but a good number of them have half a 4x4 sheet of 3/4" plywood on top.
It's easily removeable, aboot 10 nails.
I have a large pile (couple hundred pieces) of nice 1/2 sheets of 3/4" plywood.
I keep on picking it up because it's too good to waste but don't really have any project to use it.
I use the rest of the pallet for firewood.

 

[bmaverick]

Speaking of pallet uses...
what methods do folks use to tear pallets apart and still have useable material? I have cut the nails, used a hammer and nail bar and also just busted them apart with a sledge. All 3 work but are very time consuming. Anyone got a slicker trick?

Sawzaw with metal cutting blade. Go just in the gap and cut the nails flush.

 

[319Quahog]

I inherited about 50-100 pallets when I bought this property. All in some stages of melting into the ground while pooping their nails all over the place. Eventually got them all burned. This part of the lot has become an informal stump dump for me as it's unusable now.

Had to get rid of a couple of new pallets the other day and gave up on pulling the nails out. Burned them in my burn barrel and then spent about an hour magnet fishing for nails in the ash.

Color me as not a huge fan of pallets. Mainly outside pallets, but I'm down to one single pallet left on my property now.

They can be useful critters though. Cheap/free too.

 

[sixdogs]

There's a green house not far away (half mile) that puts out pallets couple times a week.
I don't know what they get delivered but a good number of them have half a 4x4 sheet of 3/4" plywood on top.
It's easily removeable, aboot 10 nails.
I have a large pile (couple hundred pieces) of nice 1/2 sheets of 3/4" plywood.
I keep on picking it up because it's too good to waste but don't really have any project to use it.
I use the rest of the pallet for firewood.

Sell the plywood. How much does sheet of new 3/4" plywood sell for where you are?

 

[Runner]

I keep a variety of sizes on hand to use for temporary storage. I find it is easier to pick the right one for the job if I store them on end like books.

 

[Williy]

skill saw cut close to the nails and you can burn the
pieces with the nails in the fire pit

willy

 

[garry1p]

I would cut the ends off and run the wood through a planer, I came up with some surprisingly good strips for various projects..

 

[richardmckay]

Go for wood home flooring, I’d totally go for it. It looks great and adds such a warm, natural feel to a space. Just make sure to choose the right type of wood for your lifestyle. I’ve had mine for a years and it still good.