Pallet wood is one of my all time favourite things to work with. But some risks come with it. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about pallet would will be in this blog post. Here are a few of my own pallet wood projects… Enhanced pallet wood tool shelf for a workshop Pallet wood hammer organizer Pallet wood gate on shed pallet TV stand with soda crate drawers on floor pallet wood walkway – boards are deeper than most pallet wood Pallet wood sawhorse blog office desk the 2 full pallet chair – easy to make! Route 66 pallet wood workshop cabinet Purchase Route 66 stencil HERE Where I store my reclaimed wood (workshop tour) As you can see, I love the stuff! And although the use of pallet wood is becoming extremely hot property lately, it also comes with some controversy. Before diving into the wonderful world of working with pallet wood, please educate yourself on the dangers involved. Here are some tips and safety information you should be armed with before carrying pallet wood home for your own DIY projects.
This post contains some affiliate links so you can find everything you need. I am fortunate to have worked with a firetruck manufacturer that always has stacks of pallet wood on hand. Many of the pallets have been built for the very purpose of shipping firetruck parts because of their odd sizes. Which means a lot of the wood is in new condition, and has been only used for this shipment. While that’s no guarantee that the wood is safe, it’s far safer knowing it wasn’t carrying pesticides. Avoid: Pesticide carriers (green houses, etc) Contaminants (gas, grease, etc) While some projects can utilize the pallet as a whole, if you ever wish to harvest the planks on their own, be prepared to break out into a sweat. Pallets are NASTY to dismantle without a doubt. Especially those with twisted nails. I personally come across lots of loose wood as seen above from those that open crates. But not everyone is as fortunate. There are some devices that can help you get the job done, but no matter which route you go, it will require effort:
How to dismantel a pallet: Jigsaw or sawzall / saw just shy of the nails to harvest shorter pieces Crowbar and hammer / it is what it is. 🙂 Someone strong will be needed. Now that you’ve dismantled those guys, make sure you remove each and every nail. I search for boards with straight or very few nails, or ones I can saw off easily. I flip the board upside down and attempt to bang the nail out as much as I can, then flip it back over and pry out the rest. Jig saw or sawzall Cut the wood right off the pallet just shy of the nails if you can use the planks for shorter pieced projects. Newer regulations require pallet manufacturers in Canada and the US to treat the wood before shipping. This can be by chemicals or by heat. The HT on the above board means it’s been heat treated, or kiln dried. This is the safer kind. If the boards are unmarked, they may be safe, but there’s also a strong chance it’s been chemically treated, which makes them dangerous.
I’ve also been emailed with a story where someone got a nasty sliver, which infected them to the point of requiring hospitalization. So, just be picky. Always wear gloves and choose wisely. Chemicals are one thing, but bacteria is another. Always be safe and scrub the wood down with bleach and soapy water. Rinse well, and allow to completely dry. But do remember, wood is porous, so there’s a chance the bacteria is embedded. Just go into this knowing NO pallet wood is 100% safe. Never use pallet wood for Anything food related (vegetable gardens) Near toddlers that chew (no children’s furniture nor toys) Pallet wood requires LOTS of work, so be safe: Metal rack dumpster find HERE / Workshop reveal HERE Many places of business that utilize pallet wood actually recycle them. They may use them over again or they get picked up and reimbursed for their return. So before you help yourself to what you think may be free, this could also be viewed as theft. Al
ways ask for permission before helping yourself. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ This post may come across like one of those new medication commercials… “Buy me because I’m awesome, but you may die if you take me.” 🙂 You will have no need to worry about using pallet wood if you simply heed the cautions and use it for appropriate projects. If in doubt, pass on it and head to the lumber store instead. Spending a few bucks on new wood is far smarter than bringing contaminated wood home for free.Clear all selections Departments Beauty & Spa Dining eGift Cards Entertainment Gaming Google Play Hotel & Travel iTunes Movie Theaters Phone Cards Prepaid Gift Cards Retail Sam's Club Gift Cards $ to $ Clear all selections $ to $ Clear price - 2 x $25 for $40 | Disney $150 Multi-Pack - 3/$50 Gift Cards | Southwest Airlines Gift Card - $100 | Google Play $100 Gift Card | $100 iTunes Gift Card Multipack, 4x$25 | Steam Gift Card - Various Amounts | Papa John's Gift Card - 2 x $25 |
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