Pallets Part 1 (Info)

Pallet Board Crafts are becoming more and more popular everyday. I know I was hooked once I saw pallet related pins on Pinterest a year ago when I first joined. 

Pallets are a great way to find salvaged wood of different sizes. The possibilities are endless when it comes to them.

I got my hands on some pallets a few months back. I still have a bunch of them in the back yard just waiting to be used. 

Wood Pallets can be found most anywhere.  But you don't want just any old pallet. There are things you should look for:

Check for the HT!

- Firstly the biggest most important thing to look for on a pallet is to see how it is treated. You want a Heat Treated pallet. Most if not all pallets made in the USA are to be Heat Treated by law. These pallets will be marked with a HT some where on it. Heat treated pallets are safe to be in your home and around your family and pets.


- If it is marked with a MB stay way and let it go. MB stands for Methyl bromide. This chemical is very dangerous and is a pesticide. It is much like Lead Paint...you don't want that in your home. A lot of over seas pallets can be MB treated. So check to be sure.

-If you find your pallet isn't mark you have two options. Either walk away and let it be or inquire with the current owner where it came from. Most likely it is safe but I myself would rather just walk away from a unmarked pallet. If anything you gained some firewood.

-Be cautious of pallets that transport food. For food and hold pathogens and bacteria like E coli.  Try to find pallets that were made for transporting house hold materials such as wood, bricks, shingles, etc.

Did I scare you? I hope I did...this is something to not take lightly. I want you and your family to be as safe as can be.

So where do you find pallets that are safe to use? 

-Well the best way to find some is to just ask. Ask your Facebook friends. Maybe they have some or know a person who has some. Farmers are very likely to have some in a barn. Anyone you know that is having work done on their home. A lot of times the materials the contractor is using will be shipped on pallets. But make sure you ask the contractor or the home owner before you start taking them.

-Hardware stores and Lumber Yards have an abundant supply. Again make sure ask first before you start loading them up in your truck. A lot of stores and businesses might get money for them if they return them from to the original supplier. So be sure to ask. 

-Also you can inquire at any furniture store. There is a local store who actually advertises in the local paper for people to come buy pallets off them for fire wood. So they are around you just have to look and ask around.

Pallets come in different shapes and sizes. The condition will also differ from pallet to pallet. The things that change the condition of the pallet are as follows:

-Age
-Exposure To The Elements
-How often it was used
-What it was used for

The things that will help you decided what kind of pallet you want is the project you are wanting to do. 

If you are looking for a more rustic look then a more weathered board is what you want. If you are making furniture you might want a nicer piece that hasn't been worn out and splintered.

Once you find out what project you are doing then you will know what kind of pallet you want when it comes to it's condition. 
Remember that if your pallets have been outside or in a barn for longer periods of time then there is a good chance there are bugs some where on it. Be sure to clean off what ever it is that you are using. Use a wire brush, a hose, or whatever means are necessary for your wood to be as safe and lovely as possible.

Ok so once you found your desired pallet what now? Pallets are not the easiest things to take apart. If you find yourself wanting and needing to dismantle a pallet board. You can try to us a pry bar and a hammer to get the boars off, but you will run the risk of splitting the ends of the boards. Especially if it's a very old or very weather pallet. The newer pallets you might have better luck doing it with these tools, but let me tell you...there is a easier way!

Now you will need a second person to help you with it...for this is at least a two person job if not three. Depends on how strong you are and how strong your grip is.

Grab a Sawzall. Yes this is a power tool. It is very dangerous if not used properly. Luckily for me I have a very a great dad who is more than willing to help me out. Basically what you are going to do is cut the boards off. There are 2 ways you can do this.

-If you are wanting the full board you are going to cut the nail that holds the boards to the joyces. Doing so will cause a lot of vibration and can cause the pallet to shift. This is where the extra people comes in handy. Cut through on one end, then cut through on the other. then you will cut through the center. This makes quick work of a pallet. It also leaves the nail heads in the boards which gives it character.

-If you don't want to cut through the nails you can use the Sawzall or even a circular saw for this part. Cut the boards right next to the joyce. Now in doing this you are going to lose 4 inches on each end. Cut on both ends leaving the center joyce. After this is done you can use your pry bar and hammer to pull the boards off. Since the center part of the boards are less likely to be cracked you have a better chance of taking them off with out splitting the wood.

So now that you have your pallets apart all you need to do is figure out what you are going to make with them! Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog where I show you what I have made thus far with my pallets!