DIY Wood Pallet projects

fixitguy · #21 01/24/15, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustaholic

I just have an old 1940's heavy steel mailbox that is large and securely mounted to half of a utility pole. That pole is buried at least six feet. Do not hit my mailbox. The mailbox is mounted back on the pole just so the door can open.

Here in my area, you have to have a break away post. A lot of people had old milk cans filled with cement, and a post. Anything solid is a no~no now. We had a few people sue the homeowners because the post was solid. The snowplow clipped it and spun around, or a driver fell asleep.. ETC.
The county owns something like 14 ft off the center line of the road, so the mail box is not on your land, even know you pay taxes and mow the area.

Rustaholic · #22 01/24/15, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fixitguy

Here in my area, you have to have a break away post. A lot of people had old milk cans filled with cement, and a post. Anything solid is a no~no now. We had a few people sue the homeowners because the post was solid. The snowplow clipped it and spun around, or a driver fell asleep.. ETC.
The county owns something like 14 ft off the center line of the road, so the mail box is not on your land, even know you pay taxes and mow the area.

Yes I thought about all that crap before I dug the hole. It is set way back off the road as in you would have to want to hit it. That means I have to plow back to my mailbox. I like it that way.

willow_girl · #23 01/25/15, 06:43 AM

Quote:

I haven't used pallets yet, but the mixed wood I've used from a woodworking factory always split on me:/

As someone already suggested, drill a pilot hole, or moisten the nail slightly before driving it in.

Rustaholic · #24 01/25/15, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

As someone already suggested, drill a pilot hole, or moisten the nail slightly before driving it in.

About driving nails into splitty wood many times I have just flipped the nail upside down and hit the point hard enough to mash it a bit then drive the nail. That way the point is not such a wedge so instead of wedging the wood apart to get in there it kinda rips its way into the wood. If it is hardwood then a pilot hole is for sure the way to go.

The best way to take a pallet apart it to use a saw-z-all and cut down between the stringers and the slats to cut off the nails.
That is easy for both sides but the center stringer is a bit harder.
I cut off the bottom boards then I use a longer blade to cut the nails to remove the center stringer from the slats.
A ten inch blade or longer can be curved a bit to get in there.
Getting the bottom boards cut off just to get them out of the way then cutting the nails from the two outside stringers gives a lot more room to get at the nails on the center stringer.

Chucknbob · #25 01/25/15, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gal5

Wow those are awesome!!! Would love to see your livestock pen for your truck!!!!!!!

I don't have pics, but it's pretty self explanatory. Take 4 pallets (they need to be the same size) and lean up against each other to make a square. Take 3 of them and screw together. Take the fourth one (the one facing the tailgate) and tie it on with wire or rope. This is your gate, and you can untie to get them in and out.

Chucknbob · #26 01/25/15, 01:00 PM

This is a potting/garden table I built this morning out of 2 old pallets. ImageUploadedByHomesteading Today1422212394.280135.jpg

My2butterflies · #27 01/25/15, 05:34 PM

My husband suggested that too. Doing a pilot hole first. And it was mainly hardwood I was using oak, cherry, ect. I haven't done any wood projects in a year now. I'll keep all suggestions in mind for this summer

Thanks!

COWS · #28 01/25/15, 06:00 PM

Re pallet wood splitting, I wasn't concerned about driving nails in it, I was referring to the 1 x 4 slats splitting when trying to take them apart. As I said, I was referring to hardwood pallets, pine pallets might come apart easier. sawing the nails off with a sawsall sounds good, but I'm not going to spend that much time at it. I did, however, take apart a new cherry wood pallet with some success. I was willing to spend the time for cherry lumber. For a nail that would not pull out, I drilled along side the nailand was able to loosen it.

COWS

TxHorseMom · #29 01/25/15, 06:54 PM

Anyone have any suggestions on where I could find free pallets? I've looked on Craigslist, and occasionally have found them for sale, but free would be better.

My2butterflies · #30 01/25/15, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxHorseMom

Anyone have any suggestions on where I could find free pallets? I've looked on Craigslist, and occasionally have found them for sale, but free would be better.

I'd call or stop by local hardware stores or any store where you see they have piled up pallets. It never hurts to ask!

ohiotw · #31 01/26/15, 07:29 AM

Thanks all for the great ideas! I'm going to be making a lean to for my dad this spring to house his fire wood for the outdoor wood burner. Also going to try my hand at making some tables etc. maybe to sell locally for some extra cash. How do you all pry the pallet apart? Most have spiral nails that are a bear to remove.

COWS · #32 01/26/15, 07:38 AM

Read all the posts above most of your questions are covered. As far as removing the screw nails, I have clamped the nail in a vise after the head has pulled off, and applied a large hammer to the wood the nail is in. As i said above, I don't consider it cost effective.

COWS

han_solo · #33 01/26/15, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxHorseMom

Anyone have any suggestions on where I could find free pallets? I've looked on Craigslist, and occasionally have found them for sale, but free would be better.

Try your local newspaper office

||Downhome|| · #34 01/26/15, 11:29 AM

The gamut of tools I formally used for dismantling pallets,

That takes a long time for a lot of pallets, So rather then pay 80 to 100 dollars for a tool I could make in 15 mins... I made a pallet wrecker.

I did however use a portion of money that could of been spent on a similar tool and purchased a punch nailer, or other wise down as a de-nailer. much like a captive bolt gun.
The reviews for it where not flattering, but it did prove to be a solid piece of equipment thus far and Just in the First day of use I figure it paid for its self +.
Its a Airlocker AP700 currently 54.99 and free shipping on Amazon.
There is another one if you want more muscle and american made but its around or above 400, just google denailer.

Still need the screw driver and ratchet for the occasional screws and bolts, as well as the flat bar for those nails the ap can't drive out all the way.

But for the most part just the wreaker bar and the AP and I can cruise through a trailer load of pallets.

Most of this winter was burning pallet wood, that was not suitable for projects.

I have a almost complete wood shop though and I am always building things with the reclaimed wood.

Sometimes I cut them down and to size other times I make peices like engineered Lumber, Sistered together with wood and screws, sometimes screws I reclaimed from the pallets. One place I get tons of screws,carraige bolts out of them.

I have a few sources I like for pallets, I won't share them because well there's a Ton of competition for them as it is.

ohiotw · #35 01/26/15, 11:36 AM

Downhome thanks for sharing some of the tools you use. It looks like I need to fabricate one of those pallet wrecker bars! Do they make those nail kickers in electric?

||Downhome|| · #36 01/26/15, 11:51 AM

Not that I know, but a small pancake compressor can be had cheap many times if you watch craigslist.

I have a small Craftsmen, builds up to 150 psi and the Punch nailer only takes I think max 130, you can drive a lot of nails out before the compressor cycles.

||Downhome|| · #37 01/26/15, 12:04 PM

Should add that wrecker really makes it easy, compared to the pounding and prying method.

Some pallet they use the wide side up for stringers, but almost clear pine 1'x 3" 6' long for the deck. So its wide enough to straddle the wide face of the stringer.

Start at one end and work down, last set of nails just lift the loose end up.

TxHorseMom · #38 02/09/15, 10:14 AM

I am very excited to say that I found an unlimited supply of free pallets!! I have four right now that I had previously purchased. It is a beautiful day out today, so I am going to start on one of my projects. What is even better, is that DH is excited about it too!! I see a lot of pallet projects in our future.