Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
Making things from old Pallets
Page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Make Your Own/DIY
Author 
 Message
Hill farmer



Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 49
Location: North Oxfordshire
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 10:04 am    Post subject: Making things from old Pallets Reply with quote
    

I do not get in this site much as I have long been a member of the River Cottage - it seems its shutting down so I thought this is the best site to migrate to.
I wanted to ask if anyone has any good ideas in re configuring old Pallets - I have access to loads ( via a friend ) and have built two sheds for log storing and a garden tool shed. They can be awesome materials if you know how to deal with them.

Sorry if my post is in the wrong forum mods its just I wasn't sure where to put it.
Anyway the whole Pallet thing is a good idea all you need is a few screws a saw large hammer and a crow bar.
Anyone done it ?
Martin/

chickenlady



Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 413
Location: Dorset
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 10:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hello Martin. I'd be interested in this too...so following.

Hill farmer



Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 49
Location: North Oxfordshire
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Cool , I now see this should have gone into the DIY forum -- hey ho

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hill farmer wrote:
Cool , I now see this should have gone into the DIY forum -- hey ho


As if by magic...

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45321
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 12:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hello and welcome aboard .

i have made many things from pallets ranging from work benches to a wood shed/growing platform ,bender floors,beds and the usual stuff such as compost enclosures and higgledypigeldy pens.

three tools i have found very useful are a demolition saw (to cut the nails as well as the timbers),a palm sander and a good drill/screwdriver(with turboscrews) but as you say the basics are hammer ,saw and wrecking bar.

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have always started with good intentions, got quickly fed up trying to rip nails without splitting wood & ended up taking the chainsaw to them & turning them into kindling.
Patience & aptitude aren't my best virtues.
I also follow with interest.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45321
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

many pallets are made with annular shanked nails from a nail gun,these are a nightmare to pull out even with a nail puller let alone a wrecking bar or claw hammer.

a demolition saw slid between timbers to get to the nail shank separates the timbers but does leave both halves of the nail in place and so prevents the use of a plane ,hence the power sander.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45321
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

untreated for furniture etc,treated for structural.

Slim



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6531
Location: New England (In the US of A)
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

DIY thread cross-pollination: https://youtu.be/U5c91afgPR8

(pulling nails from pallet wood)

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Slim wrote:
DIY thread cross-pollination: https://youtu.be/U5c91afgPR8

(pulling nails from pallet wood)

Excellent.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45321
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

the methods on the video will work with some pallets esp.the single use light ones but the very solid multi use type often need the nails sawn or to use them as whole as possible ,they are usually treated so are not suitable for furniture or firewood but are perfect for structural stuff.

if bashing timber off the nail a pad to protect the wood is sometimes required to prevent splitting (and a club hammer works far better than a claw hammer ).
when popping the head up by hitting the nail tip take care not to bend the nail.

a mix of methods will dismantle all pallets.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 15 6:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The two uses for a pallet that I know of which do not involve modification are: Compost bin (drive steel pickets down the insides of the pallets to hold them in position), or tool storage for your long-handled garden tools (just screw it to the wall of your garden shed and pop the tools in handle-first so you know what you are grabbing).

Wrestling them apart does seem to be the main obstacle to doing all those creative things you see scrolling down your FB page - I am particularly take with the small garden chalet myself, sigh.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15510

PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 15 8:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

A fellow coppice worker who uses the light ones to start his retort kiln has a crowbar type thing with two welded on prongs to go either side of the nail. The nails are cleared out of the fire box after each firing.

Rusticwood



Joined: 01 Dec 2009
Posts: 2154
Location: All over the South West
PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 15 11:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Having broken pallets apart for reuse I wouldnt do it again. I found I broke
more boards than I could save for reuse. Having said
that I have seen these type of things advertised

crofter



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 15 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rusticwood wrote:
Having broken pallets apart for reuse I wouldnt do it again.


Nor would I. Apart from the time and effort required I've always been disappointed by how quickly they rot away (outside) Would still use pallets to block gaps in fences, store stuff off the ground etc where they don't need taking apart, or for firewood!

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Make Your Own/DIY All times are GMT
Page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com