Is there an easy way to....?

[SageMother]

We plan to repurpose some pallets that our paver bricks were delivered on a couple of summers ago.

We tried prying single boards off and they split. We tried to figure out now to remove the nail, but they are are counter sunk and are those nails that are grooved and twisted, a cross between a nail and a screw.

For our first project, a raised bed for a vegetable garden, we ended up just cutting two pallets down the middle, skirting the nail issues altogether.

I'd love to use some of the broads as single pieces of wood, though.

Is there an easy way to pry the single slats of wood off a pallet? Is there a way to pull out those squiggly nails?

 

[oldnamvet]

I have run into this same problem trying to take slats off a fence. Those nails would break rather than pull. Two approaches I have found that work. If the nail isn't countersunk so the head is on the surface, I have used an angle grinder to grind off the head. Then the board can just be pulled up leaving the straight section of the nail. When the nail is countersunk, I have taken a piece of steel tubing that just fits over the nail head (I used a piece of shaft from some old golf clubs), filed some teeth into it (about 4), chucked it into a drill and bored a plug through the board with the nail in the center. The board can then be lifted off. To plug the hole, I used a larger diameter piece of tubing in the same way on a scrap piece of the lumber and bored out a plug. A little glue, shove it into the hole, sand things off when it is dry. Not a perfect fix but it was better than cussing another split board.

 

[Twiceshy]

I don't think I have known anyone to ever repurpose those pallets, but it sounds like a worthwhile endeavor!

Are there websites with plans associated with repurposed wood pallets?

 

[old logger]

Two methods are to use a plug cutter,around ten dollars,to cut a ring around the nail.These should be used with a drill press as you have four teeth that grab as they cut.The second method is to simply use a nail set and drive them through.I have a trailer full of pallet wood that I plan toturn into a picket fence.A set of three nail sets cost around ten dollars or less.These are hardened steel and work great.The little hole left behind fills up with the fibres and is hardly noticeable.If you plan on making things that the holes are a detraction a little woodfiller will take care of it.

 

[geoffreylaster]

in reply to pallet recycling

If you have pallets the easy way to remove the nailes is to cut the tops of with a saw all and the use a nail punch to drive them out and on the cross members use an smaller nail punch than nail and drive it through the member.

 

[Old Dutchman]

The best way that I found is to try and make a slight gap so a hack saw blade can be inserted, Try to attach the sae, or wrap a cloth around the blade so You can pull, and cut the nail. I then use a nail punch, "Small" and hit the fresh cut side back. It works for Me.

 

[Harry]

This thread is old, and I'm sure the lady has found an answer to her question by now, but I'm intrigued by how people are recycling these old pallets. Are they okay to use in raised vegetable gardens? Are there other ways to use them? I have access to them, but I see them being hauled off all the time. It's a shame not to recycle or reuse them.

 

[contractor]

We use old pallets in our barn to keep everything from boxes to lawn furniture raised up off of the ground. We have also used them as sides for a compost heap, with mesh attached to keep the compost in place.

 

[Nailed]

I like your compost heap suggestion, contractor. I've been wanting to have a compost heap, but I've never gotten around to building one. I know where to round up the pallets, too. One concern I have is termites. Does having that potentially rotting pallet material lying around the yard increase a chance of termites?