Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Hesse2509 on December 31, 2011, 08:07

Title: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: Hesse2509 on December 31, 2011, 08:07
I collected about eight wooden pallets yesterday, planning to build myself some new cold frames; but what immediately struck me was how difficult they appeared to be to break down into usable bits of timber that didn't split into pieces which is effectively only good for kindling.

Does anyone have any tips on how to effectively break them down with minimal waste, or else I can see myself just creating a massive pile of firewood!?
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 31, 2011, 08:17
You could try uing a flat bladed chisel between the timbers to pry them apart  :)
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: grendel on December 31, 2011, 08:22
I find a crowbar very effective - then knock the nails out. there is a pallet disassembly tool on the market but its essentially a big crowbar. sometimes an extra block of wood is helpful to make the crowbar a tighther fit in the gap.
Grendel
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: joyfull on December 31, 2011, 09:04
lorry tyre levers work very well  :D
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: sunshineband on December 31, 2011, 09:55
We go for the crowbar too  ;)
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: mumofstig on December 31, 2011, 10:51
I hammer an old screw driver in between the boards to lever them apart. I still lose a few that split, but the majority respond to my version of brute force and ignorance  8)
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: savbo on December 31, 2011, 14:47
as they use ring nails usually, it's often easier to knock nails in than try to prise them out...
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: doctorangler on December 31, 2011, 15:17
if you pick them up then drop them on the corners they will loosen the nails and you will not split as many planks  bob
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: born_2b_mad on December 31, 2011, 21:28
I have bought myself a pallet stripping bar by a chap called Gareth Lewis.
Works brilliantly.
Thought it would be a decent investment for me as I have access to an unending supply of pallets at work, and am intending to create a number of items using the wood.

Here is a video of the bar in actionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag)
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: CDave on January 01, 2012, 09:56
I have bought myself a pallet stripping bar by a chap called Gareth Lewis.
Works brilliantly.
Thought it would be a decent investment for me as I have access to an unending supply of pallets at work, and am intending to create a number of items using the wood.

Here is a video of the bar in actionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag)

Looks very nice! Wonder if our Lottie Association would like to invest in one?  :blink:
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: gavinjconway on January 08, 2012, 19:37
This is what I use... You can hammer the short flat curved end between  the planks and break one of the nails then lift and lever the other one out.. I have used this bar for many many pallets.. Tried all types and found this the best. You can also pull the nails out once loosened with the slits on the bar.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STANLEY-STA155526-21-WONDER-BAR-21X-CROWBAR-/360340672985?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item53e5fa51d9#ht_1015wt_952

Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: bazh on January 08, 2012, 19:53
I recently had to take apart 20 pallets which I used for a combination of making fence panels and making a cold frame after trashing a couple with a wide blade crowbar I googled it and used this guys method it works an absolute treat honestly.

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Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: savbo on January 09, 2012, 12:47
oohh lovely job!
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: gavinjconway on January 09, 2012, 16:53
Hey Bazh - great video there ... thanks - I'll defo keep this in mind for other work I will be needing pallets for.  I was using mostly long double sided from British Gypsum so slightly different.
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: Bodmass on January 09, 2012, 23:09
Thanks for posting that Bazh.
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: bazh on January 10, 2012, 09:20
No probs works a treat even on the more sturdier pallets.
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: Plottered on January 10, 2012, 13:42
theres a tool knocking about especially for the job but i cant find the link at the moment...im waiting for someone to get me the link and will post it up asap.
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: A. Fallowfield on January 10, 2012, 17:58
I have bought myself a pallet stripping bar by a chap called Gareth Lewis.
Works brilliantly.
Thought it would be a decent investment for me as I have access to an unending supply of pallets at work, and am intending to create a number of items using the wood.

Here is a video of the bar in actionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag)

I did try to post about this bar a while ago and was told it was advertising! Gareth is an old mate, and gave me one of these bars, it works very well. Some of the plots ladies find it easy to use too!
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: Plottered on January 11, 2012, 09:56
well I dont know if this will be classed as advertising but all im doing is helping out. here is the link to the demolition/pallet wrecking bar i mentioned above.

 http://www.my-tool-shed.co.uk/p1001824/Roughneck_Demolition_&_Lifting_Bar/product_info.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=allprods

I have no connection with the above company at all and I hope the link helps in some way.
Title: Re: Best way to take apart wooden pallets?
Post by: bazh on January 11, 2012, 14:57
well I dont know if this will be classed as advertising but all im doing is helping out. here is the link to the demolition/pallet wrecking bar i mentioned above.

 http://www.my-tool-shed.co.uk/p1001824/Roughneck_Demolition_&_Lifting_Bar/product_info.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=allprods

I have no connection with the above company at all and I hope the link helps in some way.

Looks to work a treat ideal if your likely to be doing them on a regular basis and good value at a tenner.