Pallet wood can sometimes be really great stuff.
I used to use it quite a bit. I would make a scavage run and get a whole
pickup load, then I would run the skids through the band saw sclicing the
face pieces next to the 2X4's. Unless they were exceptional, I would just
band saw the 2X4's and toss them in the fire wood pile. This would
eliminate all nail pulling.
The face boards were then culled of splintered, warped and otherwise
boogered boards and the rest I cleaned up on the jointer.
The boards could be used as is for small stuff like boxes, and for larger
projects I would glue up to make panels. I suppose if you wanted to, you
could finger joint them end to end, but I never tried this.
A little time consuming, but free is free, and you can always use the
savings by not buying lumber to buy some more clamps.
--
Roger Shoaf
If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, what does this say about the
Congress?
"Warm Worm" wrote in message
news:WJRbg.26973$cl1.26117@edtnps90...
"Ken S. Tucker"
Don wrote:
"Warm Worm" wrote
Skids: Collect a few skids (or similar throwaway wood) and take
apart.
Have you ever actually done that?
Take apart oak pallets?
Very difficult, I tried.
Oak is very hard and they use ringshank nails.
I thought I could salvage the wood from some pallets but it ended up
being
alot more work than its worth.
That's for sure! I recall they have a deposit, anyway
my Old Boy got some and gave me a crow-bar, my
first thought, no sweat, NOT, I gave up.
Google: "disassembling pallets"...
Some results:
rec.woodworking
-------------------------
" ...The easiest way I've found to disassemble them is to use a
s*wz*ll but I guess you could pry the boards up slightly then use a
hacksaw to cut the nails. Then use a nail set to pop out the nails. This
works better for me than simply prying the boards up since they're
generally assembled with ring shank nails which tend to split the boards.
A pair of vise grips on the remainder of the nail in the skids usually
works. I rarely use the skid wood since they're usually notched for
forklifts and have lots of nails.
Sometimes I just cut off the boards where they meet the skids since this
area usually has a nail every half inch and the wood is generally
unusable. I keep a beater saw and hammer in the trunk just in case I find
any pallets while driving around so I can break them up and cram them into
the trunk 
"
--------------------
"Any type of saw blade will cut this, steel or carbide. You don't need a
diamond saw to cut wood. But yes, it IS difficult to pull nails from
pallets, which is why I bought a 2 lb sledge hammer and a wrecking bar.
The
sledge hammer is pounded on the slats from the bottom, pushing them (and
the
nails) outward. Then the wrecking bar is used to pry the nails out. There
is
so much pressure on the nails they often pop out and go flying across my
garage!
BTW, a "wrecking bar" is made from 1" hex steel with usually 1 straight
end
and one curved end, and usually around 30" long. They are specially
treated
so as not to bend when you put pressure on it. If you make your own from
untreated hex stock, it will bend the first time you use it. I got mine
from
a store for $7 brand new. They are usually $12US.
Each end is flattened and has a notch for pulling nails. You use the
curved
end to grab a nail, then pull back using the bar like a lever. A lever is
a
wonderful tool for getting more strength from an action.
So now you know my secret method for disassembling pallets:
- Put pallet on edge, use sledge hammer to loosen top boards.
- Put pallet skids down (face up). Push wood down while leaving nail head
poking up. Use wrecking bar to pull out nails."
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load...531048.html?10
------------------------
"My technique is to use the claw hammer the backs of the thin boards to
help start the nails out. This is pretty crappy wood and not worth
keeping, IMHO. Once I bust up the thin boards, I set up the stringers in
the face vise and start removing the nails. It's not fun but it might be
a good way to get that exotic species you've lusted after. Then again
you might try dumpster diving at the nearest pattern shop in town. I've
found some nice mahogany that way. Cutoffs for sure but nice."
http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu:808...sage_id=160190
-------------------------
Ez Pry Bar By Jr-bar:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013
-------------------------
Apparatus for disassembling wooden pallets (patent):
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4320570.html