The BEST way to Break Down PALLETS | Yield the MOST Wood Without Damaging it! | Must Watch

[@kevinbrewer2141]

My dad's been breaking down pallets for about five years. He makes all kinds of yard decorations. I know what I'm getting him for Father's day. He will love the nail remover.

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

Way to plan ahead Kevin! I like how you are thinking, I hope my sons can hear you! haha :)

[@NWChickenDad]

The plywood on a stick is such a useful idea. I'm definitely making one.

[@aliciareaves3193]

The extra plywood stick is genius and midway through I stopped and ordered that air locker. I have about 6 pallets waiting to be broken down for projects and this is perfect timing.! Thank you

[@TheHaughtyOsprey]

Much love for this my dude. I work at a big hardware store and they just told me I can take all the pallets I want. Good info on the tools amigo.

[@L.G88_]

That little piece of plywood made my day! Very clever!

[@bobbycuesroadhouse2204]

That air locker tool is gold for this job, I use a lot of pallets for my projects! Great video

[@robertkerby2581]

I really liked this ingenious way to break down a wooden-pallet; using super cool tools, too! Well done!

[@jamesapsey1950]

I have the air locker game changer for sure. A must have if you deal with pallets all the time

[@roberttill3787]

I have a similar pallet bar, and an air locker tool, and yes the wrecking bar does tend to split the odd board. I do like your spreader to put under the pallet breaker to spread the load. A simple solution to the splitting problem!

[@SpecificLove7]

Those are some awesome tools. I love the plywood helper, great idea.

[@andrewkennedy9704]

I made one of those pry tools and always split the wood on the sides. I will be making that helper tool. Its brilliant.

[@cheflorenzo4491]

Your little princess is a gem. Your video is full of useful information. I'm so glad I came across it because it's going to make my life easier. Thanks a million!

[@danmoreton1788]

I have these two babies and my pallet busting days are just a little bit better!

[@carlawestlund4429]

Curious your way

[@orlandogarza2965]

Beautiful little daughter,you are truly blessed.

[@RichardWorley-n8y]

Great video. that tool you made to use even pressure to separate those boards is really cool. Thanks!

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

Hi I brae down pallets for all my wood needs and I have both of those tools, but I had not thought of the piece of plywood to stop the wood splitting so I will be making one of those soon. I love your channel and the great way you let your kids help, my son did not want to help but my grandkids always head for the shed to make things with me. Keep up the videos and they will make wonderful memories when they grow up.

[@DanYHKim2]

Thanks for the close-up shots. It shows that you're driving out spiral nails, which are an absolute pain to pull. Cute little girl. Please be sure that you've picked up the nails before she goes out barefoot. The plywood support hack is really nice, too!

[@imblakeimbald]

Not hard to pull just did yesterday. Use a crowbar make sure the head of crow is on the wood

[@joshua47879]

The air locker tool is awesome. I’ve noticed that it will 95% of the time push the nail all the way out on soft woods but hard woods it pushes the nails out good enough to use a hammer or bar to pull them the rest of the way out. They have the wrecking bar at Menards too

[@42lookc]

Thanks for the tip on that fantastic denailer! Whenever removing boards, do each end first, then the center. It'll keep one nail in the second end from turning into a hinge and making it awkward to remove. Do each end and then the center one will just pop right out. You will have the board resting on the hooks of your wrecker and can you can deftly throw it off to the side into a pile.

[@jessjulian9458]

Yes I enjoyed the video, but I enjoyed seeing the little princess more. Thanks for sharing my friend. God bless you.

[@MrWaldorfian]

I bought a pallet buster online that has long flat arms that make contact with more of the wood. They are set on a pivot point so the whole length of the arms make contact with the wood. No splitting of the wood like your crowbar-like version does. I bought an Air Locker denailer too. That thing is awesome.

[@CycloneGunworks]

Changed my life once again. I have a pallet wall in the works aka an untouched stack of 20 pallets🤪 Thanks brother

[@AGlimpseInside]

Glad to help brother glad to help

[@whathappened2230]

Thanks for showing us how the nail remover works!

[@suzannef3593]

Thank you so much for that hack . i have a pallet buster. Love it except dor the ends splitting. Love the nail remover too. Take care! Thank you to you and Gingerchick for telling me about your video! 😊

[@dnp1776]

So smart! Another trophy husband with brains!

[@Juangaba]

Been using a pallet buster for several years and the air locker they are fantastic. However big skids are still tons of work bigger boards 2x4s but so worth it. Bobs pallet buster is the trick

[@billdiehl156]

Love my Air-Locker!! Great video, Chris!

[@shaunpfund3370]

wreaking bar good idea, great approach to salvaging as much wood as possible,,,

[@jacalli]

Lift the outside ones first. I go down one side, then the other, middle is last. I went to a blacksmith with a drawing of the pallet buster and he made one, but wish the bottom 2 pieces were longer. That plywood helper is a great idea.

[@greglawrence742]

I used Airlocker over a bucket of water. Keeps the nails from ricocheting out of the trash can.

[@ddbronco1873]

Or just put a old towel in the can🤷‍♂️

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

@@ddbronco1873 I think I would like the splashing water over the towel but that's just my preference. Take care. :)

[@louislandi938]

Great method! Found the pallet wrecking claw on Amazon for $79 and change. Already had your nail remover on my list. Ordering both.

[@chrisnash2154]

I had the air locker, but I never heard of the wrecking claw. New tool!

[@molallamerica896]

I found a “pallet buster” on Amazon. Thanks for the video!

[@OverlandTrailer]

A reciprocating saw between the slat and beam works too. Then just drive the nails out. Keeps the boards in slightly better shape than the pallet breaker bar. Great vid again!

[@svedalawoodcrafts]

Smart idea with the plywood!

[@matteliano454]

Hey there ! Just discovered your channel and am enjoying it ! I see you mentioned you were in Jacksonville. I am in Folkston, GA, just north of you. I work at a plant here in Folkston where we make roof trusses for the manufactured home industry. We supply most of the local big name brands such as Fleetwood, Clayton, Live Oak, Scotbilt, and down into Florida, Jacobson, Champion, Skyline, Skyhawk, Townhomes and Nobility. We also make some pallets. From standard 48x40's to huge skids for Polaris Rangers and Ranger Crews. We have had a need in the past for pallet disassembly tools like the one you showed. We actually fabricated some out of thick walled 1" square tubing and they worked great. Same basic operation of other 'deck wrecker' tools. Of course they need to be welded together, but they are beasts !

[@ared18t]

with how expensive wood is right now this is probably the best guide ever for hobbyists.

[@justincutlip2718]

I bought both of these tools a year ago and they are amazing there is no other way to tear down pallets once you buy these 2 tools and bonus note the air nail remover works on other nails and boards i have been working on projects and put nails in a 2x4 or plywood that i ended up needing to remove and the air nailer worked great to remove them and is quick and easy just need a catch can

[@AGlimpseInside]

Great tip. I’m sure it’s multi functional As you quickly found out. Thanks for sharing brother

[@thawk1965]

Awesome. And with no blue latex gloves!!

[@carolweiss8795]

Awesome video! I am a new subscriber to your channel thanks to Ginger Chic Rehab. I live in a small town in southern Illinois. There used to be lumber mill and pallet factory in our small town! Your daughter is adorable! I’m definitely going to tell my sons about your channel. Your daughter is a cutie!

[@poolcrusher90]

I own a pallet buster tool and it works rather well. You still get some broken ends or big holes where the nails get pulled through and stayed in the runner. All of this is due to different ages of pallets, thickness of slats, number of nails and such. It is still the best tool I have found to break down pallets quick and easy

[@markstroud7038]

Just started watching your channel, and Iiked and subscrfibed on the first one. Keep up the good work. You come across as a truely decent person. Refreshing. Continued blessings to you and yours.

[@jackdotzman2908]

Great video, thank you very much for the tips. From Missouri

[@yopeepthisout]

don't mess with the princess' wood, you get the dirty wood dad.

[@mathquir190]

You can also make the tool in wood pallets.

[@charlespolidano5435]

Thanks again your top's so after seeing this video I went out and made a pellet buster but instead of the claws I used 2"wide flat steel and no more cracking the timber

[@davidgibbings6085]

I use a pallet breaker like yours . I soak the wood wich helps a lot , must make you’re gadget for end pieces 👍🙂

[@andrewbrown8148]

Great info, Chris~! I may have to turn into a "pallet guy" as well. Wood is just ridiculous right now. Thanks for the video~!

[@diycentral]

I definitely concur when it comes to both style of tools. If you want to try out another bar though, take a look at the Crescent 44" Indexing Deck Removal Bull Bar. I really like the balanced natural of the centered nail puller and I do use the indexing feature a lot too.

[@ourgardeningadventure]

Excellent video and suggestions on tools.

[@MCsCreations]

Awesome tips, Chris! Thanks a lot! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@johnnydollar8784]

A HUGE help thank you . Little princes is cute as a button😊

[@valeriehenschel1590]

Thank you. “At Lowe’s”, great!

[@jesperskovjuul2170]

No Lowes in Denmark - I feel a welding project coming up :D I can usually get a lot of free pallets so these tools will come in very handy. And great bit about the plywood add-on.

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

I've seen the bar on other videos before BUT now with your endorsement, I'll look into getting one - USING YOUR LINK OF COURSE ;) Also, thanks for the link to the Air Locker, I'd seen it only once before and I could not remember where. I like saving the nails and repurposing for decorative purposes. I cut them about 1/2" below the head and barely drive them into my projects to get that rustic look. GREAT video, I really like the info. Take care and stay safe.

[@stephensteinmetz4543]

Thanks for your video, definitely glad I watched and now have subscribed

[@shawnnelson8627]

I've used your first method but the little leftovers I've used as little wooden tiles on a table top

[@embwee]

Yep the middle row is most important for the maximum yield. The ends could be chewed up and already split, but the frame itself gives you hardwood thickness (2-3 inches or more) that if you could find, would cost a great bundle.

[@bobsue3639]

Saw one pallet buster with articulating "lift arms" that looks like it will replace your plywood piece you demonstrated.

[@TheWoodenRider]

I personally use a pallet buster when I work with pallets and used to be in love with it. I did find that some wood even with the buster's swivel head which guarantees it's always flat against the wood I would still get splitting on the sides. I'm thinking some pallet wood is so dry that it's basically lost most of it's ability to bend without breaking. We should have a pallet dismantling contest one day ;-) I personally prefer to use the air locker over a bucket with a bit of water or better yet in the winter, with snow so they don't go bouncing around Very nice video, informative and accurate

[@MrBubbadon]

What a simple great idea

[@llllllllllilillii]

I like the red headed shopper steering us. lol

[@Raytenecks]

I bought something similar that has a pivoting head on each of the tines of the bar (where you have crowbars). It still breaks the wood sometimes, but it basically does what your plywood insert does, automatically. For the nails, I actually enjoy the exercise of hammering them out, so I haven't bought a tool for that yet. If I did a lot more of it, I'm sure I would, though.

[@GingerChickRehab]

Thank you for this great tutorial on taking apart pallets. I hope you don't mind if I link your video in an upcoming video that we have on using pallet wood in frames for to decor. As my husband Chris works for a pallet company where he can get pallet wood that is already dismantled but we also want to show people other ways that they can take a pallet apart. Just wanted to let you know and give you credit.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Thank you so much. You have my permission for sure. Thank you for sharing it along

[@zafarsyed6437]

Hey Chris. Airlocker is great suggestion! In the past, I've been successful putting the pallet upside down on a table, having 1 end unsupported and whacking a mallet on a scrap piece of 4"x4" hard maple on each side and occasionally middle of the pallet (center supports can get stickier). Then move more of the pallet to be unsupported until 1/3 done. Stick another table underneath the floating 3 4x4s. Continue to move the pallet until it's top has been removed. Then flip it over to what was right-side up. Knock out the 3 underpinning support brace boards. But of course now I've got a bunch of boards with nails sticking out. Wish I knew about the Airlocker back then!! Right shoulder hurts just thinking about those days... 🤕

[@AGlimpseInside]

Sounds like a good method to me . But yes the pneumatic air locker hammer is amazing. Everything about getting back into it?

[@zafarsyed6437]

@@AGlimpseInside Have I thought about going back to using pallet wood? I was (am) a wood hoarder (to my wife's everlasting annoyance and frustration) and have enough to make stuff for next 3, possibly 4 years straight. I'm selling off projects pieces I attained and finishing the uncompleted projects (stain or paint notwithstanding). So, no- I don't think I should mess with the 14 pallets still in possession. My shoulder will give it away that I was hammering out nails... holdup! I think I might have to go buy a new tool! 😉

[@AGlimpseInside]

@@zafarsyed6437 haha. Too funny. I got it brother. You’re stocked time to spring into action. All good man great to hear from you

[@StephenClarkDobson]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@hendersonharewood7123]

That is a selected pallet. Some pallets are not that easy to dismantle. He needs to demonstrate on differently constructed pallets made of different wood.

[@PaintingsbyRaymond]

No kidding I took some apart last weekend and they were way harder than this. They had ridged security nails in them. I ended up having to cut off each end

[@ewout2211]

Nice tool, and good instructive video! Tool upgrade suggestion: put the claw on the top of the tool for removing nails, and put a soft double hook at the bottom to remove boards w/o splitting them. Major improvement IMO

[@PaulJohnson-k9v]

How to disassemble a pallet without cracking the boards in the process. The trick is to use a recipicating saw with a very long metal cutting blade to cut the nails. Run the blade between the outside boards and the 3 boards with cutouts for the forklift. It works best if a pry bar is driven between the boards to make a tiny crack for the recipicating saw blade to go through first. The very long blade is able to reach across wide boards and cut through all the nails from the exposed side of the board. The nails are easily driven out with a punch from the back side. Using this technique, a pallet can be disassembled in 10 minutes and all of the boards recovered, even cracked ones. A hacksaw can be used instead.

[@kc5287]

Seeing this now I'll weld up a pallet wrecker

[@richardwadsworth4259]

Checkout pallet buster does same as your plywood on a stick in one tool

[@zzz7zzz9]

Let's see you do one of those well-built pallets. Those ones that are stained blue and use huge ring-nails to fasten.

[@Imightberiding]

Thank you for this clear, concise video. I've been thinking about getting one of these pneumatic nail punches but my concern is whether I can run it on my small 1 to 1 1/2 hp portable jobsite compressor. Does it require a huge reserve tank or larger compressor like auto body or mechanic's air tools require? I can read the specs & see the range of psi for this tool but it is the cfm/volume required to run it efficiently that I'm wondering about. Are they similar to a nail gun as far as how much air is needed to run them? Will it only fire 2 or 3 times before I have to wait or the tank to fill up while the portable compressor recycles? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@Thegreyreaperuk]

Is there something like a battery air locker tool or something you can use instead.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Not that I’m aware of, but knows there probably is

[@Grumpyolegrunt]

I have both and love them

[@shawnnelson8627]

Nothing like having your own QC inspector.

[@Kkuts37]

Thank you, Chris!

[@tomhostetter8516]

I have a similar claw for when I was breaking down pallets... the gun would be a life saver however. Good Video Chris, with the price of lumber i may have to go back to breaking down pallets even tho i swore id never do it again lol

[@AGlimpseInside]

That’s why I did it. I was going to make another outdoor table. I made one two years ago for around $90. Now it looks like it’s gonna cost about 300. Yikes

[@tomhostetter8516]

@@AGlimpseInside i was going to build a ramp for the storage shed to get all my tools up into it... perlins treated 2x4s and marine grade plywood was $144.00. I went and bought 2 ATV truck ramps for $74 and dont have to build anything... i want to do what you did and build a new shop but at the price of plywood it would be triple the cost of what you paid

[@AGlimpseInside]

@@tomhostetter8516 You know what brother dimensional lumber is really is the thing that took the biggest increase. Standard plywood from my plywood dealer has not gone up very much. I’m not sure about the big box store, however if you have a lumberyard that sells Plywood check them out. You might be surprised at how inexpensive it might be due to today’s standards

[@machineman6498]

Thank you for making this

[@CycloneGunworks]

Smart mechanics man

[@steveguzman6640]

Great information thank you for sharing.

[@Mitch3877]

Where did you get the tools

[@hellyabrother27]

Anyone have a good use for the leftover 2x4s when they’ve got a slot cut out of them? Scrap wood for other projects? Just trying to think of a better use than that.

[@billparrish4385]

Even easier, and no need to purchase the pallet buster, is to drive the slats straight away from the stingers (angled like pry bars equald splits, straight like this method equals no splits but the ones already there). Just prop up the pallet face down on a couple other pallets (stacks of 2x4s, etc.) under the slats at the 2 ends. Take a 2x4 as a driver, set it flat against a slat you can reach, next to the stringer where it's nailed, and hit it with a hammer to drive the slat straight down toward the ground. For slats harder to reach, where they're opposite another slat, use 4 small (about 1 foot) chunks of 2x4, 2 of them of equal length. This time you're removing a slat on the top surface. Set the 2 equal ones on either side of the slat next to the stringer where it's nailed, lift up the pallet, and slide a third chunk of 2x4 under the slat and on the 2 equal ones, like a bridge. Now you hammer on the stringer on either side of the slat to drive the pallet straight down and leave the slat up on the little bridge. Move the bridge to the next nailed location, and repeat. For the remaining slats on the bottom, prop up the pallet again and drive those down, like the first ones. The whole process takes about 10 minutes, once you've done it a couple times. You're left with as split-free slats as you could want.

[@garvielloken3929]

Thank God! something original atleast - Love the plywood enhancement thingy

[@HammerandNeil]

I just want to know where you get such prime pallets

[@AGlimpseInside]

That’s for me to knowing you to find out. Just kidding. I have various friends at multiple retailers that keep an eye out for me. Two things have to happen, one it Hass to be a hardwood pallet. Two, it has to have no branding on it. When one of those comes through. They call me

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

GREAT handle, I really like it! Take care out there :)

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

...@ Hammer and Neil - sorry

[@perfecto25]

do pallets gets recycled? i see shops thowing them out all the time, why dont they just reuse them?

[@LazersEdgeDesigns]

They have similar prybar with a flat pivot to not break the wood.

[@christopherdurst]

Great advice

[@Fernando-fg2gt]

Do you think it can pry 2x6 wood? Thank you

[@AGlimpseInside]

Yeah absolutely

[@Fernando-fg2gt]

What projects you do with the wood?

[@AGlimpseInside]

Actually gave it all to a neighbor he ended up cladding one of his walls

[@brettbarager9101]

How does that pneumatic tool work on bent nails? I will just use a hammer . . . Tried, tested and true! I like the plywood idea: simple and effective!

[@ShowCat1]

Just a question: It looked like the tip of those nails had been ground flat before you used the Air Locker. If so my guess is that the instructions say to do so. Is this correct? Thanks.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Great question The nails are flat so as to not split the wood while building them. It seems strange but a sharp pointed nail will split the wood more regularly than a blunt one

[@ShowCat1]

@@AGlimpseInside I should have known that. Thanks.

[@abelesparza6059]

Where can I get that cool Makita hat?

[@AGlimpseInside]

A buddy of mine who is big on Instagram with tools gave it to me. So unfortunately I don’t know

[@stomperthemixer1]

Hope your well buddy, you make it look so simple but its the tool doing the job I guess, I'd love to do more with pallets but its the breaking down the pallet which puts me off. one you KZbinr once said the quickest way to remove nails from pallets was Gasoline, haha stay safe my friend.

[@watsonlow22]

Good video

[@downtownbrown50]

If the princess likes it than it must be great. She looks a lot smarter than most politicians. Just sayin.

[@hendersonharewood7123]

In some pallets, the wood is so hard that the nail heads ripp right through the boards when trying to get them off.

[@LOUDsigh]

Wish i had came here and prepared before starting my oroject. So frustrated. And dnt feel like going to buy tools for two raised beds😢

[@thomascostello5780]

what do u make w/ur pallet wood?

[@AGlimpseInside]

In the past I’ve made bottle openers with a wooden box at the bottom to catch the lids. I’ve made coasters. But this time I think I’m gonna make a lamp in the shape of a Mario block question mark So yeah stay tune for that

[@vincepopo7497]

Took apart 20 pallets and I could’ve used those!