Watch This Before Building with Pallet Wood!!!

[@cartercarter6126]

Great information Dave. Had no clue on label info. During the pandemic as a physicist I decided to build a woodshed from whole pallets and unusable 2x4 studs from a local build site. The framers asked me what I was doing? I told them I was bored. You could just see they were holding back tears of laughter when I pulled out a set of digital verniers to measure up a 2x4. With a background of electrical engineering I set out to build a shed. I developed a custom cut board to attach whole skids together. Even the squirrels were laughing in the trees around the backyard. So for 3 days I fit together a 8x8ft shed. I went to the siding guys at the worksite to ask for scraps and they obliged again. It was lunchtime and one of the framers, holding back tears asked.....what kind of accuracy did you achieve? I said 1/8" in all directions. Everyone stopped talking and stared at me. Wtf was a unanimous reply. The supervisor said 2 inches for a house was good! Hahaha. I told them I was bored and had never built anything like this. The shed has a tin roof and vinyl sided. It's full of skids for the firepit and the squirrels love it! I built it for under $50 cdn complete. It's very strong after 2 winters. Just sayin .....Carter Canada

[@MrJCTECH]

nice any pictures?

[@markkenney5025]

I used pallet boards to make a wood floor in a commercial salon. I used new boards I purchased from a company that makes pallets. Very labor heavy process but in the end ,a beautiful one of a kind wood floor. So amazing it was on TV.

[@davidanastacio8928]

One build I made using free pallets that I am proud of is when I used them for covering a dirt floor in a basement, so I could utilize that space in the making of a music practice space. I first leveled the ground. I then cut the nail with a sawzal on one side and then stapled the pallets planking back without spacing. I also fastened the first board half way over the edge, so to connect each pallet to another. I strung all the pallets together to cover the entire floor. I then covered the top of all the pallets in one piece of heavy gauge plastic and used a hammer tacker to staple flat. I then topped my new flooring with carpet padding and finally carpet. This covering has served me well for years without problem. Thought this use might benefit others trying to make use of basement space.

[@josephmartin2536]

You brought up some valid points I had not considered. Like not knowing what was shipped on them. Thanks for the other tips on where to find free or cheap lumber.

[@tstuff]

When I was a kid my mom got about 25 pallet from where she worked and my brother and I built a "fort" with them. We didn't take them apart. We just tipped them up on their sides and nailed them together. It was pretty open so we got ahold of a bunch of those old bamboo screens that roll up and hung them all around the inside and put branches around the outside. That thing lasted for years until we moved. I bet it is probably still there 30 years later.

[@DIYwithDave]

That sounds awesome! A kids dream.

[@mostlypeacefulrowan8747]

300 years later it was used as a temporary headquarters for the resistance against the machines

[@emilkarkucinski7896]

Thank you for this video, it was really helpfull! Im planning on building a bedframe out of pallets and i will keep all this information in the back of my mind. The information about lables and how the wood was treated is great!

[@charitiekbyrd1]

Hello, my name is Mike. I have recently decided to get into woodworking and I do have some experience with building things with wood. I understand that there are some good reasons for not using pallet wood for building things out of it, however I don't have the money to go out and buy wood due to the expensive prices that come with it. I would love to buy my wood. I financially can't afford to do it but that is one of the major reasons I am doing woodworking in the first place, for financial help. I do enjoy woodworking and I want to do videos online as well. Until I can afford to buy my wood I will have to get it from pallets and it's just a means to an end for me. Once I can get to a sustainable position of buying it then I have no other choice but to use what I can get for low or no cost. I also would love to get a few tools to make the quality of what I make better like a table saw to get square cuts, I just don't have the money to do it yet. Thank you for the info though and I do like your content, I hope to be where you are one day. Happy building 😁

[@dinohomsey4905]

My personal experience has been awesome. Have made several awesome pieces of furniture, thus making a good profit margin. Picnic table/Bench, Adirondack chairs, stove toppers, work benches, saw horses, garbage containers, bird houses, tables, Thanks for the tips though, have never seen any markings on any of the pallets I've picked up. Great info.

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for your comment! If you are using pallets that don't have markings they are most likely created for domestic use only and generally would not be treated by either heat or chemicals.

[@cathybyrd8688]

I used to work in an office that was built out of pallets and was still standing and being used over 30 years later. It withstood strong straight line winds that did damage to trees and other structures

[@KaelinSlape]

I'm very thankful to learn about the methyl bromide treatment; I had no idea about this and am somewhat ashamed to say I didn't even think of what chemicals might have come into contact with these pallets. Going to share this info with my husband and rethink a couple of our pallet-projects. Thanks for providing your viewers this sort of knowledge so they can make educated decisions about their pallet-projects!

[@tinaallan3292]

Thank you for this video. I am building an outdoor shed, and learning what those symbols mean is very helpful

[@JamesMedema]

VERY useful video, Dave! Thank you! You answered several questions I've been wondering about and a bunch I hadn't even thought of - especially the info on the markings on pallets! Thanks, again!

[@coralmarcin2063]

Thank you so much!! That was extremely helpful and I love how you didn't force your opinions and are opened other ideas as well. Totally going to watch more of your videos

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you found it useful!

[@captainthunderbuns677]

Have made animal, goat, chicken, dog fencing with pallets. Also built a nice outhouse with pallets. Best seat in the house and a great view too!!

[@KevinDoylePID]

Excellent piece. I was aware they were generally available (get two with broken pieces and make one out of them) and use it to store stuff like paint off the floor. But the letter and number codes were new to me (tempted to run out and check some pallets for them!). More importantly, though is that your advice for pallet wood is applicable to anything you plan to use: know what it is, what it's limits are, what it's risks are and in general it's overall qualities and whether it really if the right material or tool for a job. Thanks for sharing.

[@DIYwithDave]

Great comment. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelmanthos5887]

Great video! I've been collecting and using pallets for about 45 years now. I've yet to find a good and consistent way to dismantle them. Sawing them up seems to be the best method, but as you said, it limits the amount of salvageable wood. Best and easiest use is to make stacks, bridge them with framing lumber to make outdoor storage sheds. Good luck everyone!

[@justacanofbeans]

I saw a video where a guy and his dad were building with pallets and they had a big blue tool that essentially dismantled the top boards from the center ones, not sure what it was called though

[@bryanhugh8905]

Ive worked in warehouses for 6 years. Ive never had a problem popping boards off of pallets just by stomping on them while holding at an angle. Those fasters litter the floor of warehouses to the point some companies put magnets on the forklifts to collect them and keep them out of the wheels. Why isnt using a crowbar or something easier?

[@jeffnorbert1871]

Spent over 10 years in the pallet recycling business. Pallets themselves are one thing but deck boards are where the real money is. Have personally dismantled thousands of pallets using a reciprocating saw. After a short time you will find what pallets are easy to take apart, which are not and the exact method that suits you best. Remove the boards intact from the runners. Sell them to the public. Sell the runners to a local pallet company and maybe some boards too. Unusable scrap can also be sold cheap for firewood or just give it away. There's demand for all of it. It's not hard to do after a short learning experience.

[@joseph1786]

9

[@leeames9063]

I use pallets, wood from box springs, and any wood I can reuse repurpose to make raised garden beds, compost bins, trellis, and bed edging, I'm always thinking about what else I can do with them. Thank you. You did have a few 'good-to-know' info that I am now aware of.

[@lynniarichard5033]

Thank you, Dave! Such useful information. I appreciate you taking time out to provide wisdom and knowledge 🫶🏽

[@cliffy7595]

I get pallets that made for shipping large sheets of sheet metal, (at least four foot by ten feet). Most of these pallets are made from oak and pine. I use a special tool I made to tear them apart very quickly and efficiently. I mostly use this wood for burning but I have use it also use it to build small outdoor projects. I found your comment on methyl bromide interesting because when the wood is burned it gives off a distinct smell. Thanks.

[@DIYwithDave]

Are those pallets marked? Is the sheet metal coming from a domestic source or foreign? If it is foreign then it is required to have markings. If it is domestic then it likely is not treated with methyl bromide.

[@allyelly1519]

I doubt they are made from oak - too heavy and valuable.

[@vecomadden8267]

Where can I get the tool to take them apart?

[@Protopious]

@@allyelly1519 I've had plenty of white and red oak pallets. It's definitely not as common as pine but is typically used to ship larger heavy items or to make multiple use pallets. They're kind of the golden chalice of pallet hunting.

[@MaxGiganteum]

​@@allyelly1519 -- In my day, oak pallets weren't that common but it also depends on what part of the country you live in as some geographic locations are where oak is far more plentiful. Also, as has been noted by others, oak is often used because of the strength - pine just doesn't cut it! I too have worked at a few places that were bringing in shipments of items that were large and/or very heavy and it wasn't unusual to find that the pallets or skids were oak or maple wood. The bottom line is that the pallet producers will use whatever they can get their hands on for wood but do supply what is requested as well. Sometimes, manufacturers of certain products just demand a stronger wood for the pallets they ship their products on. Interestingly, back in the 80s and 90s, folks looked for shipments coming from South America. Why? You often found some more exotic or expensive wood in a pallet which was a treat to find. A lot of that wood was converted into items such as jewelry boxes or picture frames or even furniture. Best wishes! - Max Giganteum

[@loh1639]

There are a lot of negative posts but I thought you were trying to be respectful of anyone wanting to use pallet wood. That being said, you gave a lot of good information to consider even if someone still wants to use them. Thank you

[@juiceguentzler]

Great video! I want to build a shed, a coop and a container to hold trash filled bags to protect them from the dogs and horses between dump runs. Now I know what to look for to keep the chickens safe. Super informative! I’m subscribing!

[@peter.g6]

OK dude, we know you're rich, you don't have to rub it in by showing us all your lumber :) Great video!

[@DIYwithDave]

Haha thanks... I can assure you that I am not rich. 🤣 What I have been able to do is get some great deals on lumber over the years, like the time I bought 4/4 walnut for $0.50 a board foot! I'll make a video on how to get lumber for cheap someday.🌳🌲

[@MeatsackMiracle]

He (used) to collect pallets an sell them back. The video is a result of competition. lol

[@oneevilchef]

Clearing a forest? A small copse of trees? Want to make millions during the lumber shortage? Build pallets!

[@starlightstarbrightlove1457]

@@DIYwithDave I’m interested in great deals on lumber. ☺️☺️

[@mstate6]

Where does the lumber from lowes or Home Depot come from? 🤔

[@stevesether]

I'd agree with everything you said, except the methyl bromide. It's true pallets are treated with methyl bromide And it's also true that methyl bromide is very toxic. But there's two things that make pallets being treated with methyl bromide largely irrelevant. Methyl bromide is a gas at room temperature, and the pallets are treated by fumigating them. Since the boiling point of methyl bromide is 40F, any methyl bromide used during fumigation evaporated off a LONG time ago. This stuff dissipates so fast, that it's used to fumigate strawberries and grapes. So if you've ever eaten a strawberry, chances are you've eaten one where methyl bromide was used to fumigate it for pests. It used to be used to fumigate houses to kill termites (it's since been banned because it's an ozone depleting chemical). So basically, don't worry about it. Worry about all the other crap the pallet might have come into contact with over it's life. But the methyl bromide is of zero concern.

[@PierreRiopelClone]

Great comment, thanks.

[@cowboypatriot1200]

Notice how he didn't reply to your comment , I think they are just trying to get people to stop taking and using pallets because it's taking money out of their pocket 😉

[@stevesether]

@@cowboypatriot1200 There's a phrase I've learned to live by. Never attribute to malice that can be adequately explained by incompetence. In other words, there's a lot more ignorance and incompetence in the world than their is ill will . Also, most people are loathe to admit when they're wrong.

[@veganvocalist4782]

Thank you Steve

[@stevesether]

@KR I'd be curious to see the credible sources.

[@richardspencer7122]

been using and re-cycling pallets since the 80s, excellent info and help, thank you sooooooooo much!

[@DIYwithDave]

I'm glad you found it useful!

[@jamesbarros950]

Great video. I use them for some very specific projects (generally where they are used whole or nearly whole) your video isn’t just a “don’t do this” but wise council on what to consider if you decide to. Thank you!

[@leksheychef6063]

Thanks, a lot of interesting and smart info. That being said, recently saw large clean & clear tulip poplar used on pallets a friend received with a wood delivery. Beautiful and perfect full 2x4’s. They have already been cleaned and stashed for latter use.

[@tressal4967]

Sir, I build things out of pallets all the time. There is a very simple way to avoid all these things. Use your eyes and look at them. Maybe do some research about where you get them. I get mine from a local metal fabrication business for free and most of the pallets there are made locally for metal made locally and used only once. If you're putting the effort in to make something, you put the effort in to get the best stuff you can. I've looked at free pallets, and said, "I'm sorry, those wont suit my purpose" in the past. Most people giving pallets away expect you to use them for firewood, and if you tell them it's for arts and crafts, they think its interesting and will help you get nice ones or tell you their condition. At least in my expierence. The current place I get them puts the nicest ones aside for me. 💜

[@allyelly1519]

Am building a woodstore with pallet wood - not sure I'd like to build a shed or an animal shelter or some of the other exotic projects people use them for. Great video. There was a good video of taking them apart by turning them over and hitting down on them. Thanks for the information on the methyl bromide - invaluable. I thought pallets could be treated to preserve the wood as they do for fence posts - never thought about preserving them to repel insects. ALSO, never burn them on your woodburner or in your fireplace.

[@jeffadams5312]

Great info. It definitely makes me think twice about using pallet wood.

[@DIYwithDave]

I'm glad you found it useful. Pallet wood definitely has its place, but it is best to know what you are getting yourself in to at the start.

[@justinemukhopadia6022]

Thanks for the information, I always wanted o build a house but I'm going to have to do with building a shed. At least I have an idea what to do, and what not to do, how to start. I am going to try and involve my grandsons.

[@jeffarmfield2346]

I worked at number of different factories when I was younger and typically you see better pallets at places moving really heavy, industrial type stuff or somewhat hazardous stuff like paints, chemicals, etc. I worked one place that made and tempered huge metal coils and those pallets had wood over an in thick on them and could be up to 76" by 76" where each pallet weighed multiple hundreds of pounds just by itself.

[@Wolfmama0104]

Education is very important, thank you for taking the time to teach us. Now I am going to be more careful about the palettes I chose to use,

[@eiward]

Thank you. There's a lot of great information here. I recently built my first project out of pallet wood and I enjoyed it, but there was some extra labor involved for the processing.

[@mostlypeacefulrowan8747]

Thank you for the breakdown of the stamp symbols

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertfoster1420]

An intelligent well thought out narrative with some very useful information. There were a number of things I hadn't thought about so thank you for that.

[@CoachTMAC]

Great video. Good tag line for the title too! Very important information, especially this year. Two years ago, I started using pallet wood for my garage shelving. I tried several methods to take apart the pallets (reciprocating saw, thor-like hammers, pry bars and regular hammers.) and after about thirty of them became quite good at it. I found the 45-48 inch pallets with four support boards to be the worst. I watched several youtube demo videos before I started and understood which ones were going to be harmful. Last year, I started using some pallet wood for my garden beds. I used the 2"X4"'s to great the box frame and then side boards cut to 16" to 18" length for the sides. I sanded them down and treated them with linseed oil and lined the inside of the box with a water barrier lining and drilled holes in the bottom as to allow no water pooling. End result, decent. The money I spent on the mixture of organic soils evened out for the free wood. It did take a month to source out acceptable wood pallets which I got from the local garden center. I will get another season out of the wood, but next year I will plan to buy new boards that can last more than 1-2 seasons. Thanks for taking the time to put out this videos.

[@DIYwithDave]

Thsnks for watching! And thanks for sharing you experience. Pallets can be perfectly fine to build with privided that you are careful and you know what you are getting yourself into.

[@joseponcedeleon4866]

Sawall with steel cutting blades, cuts through the nails easily

[@CoachTMAC]

@@joseponcedeleon4866 - thank you. I am always interested in new “toys”. I have worn out two of my routers and one of my sanders as I am still collecting pallet wood. Now it’s a hobby. I go almost every week to this one place that runs a business of refurnishing government furniture and they get tons of pallets. The best are the the ones that transported 4ft x 8ft glass sheets. The skids are 10ft long. My wife gets mad because there’s always 100’s of boards in the garage. I like to build stuff for the neighbours. Shelving, garden beds and chairs for the cottage. Thanks again for the tip.

[@michealfigueroa6325]

Thank you for your concern Most of your arguments have narrow limits of impact and can and are worked around; project size, mixed material, how dry is the material, bought any building lumber at your big box Green as grass, etc. I have used pallet lumber with very good results and would use it again should it fill the needs of a project. Thank you

[@kristophermelin7160]

I occasionally get some, and they work ok for something "rustic" (I made shelves for a hobby room that turned out pretty cool.) I also realized that there was a HUGE variety of quality, and having used them for that project, I often passed by those for better, more consistent wood (even when it costs money.) The best use I've found has been free firewood for the pit outside. Nobody seems to mind the cracks, bent nails, and odd shapes. Thanks for a though provoking look.

[@richsmout550]

Great info on the pallets. Will definitely bare that in mind. I've only used a couple and they have been for either temporary or rough planters or garden bench table etc. Then I'm not worried if they fall apart or get damaged.

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks. Pallets can be great for a lot of different things. It's just good to be informed and be careful.

[@richsmout550]

@@DIYwithDave definitely

[@brucemcdougall7282]

Outside projects , used as back drops , and Good info . Thanks

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrewg2703]

Solid explanations for why it would not be the greatest idea to use pallet wood. Most of them I knew, the MB is the one I didn’t know specifically what chemical it was but I assumed there would be pallets treated with harsh chemicals. Thanks for the video!

[@DIYwithDave]

Glad you found it useful!

[@user-E12BDavid49]

this information is very important. i am sure not many know those facts. thank you very much

[@DIYwithDave]

Thank you!

[@lonnietaylor2759]

I want to thank U for that in lighting information about pallet wood,I have been watching people making different things from them.that's good to know information to aid in a person wanting to use them to make items they may want to use around the house.👌👌👍👍👍👍👍

[@muziekmettirza8901]

This was very helpful. Now I really know what I'm getting into. I do only plan to use it in the garden though. But now that I know this, I'm really suprised that in the Netherlands we often use it for kids, to build with it and sometimes even spend a night in it. We build a whole village and than tore everything up. It's like a summer activity thing.. But I'm a bit hesistant now, to let them join in.. 😮

[@johnherrera456]

Hi Dave, found your video informative, I've used pallets for a couple of outdoor projects and because ice got a home made disassembly tool its very fat to remove slats from supports, however still a little tone consuming to remove the nails but all said cheaper than buying good wood for a raised path/walkway and catwalk around the kids' playhouse. Having said all that, i completely agree with your opinion of not using that wood for any indoor or cosmetic woodworking. However as boxes around my blackberry bushes the cutoffs of my other projects worked quite well albeit for only one season as in the ground they rotted quite fast over the winter, oak and pine both rotted equally fast! So all your points are valid, thanks.

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for your comment. There are definitely good uses for pallets. People just need to be informed before using them. It sounds like you definitely know what you are doing.

[@ablemwelesho5155]

Great information. Well explained and you’re open minded whether one has to use the pallets or not. Personally I have learnt a lot on some important details I wasn’t aware of. Thank you

[@lindsaylove6848]

This is all depending what type of pallets you get. I have very thick wood pallets that are legit 2x4 pieces of wood. Pallets are also identifiable ie make sure you're not using pallets that have been sprayed with certain chemicals, treated. Especially is you're using them indoors. Obviously if you're working with pallets for furniture, fencing etc you're going to clean the pallets off. You're also going to make sure you get some that aren't rotted wood or moldy 🙄 it's surprising that you think people are just grabbing any type of pallet and using it. I've had a pallet "bed" frame and have had the same pallets under there for almost decade. They are safe, untreated with dangerous chemicals, and have been 10x more sturdy than a bed frame. I also ran string lights under there and they're gorgeous!!

[@therenaissancewoman2080]

This was very informative. I would never have known there was a stamp on the pallets or what it means. Now, I'll be aware. I think it's good for people to know and be aware not to use the wood pallets for anything where food will come into contact. It's just smart and sensible. I'm building little ranch-style fences, lattice walls for my garden, and siding for a shed, so I think it'll be alright.

[@DIYwithDave]

I'm glad you found it useful. Pallets are great for uses like that. Good luck on your projects!

[@SlaytanicSuperstarr]

Good information, especially the markings. These are things I haven't considered. Im looking to build a small storage shed and want to use the pallets we have been getting with our concrete delivers. I dont know where they all have been, but I can bet they haven't been sitting in the rain recently. Thanks!

[@littleangel1301]

Incredibly valuable information. Thank you so much. A lot of what you said never even crossed my mind. Excellent job in looking out for everyone!🙂

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you found it useful!

[@nickadamson6053]

All pallets can be treated with Methyl Bromide. The amount they get treated with will have dissipated by the time you get your hands on it otherwise people would get sick from them just handling them. If a shipping container in a port hasn't been properly handled, they might treat the entire container with MB, so even just your HT pallets could have been hit with MB. Not a reason to avoid them.

[@dannyparke4477]

Thanks for the advice on the labeling of pallets. I have them for building of outdoor projects. I have special tools to take them apart. I’m not going to be upset at you. I think it’s a great video to share. Thanks

[@DesertDolphinWoodworks]

Thanks for pointing out some things I never thought about!

[@DIYwithDave]

Glad you found it useful!

[@patrickperry-mo7oi]

I use pallets for outlying building projects: Chicken coop; lawn and garden shed; and other similar projects. Of course, as the cost of wood is high, and if time is a factor do not use pallets, but by taking the time to select decent pallets of the same typical construction, one may save a good amount of money, and have a great time with the grandchildren . Using the scraps to make a fire is always fun too.

[@steveshooter9010]

I really like the way you handled V art's "stupid" comment...lol.

[@GreggLawrenceHammock-lh6dk]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VALUBLE INFORMATION

[@sandras940]

Wow. Did not know. Thank you for info. Will keep safety in mind when using. Appreciate the markings. Best for outdoor use, limited lifespan. 😮😊

[@DIYwithDave]

Glad I could help!

[@StreamHugger]

Well done, Dave. It was a good refresher for me, but I did indeed pick up a couple of new tidbits. Keep up the good work!

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks!

[@garrytalley8009]

I like to have pallets just to put things on to use my forklift on my tractor when necessary. They are hard to take apart that's for sure. Many are made quite a bit better than others. I have considered making a cheap deer blind out of pallets. I have seen it done in a real crude manner. It certainly would be easy enough to do using the pallet boards as siding. Certainly, would be better than having to hunt with a roof over your head in the rain or snow. BTW I do have some high-end Muddy Blinds on my farm. I was thinking about blinds for putting in the woods at a budget. My expensive blinds are located in secure places that have a large field of view. Nice video and lots of good information.

[@jomeercalu1]

I had no money at the time but I needed to build some kind of a run for my dogs. I thought that pallets might be a good idea since they were free. I lived down the road from a local animal feed store. They had hundreds of pallets available to take. So, I started grabbing about 40-50 at a time. There were so many to choose from that I was able to be really picky and only grab the best looking highest quality ones I could find. Ultimately, Instead of just a dog run, I ended up building a small deck in the back of my duplex. It had a shed and doghouse to boot. The pallets worked out really well for me. I would love to send you some pictures. I would say, for a pallet wood project, (for free), it really came out pretty good. It was originally for the dogs but we liked it so much that we ended up spending a few summer nights out there playing cards.

[@TedSelnes]

Very Fair about his commitment.

[@quirkygreece]

If customs open a container at the port and find anything they don’t like, they will treat the whole container with Methyl Bromide, so your HT pallet may well have been MB treated anyway. It’s also worth noting that the MB dissipates into the atmosphere, so it’s highly unlikely that you will be affected by MB. I use pallets all the time and don’t worry about MB - of more concern is the amount of small metal chips and stones that may be embedded in the wood, which will damage your planer blades and then the “free” wood isn’t free anymore. With that said, it’s obviously a personal choice, good luck with your pallet wood.

[@Shirlbw54]

Euro pallets are often thicker wood, and more often hardwood slats. While you do still have to check for Methyl bromide, it is rare in the US and has been illegal here and in many countries for some time. I am working on some pallets right now to make a chicken coop. Some of them even have plywood on one side. I had already figured that food contact would not be a good idea, but the chickens will have heat treated wood, and won't be eating off of it : ) I'd say pallet wood is good for some things, but not everything, and you have to be careful. The split pieces I can't use for the chicken coop will make dandy kindling when we go camping (camp wood isn't cheap either!) Good pros and cons in the video, though as well as the labeling info.

[@RegisMichelLeclerc]

The first thing you want to do is to take your pallets apart so to keep only the good lumber and sort it by size, state and species. Of course, you don't even touch the treated or painted ones, only take the "HT" ones. Here in Ireland, local farmers' "spill" pallets rarely have markings, they're usually heat-treated spruce, more rarely maple, and they are longer (1.4mx1m) than the usual EuroPallets (1mx0.8m or 1.2mx1m), with a thickness between 14mm and 18mm, rarely 6mm or 20mm with 3 or 4 "cross-bars" that can be an inch thick (and obviously the length of the pallet width). I can use that because I know what was in the barrels that used to stand there (I know the farmer). Cutting the pallets is a generally bad idea, because you actually want to collect the nails as much as possible to reuse them (but only the ones you managed to extract about straight, bent nails are no good for anything but the foundry). This is taking a lot of time, but you're probably not making it professionally if you're using pallets. Also, the "cross-bars" are thicker (as they must be able to take the nails without cracking) and therefore somewhat more valuable than the rest of the pallets (but you usually get 3 or 4 of them per pallet). For the ones that are locally damaged, a jigsaw will do the job: unless you're rebuilding pallets from their lumber (e.g. to make a deck or a wall), you rarely need them to be full length. You'll end up with lots of different sizes, but you're gonna resize that (i.e. cut them shorter or narrower) anyway. For the thinner planks, you want to pre-drill the holes before putting nails or screws there (3mm is usually fine) to avoid cracking, especially with pine and spruce as the heat treatment tends to make the thinner ones (6mm) fairly brittle. For thicker pillars, pallet planks accept really well to be "laminated", either to make it longer or larger. It's no problem to make a thick table (e.g. a workbench or a floor) with multiple layers of planks glued together, you just need a really steady supply (which is the problem in most cases). For instance, making the pillars for a carport simply requires the space to assemble the pillars (and a good few clamps) and alternate the planks, which you can do by cutting one of the planks at half length to provide the beginning and the end of the "alternated" part, just like brick laying, then soak with engine oil and put planks on the sides, cut to size and assemble. It takes a lot longer than buying 6"x6" lumber, but it's free and doesn't require that much overhead: as usual, the longest part is to wait for everything to dry up. Withered pallets are actually excellent for exterior covers. Just make a mix of diesel and filtered old engine oil: because the lignite has already partially gone, it'll be much easier to get that "treatment" in and make your planks imputrescible for the next 2 years, when you reapply the same treatment again: it's not because it's pallet wood that you should let it to rot, it requires the same level of maintenance as any other wood. If you're building for inside, pallet wood can be beautiful when planed and sanded. Just don't forget to treat it with mineral oil (I use "baby oil"...): soak with white spirit to clean and soak with oil, use some aerosol varnish and assemble when it's dry. No need to plane the faces that won't be visible, you're gonna lose a lot of matter by planing/jointing and sanding. When sanding, make sure to gather the saw dust, it makes a great filler with wood glue to put between planks. Also, dowels are great: mark the junction, use a center finder for the second dimension and mark the depth on the drill bit for the depth, glue with PVA+sawdust filler and clamp on a flat surface, her's a beautiful side panel for your shelves.

[@johannacarpenter4262]

thanks for the info I like the part about the marking and what they mean I have seen them but had no clue what they meant

[@brucephelps678]

Kudos to you for researching things like this. People have the right to know what they are getting in to. The information you showed us is very interesting. I work with pallets in my job every day and never realized what all those markings meant. Thank you for all this information.

[@DIYwithDave]

I'm glad you found it useful!

[@amyreynolds3619]

I made a work bench out of 7 foot pallet. I also pallets to build a sub floor for my 20 x 12 shed for lawnmower, bike, and garden tools.

[@timcoolican459]

Generally, I used pallets the way they were designed...for storage. I have numerous pallets that I've augmented, along with some 2x4, to make outdoor storage shelves. I also use pallet wood for shop storage and rough temporary jigs, bunks for temporary storage, or out door rustic projects like yard tools organizers, 'Bug Hotels', and things like temporary drying racks to paint or stain wood. I do not use pallet wood for food safe projects or finer pieces that will be used indoors...especially if they are used by children. It is safe and easier to use new wood. Thanks for pointing these pitfalls out. Very informative.

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you liked it!

[@andymarshall7165]

As a person who has used pallet wood for years and even gotten sick a few times, let me say almost everything you said is true. However customers want what they want and good sense doesn't pay the rent 😁. Also you sound like a wood salesman trying to make a sale lol. Most of all pay attention to those markings they mean a lot and no matter the markings for God's sake DO NOT EVER make a cutting board from pallet wood.

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks for sharing! Lol...not a wood salesman, but I buy my fair share. I have no problem with people building with whatever they want; I just think that it is good to be educated and prepared.

[@thebiblicalanimalfarm340]

Even though I am late on watching your video, I do appreciate your information. Since I know about the potential risks, I do take cautious measures with the pallets I use. Thumbs up.

[@houseofkane3927]

I use them to build my kids forts , have the fun is hunting for them and figuring out how to use them

[@nocarey]

Should warehouse workers working with and around 100's of pallets a day be concerned for their health? Recently I've seen lots of hanging pests stations(similar to small paper fold ups) within these warehouses.

[@davepetro5676]

I built some shelf with the pallet that move Conditioner or generator unit they have oak and are 10 foot long with 2 by. 6 they have much nicer wood. I have a pallet I got those over a small stream and it stronger I can drive. My 4 wheeler over it.

[@cowboypatriot1200]

There's this product called Thompson's water seals , I have 2 small sheds that I built over 12 years ago and they are holding up just fine 😊

[@stevecallachor]

Until the 1980s pallets in Australia were built of good hardwood timber and were held in a central pool and rented out as folk needed them, typically about 5 cents a day. A problem emerged when shipping containers no longer allowed two pallets to be shipped side by side, previously they had been sized to fit two abreast on a truck. Suddenly we needed millions of pallets, Ok let's buy them and make them out of cheap pine timber!!!! The world changes as it spins on its axis!! Stavros

[@FIXWCBCANADA]

As a long haul trucker I'd pick up a load of produce in California going to Canada, It was super cooled at the shipper, when I would get to the Canada border it was inspected. If insect's were discovered at the border it was placed in quarantine and received fumigation to kill the insects. No Where would that be marked on the pallet. I also worked for a Vegetation Control Company, That received their product on pallets.. Mostly herbicide but the odd load of pesticide was used.. The chemicals were mixed with water in a tank, but sometimes the product was in bags and was cut open on the pallet, same with liquid herbicide. There was always spills. Pallets cannot be 100% sure they were not contaminated. If you plan on using pallets, look for furniture store's or businesses that have pallets made for their use, I do build with pallets. I do NOT use any pallet that is dirty or has had any thing on the wood that discolors the wood. Also a good source of pallets is major building supply companies and big box stores. Seriously pay attention when selecting pallets.. Use proper safety apparatuses when cutting or sanding. There's hardly any "MB" pallets around.. I've only seen less than a handful in the last 10 yrs.

[@jkumm12]

The information you provide is excellent and quite thorough. I do worry about some of the social media messages about people talking about making furniture for sale (often at high prices) from pallet wood. The concept of bringing unknown timbers with unknown treatment into home environments is very worrying, and may well open the maker up for compensation if the product has faults. We occasionally use pallet wood for simple one-off tasks such as making moulds or framework;, but tend to look for other timber alternatives for other price-limited applications.

[@TimHief]

Great info on the labeling. Pallet wood is a good way to learn your tools when starting out in wood projects, hobby builds. Better to make mistakes on free wood than to spend good money on quality wood you will surely mess up in the beginning.

[@kennyarnett5203]

Lots of good points. Thank you. I did not think about all what you say. 👍🏻

[@DIYwithDave]

Glad you found it useful! Happy building!!

[@xavierkoolat6926]

Thank you. I did not know of those problems with pallet wood. I learned a lot.🙂

[@terrywhite5455]

I’ve been woodworking four years since I retired. I’ve built all sorts of things for my shop and home. I’ve not purchased any lumber except one sheet each of Baltic plywood and a sheet of 3/4 mdf. Have used construction site off cuts, defects and pallet wood. Just picked up an absolutely beautiful clean pallet today. Codes were VN and HT. Both sides all slats are touching each other, no gaps. 30 slats in total, all in perfect shape. Now to break it down.

[@ukfilipinooutdooradventure1126]

This is extremely useful, many thanks from the UK!

[@tylergleason8079]

How would using pallet wood work for making a headboard? I really like that rustic look and I planned on sanding it down and staining them, so quality and differing types of wood isn’t really a concern to me. Great video btw!

[@allyelly1519]

and you spend 8 hours+ in close proximity to methyl bromide !

[@jasonstevens7957]

I might be very lucky here, living next to a boat builder there are many beautiful new pallets each week made from clean same species wood. Thank you for all the Info dude, Duly noted! Jay, U.k.

[@lowfijones3346]

This guy is a wood genius!! Thanks for the info! Subscribed!

[@DIYwithDave]

Thank you so much!

[@MarkOgilvie-farm]

I have built compost bins with free HT pallets. The wood had no discernible chemical stains and I got quite a few years use out of them. I understand the need for caution.

[@Avengedsevenfoldrocks]

The blue pallets, chep pallets are pretty expensive for Walmart and Publix, etc to buy; so if you just go up on their property and start taking them you may get arrested. I lived for 5 years of paying my rent along with some beers everyday by just doing pallets and scrap metal. The 40"x48" four-way pallets are the ones you look for when trying to make a few dollars. They will buy the chep pallets for about a dollar each.

[@hoperules8874]

Hey! That is really useful info! Thank you!

[@DIYwithDave]

Thanks! I'm glad you found it useful!

[@jorgecastro1894]

Thank you very much for a lot of information, it is good to know the facts about this wood!

[@Vector_Ze]

From my limited knowledge on the subject, I wouldn't use pallets/pallet wood for anything that is going to be exposed to weather. Especially, for anything that will be in contact with the ground, which is why I was surprised to hear you give the 'okay' to building a shed. From what I've seen, anything built in contact with the ground will last a year at best, in a wet climate like Florida.

[@montumeroe9593]

Thanks for the information Dave I live in Ghana moved from the UK wanted to build something fast and cheap so I built one room 16x20 ft out of palettes based on a German, design. It's on KZbin I found materials like concrete way to expensive so I had pillars put on put up 40 pallettes down for the floor treated it with High Gloss Lacquer. So far so good it hasn't fallen down the front is mostly a huge glass wall with a door one way in the walls are double pallettes stuck together for more strength did a bit of wind proofing. If it falls down with me in it you won't hear from me again I'll be in the hospital or the morgue.

[@kentpointer6748]

Very informative! Great deal of information I had no idea about, Keep the videos coming!

[@hardboiledfrog]

I appreciate this video very much. I knew they were sometimes treated but did not know exactly with what or how to identify pallets that had been treated. Now I have a better understanding. And honestly only the methyl bromide would deter me. I am in a major metropolitan area and I see discarded furnitureball the time and think to myself "that right there is better than pallet wood." Specifically because it eliminates the methyl bromide concern.

[@scottguitar8168]

I use pallets all the time, not necessarily for fine furniture but usually for things like compost bins or outside tables to hold my grow bags. Sometimes I make storage crates out of them. I usually use a reciprocating saw to cut the nails. Searching for the right pallet is sort of like looking for good pieces of wood, you can see when you get a good pallet vs one in bad shape. You can usually tell the different types of wood used to make them if you don't want to mix wood. The one thing that you did educate me on are the markings and to look for the pallets that have been chemically treated so I will avoid them. I think this is a very informative video but I am all for free wood, where I even pick up scraps of wood that people put out for the trash if I can think of a use for it. Likewise for screws and hardware, I rarely have to buy my own.

[@davekava3946]

I just got 50 free pallets that not only where in excellent shape but most had a dark wood that ended up being from Africa. A saws all with a wood metal Diablo blade made taking all 50 apart east and took 2 hours.

[@stephenbeck5993]

I agree completely. Whenever I acquire pallet wood or any salvaged wood if I don't know its history, I wash it with soapy water and a soft brush, rinse with a garden hose, and let it dry. Even after that, I do any sawing, routing, sanding, etc. outside rather than in my shop.

[@paintnamer6403]

A video about things I didn't know that I should know. I've been working with pallets for years.

[@rebeccagroessler8403]

Let me guess, do you sell wood for a living or something along those lines? (Just saying). Set aside from that, I do appreciate you sharing information about methyl bromide. And how to differentiate b/n pallets treated with this chemical and ones not. That is very helpful and the number one reason I was searching for this video. Thanks

[@DIYwithDave]

Lol. No, I don't sell lumber. I do buy a lot though. I'm glad you found the video helpful!

[@samh9072]

Wow great way to kill a vibe 😂😂. But honestly you’ve said everything I try to deny lol. Nice job.

[@flyty2134]

Good video thanks for sharing God bless you and yours.