How to Salvage Wood from Shipping Pallets
Pallet upcycling is all the rage today. But, if you’ve ever tried to actually remove wood planks from a pallet, you know that it is not an easy task. The nails that are used are typically spiral nails and are designed to really grip that wood. And if that’s not enough, they usually shoot 4-5 nails per joint. Sheesh, you’d think they were building a foundation for a 10 ton elephant. Okay, actually it is the foundation that has to hold tons of product as it is lifted by a fork lift. Which explains why harvesting pallet wood can be a labor intensive task.
I figured you’d appreciate it if I shared with you the quickest and easiest way I’ve found to salvage this beautifully rustic pallet wood.
Materials:
- Circular Saw (or jig saw)
- Pry bar
- Hammer
- Dremel Multi-Max (or hacksaw)
- Dremel Multi-Max metal/wood cutting blade
Instructions:
Lay the pallet on a flat surface.
Set your circular saw depth to about 1/4″ beyond the pallet wood.
Saw through the pallet board close to the joint. However, make sure that you are far enough away from any nails. (It is a good idea to look underneath before you begin to cut.)
Cut along the opposite side of the board where it meets the other side board. You should have two cuts now, but the board is still nailed in the middle.
This is a good time to break out the Dremel Multi-Max. (Side note: Dremel sent this tool for me to try — and I have to say — it was a huge help for cutting through all those excess pallet nails. I really liked the tool and it fit nice in my (small female) hand. I haven’t tried any of the other attachments yet, but will be using it to cut the baseboard trim in the bonus room soon.)
The Dremel Multi-Max comes with a few attachments, but you can buy other attachments as needed. Check out the Dremel accessory finder to figure out which bit or blade you need for your specific project.
To install the cutting blade, remove the collet nut on the Multi-max with an allen wrench (1). Loosen the nut until you can slip the wood & metal blade underneath.Line the pins up with the holes in the blade (2). Tighten the collet nut on the Multi-Max.
Insert the Multi-max blade flush with the bottom of the pallet wood. Let the blade saw through the nails. Don’t force or rock the Multi-Max.  (I was able to cut through the outer nails, but couldn’t reach the inner ones.)
Hammer a pry bar under the edge of the loosened board. Pry up the edge a little.
Slip a hammer underneath the pried up side and slide the crow bar into the opposite side of the board. Gently rock the hammer and crow bar outward to lift the board free.
To remove nails still in the pallet board, turn the board upside down (1). Hammer the nail through the board (2). Flip the board right side up and use the claw on the hammer to pry up the nail (3).
After a few hours I had amassed quite a collection of pallet boards and scrap wood from the shop. I used ALL of it in this project.
Stay tuned!
Read more tips on harvesting  pallet wood on Instructables.
Disclosure: Dremel sent me the Multi-Max to try out in a product review. I was not compensated to write this post, nor was I told what to write or how to use the tool. All opinions and instructions are my own.
Hi Pretty:)
I love your Pintrest and FB posts! I also get great ideas from your blog. This post about the reclaimed pallet wood came at just the right time. I recently moved into my newly renovated (by my dad, uncle, and me) home and have left over wood and pallets to recycle. Can’t wait for more ideas. Thanks a bunch!!!
Following on Pinterest 🙂
I’m following you on twitter now
I now follow you on pinterest. Excited to browse through your boards
This would be perfect for the playroom/family room remodel. I’m currently in the planning stages and could use this on a number of projects I have on my list.
I’ve been lusting after this for a while. We just installed laminate flooring and used a Dremel 800 to undercut our molding and doorframes–not fun! If I got this I’d use it to make the bathroom and kitchen flooring projects go a lot faster.
I would luv to use pallets to make a long, distressed box for the dining room table using the dremel tool as you showed!!!
I really really need to get a new garden shed and just can’t see a pre-built on in my near future I could use that Dremel to re-cycle pallets to help make that shed
I’ve re-designed 4 large planter boxes and 2 window boxes on paper. I plan to re-use the current wood and having the Multi-Max would surely help in this endeavor…thanks so much for the opportunity to win!
Great tutorial – thanks for sharing!
I love reading your posts and being inspired by you!
I’m ur facebook fan too! 🙂 also on google+
I follow you on pinterest!!!! 🙂
I would use this to bring to life a creation for a ribbon rack I have in my head. My daddy was always my builder – I would come up with the ideas and creations and he would bring them to life. He is in heaven now and I would love to start bring life to my ideas in his honor 🙂
I follow you on Pintrest! I would use these for my collection of pallets sitting on the side of the house. Wow, very cool tool!