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.
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.
Following you on Pinterest!
Oh how i could have used his tool in the last week! I would love to have one of these
after all it becoming the craft season of the year……with the holidays right around the corner.
I follow you on email and Pinterest!! You motivate me!
I’d love to win! I have lots of home projects in mind, and this tool would be a help.
Just found you and already lovin your blog! Following you on Pinterest & FB! Congrats on a successful site!! I’d feel so empowered to add the Dremel tool to my weak collection … I want to know more/do more with our family DIY projects. I’ve just mastered the drill – time to keep growing! Thanks for all your great insight!
OH yeah. and I follow ya on Pintesrest as well as Facebook. dont have twitter yet… kind of busy to figure that out right now.. oh and I do have your blog on my home page.. favorite!
The dremel would be awesome .. as I just started gather ing my own “tools” I borrow a lot of my husbands as I began multiple projects couple years back.. My boys are all in scouting so we work on their pinewood derby cars, just recently we did a raingutter regatta [whew that was different!] and we have a house out in the country and I “save” many odd ball items as well as pallet wood, cause i see something in em I want to make and it works out.. and even when it does not work out.. i go another direction with it and it still works out!
I love your blog and project ideas…..very empowering, helps me get up the courage to tackle some “fix ’em up” jobs that I might not have considered before.
Brittany
Just found your awesome site and immediately am following you on facebook and pinterest. We are building a new home and I know I will be incorporating some of your awesome ideas. Thanks for the chance to win. My toolbox needs more than just a hammer and screwdriver! 🙂
Already following you on Facebook, now on Twitter too!!
I’m following you……and I’m not a stalker 🙂 Gotcha on my Pinterest!!!!
I just found your site today and am really excited about it! I am now going to find you on Pinterest!
I would sooo love to win this!! I would use a Dremel Multi-Max to remove some vinyl tile in my kitchen and for a ceramic tile repair job in my bathroom and, I have no doubt, dozens of other uses as I fix up my house!!
also, i follow you on pinterest
http://pinterest.com/amidawn/
a dremel tool would make so many of the projects we tackle around the house just a little bit easier!