Comments on: Woodworking with Pallets: A Guide to Finding, Breaking Down and Building with Pallets http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/ The #1 source for power tools, power tool reviews and power tool information. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:50:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.6 by: toolcrib http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-24427 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:58:19 +0000 http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-24427 You know what Joe... I never thought about the possible toxicity of pallets due to chemical spills! Your warning is definitely going in the next newsletter - thanks for bringing this up! Garrett You know what Joe… I never thought about the possible toxicity of pallets due to chemical spills! Your warning is definitely going in the next newsletter - thanks for bringing this up!

Garrett

]]> by: Joe http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-24090 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:09:34 +0000 http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-24090 WARNING!!! I haven't read the articles in their entirety however in case no one touched on the topic here goes: Know the history of the particular pallet you are inviting into youe home/shop. Aside from all the normal woodworking issues you will be dealing with consider the toxicity of the wood you may be presented with. Ask yourself just what the heck was stored on that pallet and did it SPILL? Petrolium product, fertilizer, insecticides, etc. etc. Why do you think so many are so eager to give them away, they are a liability. I won't bring any pallet into my shop for this reason. As a retired Career Battalion Chief for a middle sized eastern city I urge all my brother and sister woodworkers to be careful! We wern't even allowed to burn them in training excersizes and we are talking full turnout protection. Be smart and safe, Joe WARNING!!! I haven’t read the articles in their entirety however in case no one touched on the topic here goes:

Know the history of the particular pallet you are inviting into youe home/shop. Aside from all the normal woodworking issues you will be dealing with consider the toxicity of the wood you may be presented with.

Ask yourself just what the heck was stored on that pallet and did it SPILL? Petrolium product, fertilizer, insecticides, etc. etc. Why do you think so many are so eager to give them away, they are a liability. I won’t bring any pallet into my shop for this reason.

As a retired Career Battalion Chief for a middle sized eastern city I urge all my brother and sister woodworkers to be careful! We wern’t even allowed to burn them in training excersizes and we are talking full turnout protection.

Be smart and safe, Joe

]]> by: toolcrib http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-23808 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:34:39 +0000 http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-23808 Thanks for your thoughts Bruce - sounds like pallet wood didn't serve your needs. I'll add your warning to the next issue of the ToolCrib.com newsletter. Garrett Thanks for your thoughts Bruce - sounds like pallet wood didn’t serve your needs. I’ll add your warning to the next issue of the ToolCrib.com newsletter.

Garrett

]]> by: Bruce http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-23801 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:24:48 +0000 http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/06/24/woodworking-with-pallets-a-guide-to-finding-breaking-down-and-building-with-pallets/#comment-23801 I was offered pallets last year. I disassembled them, then stacked them for several weeks to restore a dry state as they were stored outside. I bought a metal detector for wood to scan the pieces and ended up cutting off several inches at each end to avoid the residual nail metal. Then I used my jointer and planer, with an old set of blades, to achieve a good surface. After stacking over winter in my garage, I started using the pieces this Spring. Although most is oak, it is amazing how little is suitable for furniture-like pieces to be stained. It splits easily, has significant defects and now most is two to three feet long. Not good for much beside jewelry boxes, small frames, and the like. Would I do it again? No. I had to buy a new set of blades to replace the pallet-worn-out blades, which wasn't cheap. I had to buy the metal detector, for which I have no other use. I now have to down scale my project list to those smaller items I usally don't make. No such thing as a free lunch. I was offered pallets last year. I disassembled them, then stacked them for several weeks to restore a dry state as they were stored outside. I bought a metal detector for wood to scan the pieces and ended up cutting off several inches at each end to avoid the residual nail metal.

Then I used my jointer and planer, with an old set of blades, to achieve a good surface. After stacking over winter in my garage, I started using the pieces this Spring. Although most is oak, it is amazing how little is suitable for furniture-like pieces to be stained. It splits easily, has significant defects and now most is two to three feet long. Not good for much beside jewelry boxes, small frames, and the like.

Would I do it again? No. I had to buy a new set of blades to replace the pallet-worn-out blades, which wasn’t cheap. I had to buy the metal detector, for which I have no other use. I now have to down scale my project list to those smaller items I usally don’t make.

No such thing as a free lunch.

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