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.
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Oooh! I NEED one of these right now! I have a sliver of flooring around the perimeter of the bathroom floor that needs removed. This would be PERFECT!
I would use the Dremel MultiMax for many of the applications listed there, but the first thing would be to cut a new floor vent because we need to do that very soon!
Ohhhh Brittany…..why would I like to win the Dremel? Because a new tool is waaaaaaaaayyyyyy more exciting than a new outfit of clothing, dinner at a fine restaurant, and seeing the first evening star combined…..and because the smell of sawdust is better than a bouquet of roses.
Hi Brittany,
Thanks for your great blog. I check out what you are up to every day and am sorry to learn that you have been ill the last few days. I am retired, in my seventies, with time and desire to repair and improve many things that have come my way over the years. One of the main items I would use the Dremel tool for would be to repair and improve a child sized morris chair that I have and have wanted to update for quite some time. I also would use it in my composition doll repair activities. It would be great if I win it!
Hope you are feeling better now.
I could finally finish up projects around my house without asking to borrow tools. I love Dremel and hey, my email name is hardwaregirl2, so that shows I am learning to do things on my own. Thank you so much for offering this giveaway.
Winning a Dremel Multi-Max tool would be awesome! Most of all, because I would claim it as MINE!! Have many projects in mind where it would be helpful. Thanks for such a great giveaway.
I enjoy your blog and already follow you. I could really put this to good use. Hope I win. Thank You for the giveaway!
Please oh please let me win this!!!!
The projects I can make with a Dremel Multi Max.. my creativity is blowing my mind and with Christmas right around the corner. Pick me, Pick Me Pretty Please and thank you for inspiring me.
P.S. I follow you on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
Happy Crafting can’t wait to see what you do next
I somehow lost my original Dremel in my move – it’s sooooo useful for all my woodworking projects and would be awesome to win one! Thanks for hosting this giveaway and being an inspiration to fellow DIY women 🙂
Found you on pinterest! I think I was already following a couple of your boards – now I’m following them all 🙂
I watched a few of the videos on their site. I think I would most use the tool for wood sanding, but its amazing all the different things it can do!
Cool giveaway! Thanks for sharing!