I had never thought of bracing underneath the top plank and hammering it out, but that's such an immaculate method. I've been using a wood chisel as a wedge between the side and the plank and prying, but this would save my edges as well as saving most of the nails for reuse. Also, your tutorial is better than 99% of tutorials on youtube, regardless of topic. Thank you.
I've seen this method a few times. I've tried it more times than I've seen it. What you folks use looks like soft green pine pallets, which I have never seen. Except in these videos. Every pallet I've ever seen and tried is mostly hardwood. I have never, ever, had any luck doing that. I'm glad it works for you. If I ever see pallets like the ones you seem to be getting, I'll give it another go.
So it works on 90+ % of pallets I try it on, hardwood and softwood. You need a good heavy mallet hammer really, which I don't show in this video unfortunately. My follow on video shows an improved process I have worked out.
@@TheOptimisticGardener I've been using just a normal heavy hammer as well. I'll try a mallet, I have a few pallets available. Thanks for the reply sir.
pardon me gentleman, allow me to speak to you, the good man with a pallet.. i dont know why a lovely music call four seasons keep play in my humble head while i see such a wonderful techniques to dismantle a pallet wood.
I've never taken a pallet apart that way but have been bending nails for over 50 years. I have found that it is always easier to de-nail a board when the nails are straight rather than bent. Seems to me it would be better to remove all the boards with the blocks rather than bending the nails. Have a big stack of pallets, guess I'll find out soon enough. Can't kneel on the ground so will set up a saw horse table. 40" high horses with 5 or 6 - 8' 2x4s and 2x6s and a 4x8 sheet of scrap plywood. A higher table eliminates the stoop and saves your back. A block for each runner of the pallet seems like it would speed up production also. Great idea, thanks for the video. Will definitely give this a try.
thank you, thank you, thank you. I have a bunch of pallets but wasn't sure how to take them apart as I neither had, nor could I find, a crowbar. Every video showed expensive equipments which I cannot afford, so this is amazing. I'll be spending this weekend taking my pallets apart :-)
I took a pallet apart about an hour ago and I wish I'd known your method - I reverted to sawing off the nailed parts as I've seen many woodworking TH-camrs do, I didn't realise how easy it could've been to keep all the boards intact!Thanks for sharing.
My god this looks so easy had an old gent tell ne to use a chisel and mallet. I'm 5ft and couldn't get a decent swing on the mallet to hit the chisle, few bust up fingers later I gave it up as a bad job but this I am definitely going to try thank u for the video 👍
I thought I knew every method of taking apart a pallet but that's a new one on me. Thanks, I will give it a go on the seriously stubborn and well made Scottish pallets that seem to be stronger than the stone walls of my house.
Excellent, just found you via Huw Richards' FB page. I just took one pallet apart, hard going with up to five nails in each place. Took a while ad a few damaged bits. Using your method tomorrow should be a lot easier, for the remaining half a dozen.
Yes, when you have lots of nails in an end it can be a problem. I am going to do an update video, to show what I do when I run into problems with pallets that have really long nails, lots of nails or older pallets that can sometimes split.
Those are seriously clean, photogenic pallets. Ive never seen any that look like that. Ours are almost all painted by one of the 'return to' pallet company
Wow! Genius! I have never been able to get them apart! Their everywhere and free but unless I could take them apart I ran out of things I could do with them!
I'm watching your videos closely.I have started making trellises from recycled wood and now with your videos am gonna start making cold frames etc. Have sold over 50 trelisses and mow want to sell thses.I w ant be be self employed and haven't ever done any carpentry so wish me luck and thank you for your help
TheEssexSpurs great stuff! I reckon there is a big market for this stuff. I have never been trained in carpentry, just trial and error and like you watching other TH-cam vids. I wish you luck! Let me know how you get on 😀
You just save my life man lol. I'm currently in the process of preparing the pallets to build a wall in my house and I've tried numerous ways one included my noisy circular saw. This is genius! Thanks for sharing!
I’m old I need to work off the table I can’t be kneeling in gravel but all these block of wood solutions for breaking up pallets seem to be working pretty reasonable but I’ve noticed that most of the guys doing this are using pine pallets and stuff I work with is a bit more substantial
Super appreciate video! Tried some other boards, instead of blocks, didn’t work. Broke down and cut 3 4x4 - 6” tall. Worked like a champ. Only needed one. The problem I have is all my pallets have boards both sides. Ended up removing one side prying or sawing as per norm. Am I missing something?
Hi. I saw your pallet seed trays on Huw Richards channel, so I am here for a little bit of support. Looks like you have a number of very interesting videos! Thanks! I'm across the continent, on the American side of the BC/WA border, but within sight of Victoria, BC. Pallets are not that cheap here for some unknown reason, and the good ones, the heat treated ones, are very rare.
Always keep your eye out though, there is normally always a local hardware store or shop that has some going spare if you ask. And thank you for the support :)
Hi, I've tried this today but failed utterly! 😞 I'm guessing it's because they are old pallets with very rusty nails. I was not able to budge the slats one bit. Do you have any suggestions please? I was so excited about making a cold frame!
Are you using a heavy mallet hammer? Sometimes there are pallets that just won’t budge. Have you looked at the part 2 video, that has some other techniques for tricky pallets.
Brilliant! Where were you last weekend when I was sweating up a storm while prying apart multiple pallets, one of which was a very long one, in the blazing hot Florida sun? 😁 Back breaking. I kept thinking that there had to be a better way, while concurrently admiring those unyielding pallet nails with a twist. I’m looking forward to trying this method. Thank you very much.
Hi. Have come from Huw Richards channel. This is a very informative video. I'm going to try this as soon as the weather gets a bit better. No way am I going out in the snow like you. Cheers fro Ireland
Blimey, that's totally ingenious. I had to sub as fast as I could after watching this. 😀 Thank you so much for sharing your awesome knowledge with us, looking forward to watching more of your vids. All the very best. Take care, Steve. 👍👍
I’m so happy I found this channel before beginning my first pallet project! You explain and demonstrate everything so well. This should keep me busy during my states quarantine!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Lots more pallet projects to come; I am going to be making a bar, for my pool deck when I get a couple of clear days, soon :)
@@TheOptimisticGardener So let me ask, how do the corners come together building up a shed with pallettes. I want to make a small one, just not sure what the hardware is called or how it goes in.
Tried that a million times.... Have you tried that way on the European ones.... 4lb hammer , if you're lucky will leave you with some slates.....The nails used on the European ones are knurled and the wood is so hard and tough.... Any answers or help....please...🤒😬😖.... 😷..at least your swearing is muffled with the compulsory masks.... 🏹🛡🇬🇧...
So you just flip the slat over and knock the nails out backwards with a hammer. It is very easy and will be obvious once you look at them. I believe my follow on video shows it. Good luck!
Great video - the only problem I've got with the pallets I get from work is they have supports along the bottom as well so there's no chance you can get a block of wood under like you have.
Method for pallets planked both sides. Situate on hard ground, pass support beam through the cavity and raise on upended equal legnth bricks inserted between bottom planks. Hammer in between the planks Hammer energy is maximised on hard ground and solid brick.
No that bit is easy. Once you have taken the pallets apart, you just take a slat, turn it over and tap the nails out. Most of the time it is pretty quick. I save all the nails and use them in other projects :)
Well done, I just came over from Huw Richards channel, I will definetely try your method, I have some some pallets lying around the house. I have mostly used a hammer and a crow-bar but the wood often cracks while doing it.
Thank you and welcome aboard. I am going to do a follow up vid on when you sometimes get the awkward pallet that doesn't want to come apart easily with my method. Doing another with Huw in the next couple of weeks too, I am going to build an easy cold frame from pallets :)
I made a patio deck out of pallets. Worked out well but only lasted about four years even with urethane coating each year. The Chinese wood that pallets are made from is about as low grade you could use.
yes, i only use it outside if it is protected. Like i built a greenhouse out of mostly pallets but it is covered by plastic and cedar siding. I mostly use the wood inside. But you also get some good hardwood, which comes up nice with comes sanding :
after reversing hammering 42 iterations, how do you quickly handle the nails, assuming some are also bent for those who are pulling out the last holding per slat?
If I understand you correctly, I basically just turn the slat over and tap the nails out. Sometimes, like the last ones you mention they are bent, but a bit of pulling and fiddling is required, but it never takes that long. Most of the nails I can actually straighten out and re-use for different things :)
Hi l have just joined you from Huw Richards and have Really Enjoyed watching your TH-cam Clips. I just wanted to know if it was Possible for you to do a Potting Bench that l would be able to use Outside. I have been asked to do a Vegetable Garden Project for Young People with Learning Disabilities and Need a Potting Bench Table to work on. If you can help me with this it would be Great and also helpful to Other who watch Your Very Helpful Tips and Advice. I look forward to trying some of these out in my New Vegetable Garden Project this Year. Many Thanks Petesveg
Another excellent video of yours! I've got some pallets piled up, originally meant for something else, but I'm sure gonna make some of your planters and this sure looks like a neat way of taking them apart. Thanks again for sharing great tips and knowhow Steve! 👍
Hello you should be able to just tap the sharp end of the nail a few times, then turn the board over and easily pull the nail out with a claw hammer. I was just doing it today while taking a pallet apart :)
HELP, 911, ASAP Hi, I watched how you took ur pallets apart at least 50 times, so when I did mine I know what I'm doing. I tried it, it didn't budge and I smacked the crap out of it. What can I do to make this work? Thank you!
So, sometimes Cheryl this won't work as the nails are too long and glued in. hat being said. Are you using a "mallet" type hammer? A good heavy hammer is needed to apply the oomph! Have you got the pallet on a hard surface (i.e. not on grass) so that you aren't wasting any of the energy? If you look at my second video on taking a pallet apart that gives some other tips. You may have to cut and sacrifice each end and just try with the middle nails.
@@TheOptimisticGardener Hi, thank you for getting back so quickly. I'm doing it in my garage on cement with a mallet. I've watched ur videos more then once to make sure I'm doing it right, I don't know what else I can do other then what you suggested and that's cuttem? I just hope they're all not like that. 😆 thank you for ur time, it was nice chatting with you. Have a nice day!
Good to see you are well again. Just having a look at this video as we have scored sone pallets from a garden center and they just won't come apart. The nails are sort of corrugated and won't let go. Is that same for yours. Maybe we need to look elsewhere?
Hi Annabel, so my method works on 90% of pallets. I know as I am getting different pallets every week. What I will say is that you do need a good heavy mallet type hammer. The nails they use are often the "corrugated" type and they usually put some glue on them too! If the method in the first video doesn't work on these pallets, I suggest you look at the follow on video and you will have to sacrifice the ends of the pallet slats. Have a look at that and let me know how you get on.
Well, crap. Tried your technique on another pallet I had and the ends split apart just as badly as with the crowbar. I suspect the wood type or nail type has a lot to do with it. These were really good and secure nails.
If u start by loosening the nails in the centre of the boards first,it releases the tension in the board & makes it easier to get the opposite ends undone too 😉
@@TheOptimisticGardener this will also work with pallets that have 4 spreaders,but u will need to get close to both individual centre spreaders one @ a time.
It has worked on all different types of pallets. Sometimes it is relatively easy, sometimes not. Sometimes I have to get the hacksaw out, but as a rule it works. Because I take so many apart, nowadays I use a reciprocating saw most of the time :)
I saw your smaller use of water bottles to plant seeds. I have 18 gallon water bottle , not soft and a leaker. How do I cut through harder plastic and do what you did with softer plastic?
Unfortunately, when you have to do so many in a short time, you will need to go to some sort of "pallet jack" machine time gizmo, or do what I do is make a promise to myself that I am going to take one pallet apart a day. Another thing you could do is sacrifice the ends of each slat, by sawing off the ends and then you only have to knock the nails out of the centre length. You obviously end up with shorter lengths, but it is a lot quicker and easier to take that centre bit out.
This is by far the most simplistically helpful TH-cam video I’ve watched.
Huh... I think that is best tutorial of how to take pallet apart I've seen!
Glad it was helpful :)
I had never thought of bracing underneath the top plank and hammering it out, but that's such an immaculate method. I've been using a wood chisel as a wedge between the side and the plank and prying, but this would save my edges as well as saving most of the nails for reuse.
Also, your tutorial is better than 99% of tutorials on youtube, regardless of topic. Thank you.
You're welcome!
What a very clever method to remove the boards! I remember struggling with this years ago, trying to pull the nails out!!
Thank you :) It works in nearly all situations, I have done with great big long nails, just have to be a little patient
I've seen this method a few times. I've tried it more times than I've seen it. What you folks use looks like soft green pine pallets, which I have never seen. Except in these videos. Every pallet I've ever seen and tried is mostly hardwood. I have never, ever, had any luck doing that. I'm glad it works for you. If I ever see pallets like the ones you seem to be getting, I'll give it another go.
So it works on 90+ % of pallets I try it on, hardwood and softwood. You need a good heavy mallet hammer really, which I don't show in this video unfortunately. My follow on video shows an improved process I have worked out.
@@TheOptimisticGardener I've been using just a normal heavy hammer as well. I'll try a mallet, I have a few pallets available. Thanks for the reply sir.
Can't wait to try this method out! So many have shown techniques with tools I don't own, or can't use, but this is something I can do!! Thank you!
Just make sure you have a good heavy mallet 😀
This is by far the easiest looking without a bunch of tools that I don't have. Thank you
Best video on this yet! Well done
Thank you :)
Oh man I needed this video 5 pallets ago. This is great tnk you!!!
You are so welcome!
pardon me gentleman, allow me to speak to you, the good man with a pallet.. i dont know why a lovely music call four seasons keep play in my humble head while i see such a wonderful techniques to dismantle a pallet wood.
Glad you enjoyed it
I've never taken a pallet apart that way but have been bending nails for over 50 years. I have found that it is always easier to de-nail a board when the nails are straight rather than bent. Seems to me it would be better to remove all the boards with the blocks rather than bending the nails.
Have a big stack of pallets, guess I'll find out soon enough.
Can't kneel on the ground so will set up a saw horse table. 40" high horses with 5 or 6 - 8' 2x4s and 2x6s and a 4x8 sheet of scrap plywood. A higher table eliminates the stoop and saves your back.
A block for each runner of the pallet seems like it would speed up production also.
Great idea, thanks for the video. Will definitely give this a try.
Yup. Much, much easier to remove when they are straight.
Excellent and no expensive tools well done
This is much less noisy than my circular saw method. I'm going to try your way next time I get more pallets. Thank you for sharing this idea.
You’re welcome 😊
thank you, thank you, thank you. I have a bunch of pallets but wasn't sure how to take them apart as I neither had, nor could I find, a crowbar. Every video showed expensive equipments which I cannot afford, so this is amazing. I'll be spending this weekend taking my pallets apart :-)
Make sure you have a good heavy mallet hammer though :)
Found your channel through Huw Richards and subscribed. Thanks for sharing, I appreciate your knowledge!
Thanks and welcome aboard!
Thanks for this video.I can't wait to try this with my free pallettes.
Make sure you have a good heavy mallet hammer :)
I took a pallet apart about an hour ago and I wish I'd known your method - I reverted to sawing off the nailed parts as I've seen many woodworking TH-camrs do, I didn't realise how easy it could've been to keep all the boards intact!Thanks for sharing.
Next time :)
Absolutely brilliant! Kudos to you for providing a great solution for us
Thanks 😊
Brilliant! Such a helpful video for those of us who want to recycle! Thank you. 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Oh thank you! I’ve messed up with this so many times and your method is wonderful- changed my garden life! Thank you !!
Wonderful!
OMG that's the most smart way to do that! So glad find this vedio.
Glad it was helpful!
Wonderful thank you.. I will be using your way. From South Carolina
I'm yet to try this but I think this is really going to help me!
I wish I had seen this a few months ago. I just finished building a 14 x 6 foot garden tool shed using pallets and skids.
Always new project to do with pallets, so hopefully you may find it useful going forward :)
My god this looks so easy had an old gent tell ne to use a chisel and mallet. I'm 5ft and couldn't get a decent swing on the mallet to hit the chisle, few bust up fingers later I gave it up as a bad job but this I am definitely going to try thank u for the video 👍
I thought I knew every method of taking apart a pallet but that's a new one on me. Thanks, I will give it a go on the seriously stubborn and well made Scottish pallets that seem to be stronger than the stone walls of my house.
Homestead In The Highlands use a good heavy mallet hammer 😀
@@TheOptimisticGardener I got annoyed with one so drove over it in the tractor. I didnt get it apart but I definitely taught it a lesson 🤣
@@flock_ness 😂
@@flock_ness lol lol lol
great idea ! for preserving the planks and not damaging them with the hammer
Glad you liked it!
Thanks! Watching and learning from Umbria, Italy! We will attempt the cold frames now!
Excellent, it is pretty easy, just take your time and thanks for watching :)
I will try this today! Great video...thanks!
Excellent, just found you via Huw Richards' FB page. I just took one pallet apart, hard going with up to five nails in each place. Took a while ad a few damaged bits. Using your method tomorrow should be a lot easier, for the remaining half a dozen.
Yes, when you have lots of nails in an end it can be a problem. I am going to do an update video, to show what I do when I run into problems with pallets that have really long nails, lots of nails or older pallets that can sometimes split.
Just so simple. Excellent.
So simple! I was prying mine apart but not anymore. Thanks!
Glad it helped!
He got me at when he said I show you through the season what you can do in the garden using pallets.
Excellent, thanks for sharing
Those are seriously clean, photogenic pallets. Ive never seen any that look like that. Ours are almost all painted by one of the 'return to' pallet company
Cassie Oz I am lucky that I get some from my work that are often like that. Literally one or two a week. I get old ones as well 😀
So clever! Thank you very much.
LizzieStuff and thank you for your kind comment 😀
Mashaallah!Genius method looks like no struggle at all very convenient...keep up the good works!
Thanks :)
Wow! Genius! I have never been able to get them apart! Their everywhere and free but unless I could take them apart I ran out of things I could do with them!
Finally, I found the solution to my pallet problem. I have to try this
I am just about to do an update video on what to do with "tricky" pallets, so watch out :)
Absolutely fantastic fun. 🤗 It was so very simple and not broken boards. Now it is made pallet box to have things in. ❤️
Seriously... you are awesome sir. I appreciate this video!
Amazing I was about to give up. Thank you!!
Glad I could help!
Smarter, not harder, well done 👏
Thank you :)
Thanks for sharing. I'll try this method :)
Based white man gives sage advice. Just took apart my first pallet after watching
Crikey, so logical and obvious, fantastic!
I'm watching your videos closely.I have started making trellises from recycled wood and now with your videos am gonna start making cold frames etc. Have sold over 50 trelisses and mow want to sell thses.I w ant be be self employed and haven't ever done any carpentry so wish me luck and thank you for your help
TheEssexSpurs great stuff! I reckon there is a big market for this stuff. I have never been trained in carpentry, just trial and error and like you watching other TH-cam vids. I wish you luck! Let me know how you get on 😀
@@TheOptimisticGardener I just want to make some storage and perhaps a cold frame, the easiest way ( not so strong).
I’m over from Huw Richards’ channel. I’ve subscribed and look forward to watching your content!
Welcome aboard :)
Nice! I’ll try this when a pallet comes my way.
You just save my life man lol. I'm currently in the process of preparing the pallets to build a wall in my house and I've tried numerous ways one included my noisy circular saw. This is genius! Thanks for sharing!
Glad I could help! Make sure you use a good heavy mallet hammer and check out the second video for if you have any problems
@@TheOptimisticGardener That pallet looked so clean that it had never been used.
Thanks for the video, was really helpful! Managed to make my first planter box based on the cold frame design :)
Excellent. It is really nice to hear when someone has made something from one of my videos :)
Brilliant thanks Steve! Was wondering how I’d get hold of a crowbar in the current situation but...no need! Many thanks 👍
You just saved me a ton of work !!! Wish I had thought of that before ???👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Great stuff, we aim to please!
I use a reciprocating saw
Can somerimes break oallets down in two minutes
Nail heads left give a beautiful rustic effect.
I use the saw sometimes. Sometimes it is just easy to do that, or too hard to get the nails out my way. Good to have lots of different ways :)
Brilliant! So simple. Thank you!
and thank you for your kind comment :)
Nice job sir!
@@arlingtontrains7 than you 😀
Oh from Nova Scotia! Well that is worth a sub. From Ontario!
Welcome aboard!
very clever, thanks for posting this
Glad you enjoyed it!
brilliant method and good channel loving all the diy stuff
Thanks and welcome aboard :)
Genius! Thanks Steve. X
You’re welcome ☺️
I’m old I need to work off the table I can’t be kneeling in gravel but all these block of wood solutions for breaking up pallets seem to be working pretty reasonable but I’ve noticed that most of the guys doing this are using pine pallets and stuff I work with is a bit more substantial
I definitely use hardwood pallets as well, the pine was easier for TV :)
Super appreciate video! Tried some other boards, instead of blocks, didn’t work. Broke down and cut 3 4x4 - 6” tall. Worked like a champ. Only needed one. The problem I have is all my pallets have boards both sides. Ended up removing one side prying or sawing as per norm. Am I missing something?
If you have slats both slides, you do have to sacrifice the length on some of the slats on one side by sawing them
Hi. I saw your pallet seed trays on Huw Richards channel, so I am here for a little bit of support. Looks like you have a number of very interesting videos! Thanks!
I'm across the continent, on the American side of the BC/WA border, but within sight of Victoria, BC. Pallets are not that cheap here for some unknown reason, and the good ones, the heat treated ones, are very rare.
Always keep your eye out though, there is normally always a local hardware store or shop that has some going spare if you ask. And thank you for the support :)
Hi, I've tried this today but failed utterly! 😞 I'm guessing it's because they are old pallets with very rusty nails. I was not able to budge the slats one bit. Do you have any suggestions please? I was so excited about making a cold frame!
Are you using a heavy mallet hammer? Sometimes there are pallets that just won’t budge. Have you looked at the part 2 video, that has some other techniques for tricky pallets.
Brilliant!
Where were you last weekend when I was sweating up a storm while prying apart multiple pallets, one of which was a very long one, in the blazing hot Florida sun? 😁 Back breaking. I kept thinking that there had to be a better way, while concurrently admiring those unyielding pallet nails with a twist.
I’m looking forward to trying this method. Thank you very much.
Yes it can be very annoying taking them apart!
Hi. Have come from Huw Richards channel. This is a very informative video. I'm going to try this as soon as the weather gets a bit better. No way am I going out in the snow like you. Cheers fro Ireland
I have literally just been taking apart some pallets for another video Huw and I are doing :)
Blimey, that's totally ingenious.
I had to sub as fast as I could after watching this. 😀
Thank you so much for sharing your awesome knowledge with us, looking forward to watching more of your vids.
All the very best.
Take care,
Steve. 👍👍
Thanks Steve, welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy my other vids :)
Love it! I think I will give it a go again. I tried taking apart pallets before, lots of frustration! But this looks easy!
I’m so happy I found this channel before beginning my first pallet project! You explain and demonstrate everything so well. This should keep me busy during my states quarantine!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Lots more pallet projects to come; I am going to be making a bar, for my pool deck when I get a couple of clear days, soon :)
@@TheOptimisticGardener So let me ask, how do the corners come together building up a shed with pallettes. I want to make a small one, just not sure what the hardware is called or how it goes in.
@@charlenekociuba7396 I just put the corner of each pallet together and used big screws to connect them together. It was nothing complicated.
Tried that a million times....
Have you tried that way on the European ones....
4lb hammer , if you're lucky
will leave you with some
slates.....The nails used on the European ones are knurled and the wood is so
hard and tough....
Any answers or help....please...🤒😬😖....
😷..at least your swearing is muffled with the compulsory masks....
🏹🛡🇬🇧...
Thank you so much. 🤗 I have been doing it the hard way.🥴
You’re welcome 😊
Just subbed you due to Huw Richards Channel. I have access to pallets but not have a special tool so I am going to try your way. Eveline In Scotland
Hello and welcome aboard! I would recommend using the heaviest hammer you have, I use a mallet most of the time, but could find it for the video :)
This might be a silly Q, but how do you get the nails leftover out from the ends of your slats of wood? Can’t wait to try this though, thanks!
So you just flip the slat over and knock the nails out backwards with a hammer. It is very easy and will be obvious once you look at them. I believe my follow on video shows it. Good luck!
Great video - the only problem I've got with the pallets I get from work is they have supports along the bottom as well so there's no chance you can get a block of wood under like you have.
So in this case you need to sacrifice a few of the bottom slats. I think I talk about this in the follow on video you can click on at the end 😀
@@TheOptimisticGardener Thanks - I used a car jack to separate the top from the bottom and the result was no broken pieces :D
@@YesiPleb very good idea
@@YesiPleb Brilliant. That's a great idea.
Very clever!
Thanks for sharing.
👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Thank you 😀
very cool, thanks!
Method for pallets planked both sides. Situate on hard ground, pass support beam through the cavity and raise on upended equal legnth bricks inserted between bottom planks. Hammer in between the planks Hammer energy is maximised on hard ground and solid brick.
Cheers I will have a look at that 😀
Thats cool. What do you do with all the nails to take out? that will take 5x the time
No that bit is easy. Once you have taken the pallets apart, you just take a slat, turn it over and tap the nails out. Most of the time it is pretty quick. I save all the nails and use them in other projects :)
Nice! How simple is that. 👍😎
Well done, I just came over from Huw Richards channel, I will definetely try your method, I have some some pallets lying around the house. I have mostly used a hammer and a crow-bar but the wood often cracks while doing it.
Thank you and welcome aboard. I am going to do a follow up vid on when you sometimes get the awkward pallet that doesn't want to come apart easily with my method. Doing another with Huw in the next couple of weeks too, I am going to build an easy cold frame from pallets :)
I made a patio deck out of pallets. Worked out well but only lasted about four years even with urethane coating each year. The Chinese wood that pallets are made from is about as low grade you could use.
yes, i only use it outside if it is protected. Like i built a greenhouse out of mostly pallets but it is covered by plastic and cedar siding. I mostly use the wood inside. But you also get some good hardwood, which comes up nice with comes sanding :
after reversing hammering 42 iterations, how do you quickly handle the nails, assuming some are also bent for those who are pulling out the last holding per slat?
If I understand you correctly, I basically just turn the slat over and tap the nails out. Sometimes, like the last ones you mention they are bent, but a bit of pulling and fiddling is required, but it never takes that long. Most of the nails I can actually straighten out and re-use for different things :)
Hi l have just joined you from Huw Richards and have Really Enjoyed watching your TH-cam Clips. I just wanted to know if it was Possible for you to do a Potting Bench that l would be able to use Outside. I have been asked to do a Vegetable Garden Project for Young People with Learning Disabilities and Need a Potting Bench Table to work on. If you can help me with this it would be Great and also helpful to Other who watch Your Very Helpful Tips and Advice. I look forward to trying some of these out in my New Vegetable Garden Project this Year.
Many Thanks
Petesveg
Welcome Peter, well actually it is on my list of things to do and film :) Might be a couple of months though
Hi@@TheOptimisticGardener
Thanks for your reply l will look forward to your TH-cam Clip on this.
Petesveg
Another excellent video of yours! I've got some pallets piled up, originally meant for something else, but I'm sure gonna make some of your planters and this sure looks like a neat way of taking them apart. Thanks again for sharing great tips and knowhow Steve! 👍
And thanks for watching. I was taking some pallets part myself yesterday for a cold frame I am building :)
@@TheOptimisticGardener Sounds like a good idea. Feel free to film and upload the result!
@@erlandandersen5782 Yes definitely will be
Super way don’t need to buy expensive tools! 🛠 👍👏
Follow you now :)
Thanks 👍
Now how to de-nail them, a quicker and easier way of that would be just lovely.
Hello you should be able to just tap the sharp end of the nail a few times, then turn the board over and easily pull the nail out with a claw hammer. I was just doing it today while taking a pallet apart :)
Game changer!
HELP, 911, ASAP
Hi, I watched how you took ur pallets apart at least 50 times, so when I did mine I know what I'm doing. I tried it, it didn't budge and I smacked the crap out of it. What can I do to make this work? Thank you!
So, sometimes Cheryl this won't work as the nails are too long and glued in. hat being said. Are you using a "mallet" type hammer? A good heavy hammer is needed to apply the oomph! Have you got the pallet on a hard surface (i.e. not on grass) so that you aren't wasting any of the energy? If you look at my second video on taking a pallet apart that gives some other tips. You may have to cut and sacrifice each end and just try with the middle nails.
@@TheOptimisticGardener Hi, thank you for getting back so quickly. I'm doing it in my garage on cement with a mallet.
I've watched ur videos more then once to make sure I'm doing it right, I don't know what else I can do other then what you suggested and that's cuttem? I just hope they're all not like that. 😆 thank you for ur time, it was nice chatting with you. Have a nice day!
Good to see you are well again. Just having a look at this video as we have scored sone pallets from a garden center and they just won't come apart. The nails are sort of corrugated and won't let go. Is that same for yours. Maybe we need to look elsewhere?
Hi Annabel, so my method works on 90% of pallets. I know as I am getting different pallets every week. What I will say is that you do need a good heavy mallet type hammer. The nails they use are often the "corrugated" type and they usually put some glue on them too! If the method in the first video doesn't work on these pallets, I suggest you look at the follow on video and you will have to sacrifice the ends of the pallet slats. Have a look at that and let me know how you get on.
Excrllent! Burt, what happened to the nails?
I keep and reuse as many nails as possible. I have a big jar of them now 😀
Love it! I just took a pallet apart with a crowbar. I like your technique better.
Excellent :)
Well, crap. Tried your technique on another pallet I had and the ends split apart just as badly as with the crowbar. I suspect the wood type or nail type has a lot to do with it. These were really good and secure nails.
Man you must get different palettes than me because mine are stuck together HARD. They're not budging at all.
Brilliant! Thank you for sharing this technique
nice tip, gonna have to get me some pallets now!
If u start by loosening the nails in the centre of the boards first,it releases the tension in the board & makes it easier to get the opposite ends undone too 😉
I shall have a look at that, thanks!
@@TheOptimisticGardener this will also work with pallets that have 4 spreaders,but u will need to get close to both individual centre spreaders one @ a time.
@@TheOptimisticGardener it works well & once u train your brain to release the centre nails first it makes it so much easier.
Does this work when they are assembled with twist nails?
It has worked on all different types of pallets. Sometimes it is relatively easy, sometimes not. Sometimes I have to get the hacksaw out, but as a rule it works. Because I take so many apart, nowadays I use a reciprocating saw most of the time :)
Thank you
You are welcome 😊
Awesome little trick new sub for sure, home here in B.C.
I saw your smaller use of water bottles to plant seeds. I have 18 gallon water bottle , not soft and a leaker. How do I cut through harder plastic and do what you did with softer plastic?
Nancy Jenkins I would suggest using a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade or a hacksaw blade will do it easily 😀
So clever 🙌 lovely to follow you found you on Hews channel 💚 Geri
Thank you and welcome :)
Have you tried a Pallet Pry Bar ? Great if you need to take apart a lot of pallets as you do.
I may have to get around to getting one, you're right I take apart a lot of pallets so it is probably worth the investment :)
It's awesome but soooo time consuming! I have 20 pallets to do. Any faster ideas?
Unfortunately, when you have to do so many in a short time, you will need to go to some sort of "pallet jack" machine time gizmo, or do what I do is make a promise to myself that I am going to take one pallet apart a day. Another thing you could do is sacrifice the ends of each slat, by sawing off the ends and then you only have to knock the nails out of the centre length. You obviously end up with shorter lengths, but it is a lot quicker and easier to take that centre bit out.