Used Lumber

Hi Michael
I have used oak pallets for toys and some of them are great because of the junk oak they use for pallets. (fire wood down south USA)
But the odds are in favor of the oak or to say they will and offen do take out blades and bits.
Most of the screw nails break off and you can't see them until you hear that nasty click of a planner blade or router bit.
I have used a magnet and a mates metal wand and still got nailed with hard little rocks inside the wood.
Used furniture can be just as bad because the mfg. have a way of hiding fasteners and the glued parts always rip the stock when you try and reuse it.

If you can get by the junk in the wood the gum is no big deal, oak is clean so to speak but junk pine, well that will gum the bits up.

Again they use fresh cut pine lumber for pallets the norm, not dryed the normal way just racked and stacked. (green)

Hope this helps

Bj

Where I work, (shipping an recieving type company), we have pallets coming an going, believe what Ed said. They have all sorts of things spilled on them. We've even encountered many that have been painted, mainly used for food shipping but even those pallets end up being used at other places.
The ones that I look for are: color of the wood, (visible stains, etc.), how many times they've been repaired. As stated above, you don't want to hit an unseen nail or screw. Check for an odd odor, if you smell other than wood, stay clear of it!
I personally look for ones that are fairly new. You work with pallets long enough you can tell the difference. Another note, as Ed stated, pallets tend to sit outside in the weather... I've seen birds attempt to build nests in them within a few days of sitting.

Just to say, there are pro's an con's using pallets for a cheap wood source. Since you mentioned possibly using them for practice cuts, this wouldn't be a problem, provided that you wear atleast a dust respirator. I'd wouldn't use them for anything except an out-door type project... bird house, planter, that type of thing.
Also, as Mike mentioned, use a metal detector to check, double check an recheck again for any unseen metal.

Ken

Here's a snapshop of just some of the oak pallets stock I have saved from the fireplace.

It's great for jigs and toys but I do check it b/4 I take the pallet from the stack of junk pallets.
The ones I like best are the ones they ship Hvy.Equipment on (4 x 4 and up) they have less nails in them but some big bolt holes some times.
Plus some other snapshots of the shop.

Bj

Thanks Jerry, Sorry I have not been around much lately, busy with work and Sinus infection has slowed me down.

Hello Michael,

Jerry is right I have made alot of things out of Pallet wood. 2 Cedar Top Tables, the Pallet wood was used for the bottom shleves and the frame. A Coffee Table and End Table. I also have plenty of other wood that I have broke down from Pallets but not used yet. I have 2 Oak tops from Pallet wood that I have not used yet. One is for another End Table and the largest Glue up I have done yet running the boards cross ways is for an Entertainment Center. Measures 44 X 34 I have also used alot of the Pallet Wood for trim. I have made 7 of 10, 24 X 24 4 sided Plywood boxes for a Friend to put baskets of toys in. So they are open on both ends. The trim on these are from the Pallet Wood and I cut up some of the wood for trim then realized it was Australian Lace Wood. All of the Pallet Wood I have used I have been real picky about the Pallets. Mostly new or some only used once of a couple of times and they are clean. No stains of oil or chemicals. I get a majority of them from a Shipping company that handles Tile for floors. A majority of the Oak wood came from machinery Shipping Crates. They were about 7 feet long and 4 wide. I picked up 4 or 5 of them before some one else picked up the rest after I had left. I wish I had had a trailer.

Some words of Advice. Get a good metal detector I went to Ace Hardware and bought a $20 one and have it set to real sensitive. It will pick up little slivers of metal from the nails. Also get a good pry bar and a good nail puller. If you break a nail off you can drill it out. That is what I did to some of the runners. Some had to many broken nails to deal with so I just canned them. I have used about 70 Pallets so far and used 2 Planer blades, actually I am on side 2 of my second set. I have also ran some bought wood through my planer.

Also go get a good 3M Dust Mask and buy filters that are made for Coal Dust, that is what I use.

I am always on the look out for wood that has been thrown away. I recently tried to get some Old Cypress from a friends house that had burnt to the ground after Lightening struck it but the Bulldozers had already beat me too it. Oh well I will continue with my hunt. Another mans trash wood is my new table. HTH

There is also some pictures in Show and tell you will have to search back to the beginning. I have not posted any in a while.

Randy

What's the part number ?,model number,and a picture,please

Thanks
Bj

Just a add on NOTE ****

Metal Detector for 17.oo bucks

Little Wizard Hand Held Metal Detector

Little Wizard

This precision hand-held metal detector can save you from costly damage to blades, planers, cutter heads, and jointers by detecting nails, screws, staples, or other metal objects in wood.
It’s perfect for scanning recycled wood as well as for locating wood studs inside of walls.
The Little Wizard is lightweight, rugged, and easy to operate.
Indicators include a speaker and LED red lights.
To operate, simply adjust the dial on the Little Wizard until the tone signal stops, position and move in a circular motion.
A continuous tone and light will let you know when you’re directly above any metal object.

Requires one 9 volt battery.

High impact plastic case.
Price $16.99

http://www.shop.com/op/~Little_Wizard-prod-5787834-8271849?sourceid=298

http://shop.com.edgesuite.net/ccimg.shop.com/210000/211700/211762/products/5787834.jpg