Never thought of using a jack to pry the slats apart 👍 will definitely try this technique. Also found out that the older the pallets to the tougher they are to get apart.
A cheap scissors Jack works just as well. This is smaller, so easier to store and you can wind it up and down with an electric screwdriver if required.
A tip i found on u tube, when lifting a pallet board start by lifting the board @ the centre stringer,doing this releases most of the tension & u will find that u get much much less board breakages. If u have a pallet with 4 stringers lift in the centre or if youre using a pallet fork lift each side a little @ a time switching sides until they loosen up. 😉
Great video! I love the Roughneck Pallet Buster tool, it makes the dismantling so much easier! For pallets with large wooden blocks I find the quickest method is to turn the pallet on its side and hot the wooden block a few times with a heavy rubber mallet to open a gap between the block and the rest of the pallet, then use the pallet buster (or a flat pry bar) to finish levering the block off.
I do like a good pallet project, you can't beat free wood. I never thought of using a metal cutting blade and then just going through the nails. Nice one 👍👍
The trolley jack idea is great. I break up a lot of pallets and agree about the Roughneck Pallet Buster as being the easiest but for more stubborn nails I use an electricians bolster and small lump hammer which works very well. Favourite pallets are ones holding commercial lengths of plaster board at 10 feet long strips which are very useful for shed repairs.
Funny, I have just been collecting and breaking up pallets, using the roughneck, couldn’t get 1 apart, but now with the jack tip will be easy to break up. Thanks for video.
I use the same wrecking bar method because I’ve managed to wangle a constant supply of “1 trip” pallets measuring 3m by 1.6m. So much less effort than normal pallets. I brake them up on site and shift them on my roof rack. I know not everyone could do this but I would highly recommend driving around industrial estates and having a nose around. Strike up a rapport with the lads and they’ll give you all the wood you want. I always make sure I bring a box of biscuits when I pick up pallets.
Hi Matt. I came to your channel through Andy (Gosforth Handyman) who published a video visiting you. I like your workshop because it is quite small and I think you have some ingenious features there. I subscribed to your channel and sorted your videos, having the oldest one on top. This one YT showed that I've already seen. But I cannot remember that I watched it. So I watched the video (again). Still I don't remember that I watched it before. Maybe a few seconds, after which I probably was disturbed by something. The car jack method is a good idea. I'll try that some time. The other methods I know/use. I like the reciprocating saw method, which I tried last summer. That saw I specially bought for that purpose. It's a quick way. Only those nails.................. After the second pallet I started to wedge the wood so that there is a gap between the pieces of wood. In that case, if I'm able to keep the saw sable, to cut the nails in the middle. Then it is easier to get them out from the backside. After four more pallets I found out, that the gap between the plank and the block should be even larger. Now the nails stick to little out of the blocks to remove them easily. In the coming weeks/months I'll go slowly through your videos. All the best with your channel and your workshop. Greetings from Slovakia.
Thanks for uploading this. I find the pallet buster tool hard work on euro pallets. Ok on normal pallets. My trolley jack will not fit inside the slats. When you say you modified your jack what exactly did you do? Keep up the good work.
The trolley jack idea is wonderful Matt, well done. I think physiotherapists ought to recommend breaking up pallets to achieve maximum wood recovery. It exercises all the main muscle groups and does wonders for your core muscles.
Just brought my first pallet home and stumbled across this video. Think I've underestimated the task at hand... If the crowbar doesn't work it'll have to be the circular saw!
I kinda do as you did with the track saw, but with the reciprocating saw. You can cut right up to the blocks without the concern about nails. I never feel the rest of the pallet is worth the effort and/or equipment damage.
Love your vids Matt, ltvftc...opposed to trolley jack I use the crank type jack u get in a wheel change kit it your car...now I think it could get y easily be modified to use with a power drill.
I have just dismantled 21 pallets (type without blocks) using pallet buster bar. My question is what wood am I likely to have? I have a lot of heavy timber 75 x 50 and obviously a lot of the thinner slats. Any ideas please?
Good tips there, mate👍 When you were using the straight claw hammer and mallet to pry off that board, have you thought about just using the mallet and hitting that board from the under side to try and knock it off the block? Might have less of a chance to split? What do you think?
Have you got a metal detector for checking for nails before going through the planner? I'm preparing some pallet wood to be planed and I thought I got all the nails out but on most board the metal detector found a little bit of wire from the nails when they use the air guns.
Hi folks. I've had a lot of success on more 'delicate' dismantling jobs within something like an 'Estwing' Handy Bar. It's remarkably useful for all sorts of tearing down and nail extraction. Buy a good one, it's not something to skimp on, it needs to be high quality high tensile strength steel. The thin sharp edge then lets you get leverage in challenging joints and it takes a lot of abuse. Another useful weapon, if you have a compressor, is an air chisel. BobUK.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
Like the trolley jack idea, never thought of tht👍👍👍
Thanks Mark. Im sure I got the idea from someone else
Never thought of using a jack to pry the slats apart 👍 will definitely try this technique. Also found out that the older the pallets to the tougher they are to get apart.
A cheap scissors Jack works just as well. This is smaller, so easier to store and you can wind it up and down with an electric screwdriver if required.
A tip i found on u tube, when lifting a pallet board start by lifting the board @ the centre stringer,doing this releases most of the tension & u will find that u get much much less board breakages.
If u have a pallet with 4 stringers lift in the centre or if youre using a pallet fork lift each side a little @ a time switching sides until they loosen up. 😉
Simple, informative as ever Matt, agree there is no 'right' way especially given the conditions some pallets come in,.
Great video! I love the Roughneck Pallet Buster tool, it makes the dismantling so much easier! For pallets with large wooden blocks I find the quickest method is to turn the pallet on its side and hot the wooden block a few times with a heavy rubber mallet to open a gap between the block and the rest of the pallet, then use the pallet buster (or a flat pry bar) to finish levering the block off.
I do like a good pallet project, you can't beat free wood. I never thought of using a metal cutting blade and then just going through the nails. Nice one 👍👍
Having worked in a warehouse, I know from experience that pallet carriers work just as good
The trolley jack idea is great. I break up a lot of pallets and agree about the Roughneck Pallet Buster as being the easiest but for more stubborn nails I use an electricians bolster and small lump hammer which works very well. Favourite pallets are ones holding commercial lengths of plaster board at 10 feet long strips which are very useful for shed repairs.
I have only had one of the long pallets. They are the best to brake up.
Funny, I have just been collecting and breaking up pallets, using the roughneck, couldn’t get 1 apart, but now with the jack tip will be easy to break up. Thanks for video.
Thanks Phil. I hope it works well for you
I use the same wrecking bar method because I’ve managed to wangle a constant supply of “1 trip” pallets measuring 3m by 1.6m. So much less effort than normal pallets. I brake them up on site and shift them on my roof rack. I know not everyone could do this but I would highly recommend driving around industrial estates and having a nose around. Strike up a rapport with the lads and they’ll give you all the wood you want. I always make sure I bring a box of biscuits when I pick up pallets.
That sounds great Pete. I had one of these 3m pallets once and it was so easy to take apart.
Badger Workshop just done 3 this morning, the whole lot on my roof rack.
Hi Matt. I came to your channel through Andy (Gosforth Handyman) who published a video visiting you. I like your workshop because it is quite small and I think
you have some ingenious features there. I subscribed to your channel and sorted your videos, having the oldest one on top.
This one YT showed that I've already seen. But I cannot remember that I watched it. So I watched the video (again).
Still I don't remember that I watched it before. Maybe a few seconds, after which I probably was disturbed by something.
The car jack method is a good idea. I'll try that some time. The other methods I know/use. I like the reciprocating saw method, which I tried last summer.
That saw I specially bought for that purpose. It's a quick way. Only those nails..................
After the second pallet I started to wedge the wood so that there is a gap between the pieces of wood. In that case, if I'm able to keep the saw sable,
to cut the nails in the middle. Then it is easier to get them out from the backside. After four more pallets I found out, that the gap between the plank and the
block should be even larger. Now the nails stick to little out of the blocks to remove them easily.
In the coming weeks/months I'll go slowly through your videos. All the best with your channel and your workshop. Greetings from Slovakia.
Hello Hans. Sounds like you have a good method for braking up pallets. Thanks for watching
Thanks for uploading this. I find the pallet buster tool hard work on euro pallets. Ok on normal pallets. My trolley jack will not fit inside the slats. When you say you modified your jack what exactly did you do? Keep up the good work.
The trolley jack idea is wonderful Matt, well done. I think physiotherapists ought to recommend breaking up pallets to achieve maximum wood recovery. It exercises all the main muscle groups and does wonders for your core muscles.
Its defiantly a good workout
Cannot wait to see the new workshop tour.
New workshop build video starting in a couple of weeks
Wow the trolley jack idea has given me some help thank you 🙏
Glad to be of help
I have the bar but the Jack is a fantastic idea thanks for sharing 👍👍
Thanks Brian
Just brought my first pallet home and stumbled across this video. Think I've underestimated the task at hand...
If the crowbar doesn't work it'll have to be the circular saw!
Sds drill with the wide chisel or tile remover end. Attack the joints with it and the pop off. Sometimes the nails break but works most of the time
I kinda do as you did with the track saw, but with the reciprocating saw. You can cut right up to the blocks without the concern about nails. I never feel the rest of the pallet is worth the effort and/or equipment damage.
That will work
Very good tips. I will use them all! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you
Genius! Trolley jack method is awesome
Thanks Keith
Thanks 🙂
Thank you
Love your vids Matt, ltvftc...opposed to trolley jack I use the crank type jack u get in a wheel change kit it your car...now I think it could get y easily be modified to use with a power drill.
I use this with euro pallets..which are generally quality wood...and no breakage
Also..I'm sure car dismantling places just dump these...I think I've read that on router build video 😊
Good idea with the just. That type is also much cheaper
great idea with the Jack, never seen that one.
Thank you
Some useful tips there Matt, thanks
Thanks Chris
Grab the pallet and hit it against the floor on the corners. Slats come right off
I have the same Roughneck Bar and i find that to be good as well, however if i had a car the Jack method looks good too.
Barry (Wirral, ENG)
That bar is a great tool
Great tips! Where did you get that small trolley jack from?
Really useful tips. Personally I just plough through with my evolution circular saw. I just lack the patience. Oh, and a crowbar.
That sounds a good system. Nice to have a saw that you don't have to worry about the blade.
Good ideas, now all I need is some pallets, a car jack and I am good to go. 👍
Thank Ray
I have just dismantled 21 pallets (type without blocks) using pallet buster bar. My question is what wood am I likely to have?
I have a lot of heavy timber 75 x 50 and obviously a lot of the thinner slats. Any ideas please?
Sorry Dave they can really be made of anything. Pine is the most common
Thanks anyway.
Good tips there, mate👍
When you were using the straight claw hammer and mallet to pry off that board, have you thought about just using the mallet and hitting that board from the under side to try and knock it off the block? Might have less of a chance to split? What do you think?
I have tried that. You cant get enough of a swing at it.
@@Badgerworkshop use a 2x2 or 4x4 to place on as a bolster to hit?
I will give it a go
Have you got a metal detector for checking for nails before going through the planner? I'm preparing some pallet wood to be planed and I thought I got all the nails out but on most board the metal detector found a little bit of wire from the nails when they use the air guns.
I have. It works well and was worth the money. Cheaper than new blades.
@@Badgerworkshop you got the big airport security guard one or the small one that can be used to find studs and electric cables in the wall?
www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+hand-tools-measuring-metal-detectors-little-wizard-metal-detector-rutlands+24902
The one with the trolley jack is the most enjoyable idea because it is very boring to break up pallet wood almost like sanding !!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes two very dull jobs
Good tips.👍
Thank you
I use a lot of pallets and they can be a pain in the you know what to break up. I’ve used every method you showed there. Horses for courses 👍
Thanks for watching.
Nice !!!!
Thanks
Where do you get all your pallets?
I had an industrial estate I went to. Spoke to a few places. I now need to find a new place
What or who do you ask to take them I’ve mostly been a bit at a loss. If you don’t mind me asking. Which side of Durham have you moved to?
Normally they are happy to see them go. Or they were in Hampshire. I have not tried yet in durham. Im in West Cornforth
Hi folks. I've had a lot of success on more 'delicate' dismantling jobs within something like an 'Estwing' Handy Bar. It's remarkably useful for all sorts of tearing down and nail extraction. Buy a good one, it's not something to skimp on, it needs to be high quality high tensile strength steel. The thin sharp edge then lets you get leverage in challenging joints and it takes a lot of abuse. Another useful weapon, if you have a compressor, is an air chisel. BobUK.
Sounds two good options. Thank you
For me,brute force and ignorance is the answer! Have to borrow wifes scissor jack and check if it will fit the gap!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
That always works. I would be interested to see if a scissor jack fitted