[music]
00:05 Speaker 1: Good day knuckleheads, Uncle Knackers here.
Quick question.
Have you ever tried to pull apart a pallet?
Try saying that fast 10 times.
Have you tried to pull apart a pallet?
Have you ever tried to pull apart... [00:18] ____.
If you've ever tried to pull apart a pallet, got it right that time, you'll know that it's
not that easy especially if you're trying to preserve the timber, and you don't want
it to split.
Just bashing away at it and levering it, especially on the ends would just cause the board to
split.
Now I'm guessing that most of us don't have an actual designated pallet pryer sitting
around in the garage.
So depending on what tools you have available, I'm gonna show you a couple of techniques
on how to remove these boards easily and finish up with a lot more usable timber.
00:54 S1: Now the first thing you need to know when I'm pulling apart an old pallet
is that I like to work at waist height.
That way I'm not bending over and straining the old back.
And to achieve that, you ought to put the pallet on a couple of saw horses, or in this
case, I've got the old outside table.
Now the first technique I'm gonna show you which is my favourite by the way, involves
a power tool called the reciprocating saw, also known as a Sawzall.
This has got a 9-inch blade, a 12-inch blade is also good, and it's a multi-purpose blade
which means that it can be used for metal and timber.
And what you do with this is that you put it between the slat and the stretcher, and
it will cut all those nails off releasing the board.
And the reason why I really like it is that you can salvage the entire length of the board,
and you can also retain those beautiful rustic nail holes which I love so much.
01:51 S1: Now I like to make a feature of those old nail holes in a lot of my projects,
just like on this wine rack.
You can see on the ends there, how those old nail holes really lend themselves to that
rustic feel.
You know I don't wanna lose that.
And if you want to make that wine rack by the way, I'll leave a link to the video in
the description box below.
Before I start cutting with the reciprocating saw, I'll have to have to get an old chisel,
one that you don't mind dinging up a little bit and driving it between the slat and the
stretcher.
Give it a couple of hits...
[background noise]
02:33 S1: And that will create a gap between the slat and the stretcher giving the reciprocating
saw a nice, clean run.
[background noise]
02:49 S1: And as always when using power tools, don't forget your eye protection, some ear
muffs, and some gloves.
Let's do this.
[background noise]
03:20 S1: How easy was that?
That took me about one minute to do both sides.
With those top nails cut and those slats are free, do the same thing to those bottom slats.
[background noise]
03:40 S1: Alright!
With that cut, all we have to do now is remove the stretcher.
[background noise]
03:47 S1: Too easy.
And do the same for the other side.
[background noise]
04:04 S1: Okay!
Got rid of that stretcher.
Now all that's left to do is tackle the middle.
With the sides now free, all we need to do is remove the slat from that center stretcher.
Now you could get your reciprocating saw again and just cut those nails off.
But every now and then you might wanna keep that piece of timber, that stretcher, nail-free.
And to do that, we need to pry this off rather than shear those nails off.
And to do that, just grab yourself a jemmy bar or a flat bar and drive it between the
slat and the stretcher with a couple of good hits.
[background noise]
04:46 S1: And then, just pry that up.
[background noise]
04:59 S1: And there's your board.
Totally intact, and the stretcher in the middle hasn't got any nails in it.
Now to remove those nails, just tap the nail with your hammer and to remove the ones that
you've cut off, just get yourself a nail punch and punch those out, and then pull the heads.
[background noise]
05:31 S1: That is too easy.
And my back is feeling great.
05:36 S1: Now the second technique that I'm going to show you is just as easy as the first
one, if not easier.
But there are a couple of drawbacks to it which I'll talk about later.
But the principle is, is to cut a line right down the length of that pallet just on the
inside of the stretcher there with a circular saw or a jigsaw.
So you do it to this side, you do it to that side, which frees these boards up, and then
you just pry off those center slats.
I should also mention too, that I've clamped this pallet down to the table so it doesn't
move around.
Now if you want to make it a bit easier, you can mark a line down the inside of that stretcher.
[background noise]
06:31 S1: Alright, now that the board's free, we can remove it from that center stretcher.
So as before, grab your pry bar, or your flat bar, drive it in, and lever these slats off.
[background noise]
06:46 S1: Too easy.
[background noise]
07:02 S1: Now with this side done and the boards have been de-nailed, all you need to
do is turn the pallet over, and repeat the process.
Now like I said before, there's a downside to this method, and that is that the board
is now shorter than what it normally would be.
So if you where planning on repairing a pallet, the board's going to be too short; also lost
the integrity of those old rustic nail holes.
But if that doesn't bother you, then this is a great method.
[background noise]
07:53 S1: Oh no!
My poor old hammer just died!
I had this for 20 years.
[laughter] Ah, the old backup hammer.
[background noise]
08:13 S1: So there you go.
Two really easy ways on how to disassemble a pallet without breaking your back.
Great tip Knackers!
And don't go just yet 'cause I got a really cool trick for you.
So here's the trick.
Actually it's more of a technique, but see that old pallet over there?
It's as heavy as lead, and to drag that into the backyard would be absolute murder.
So the easiest way I've found to move an old heavy pallet is not to drag it, but to roll
it like that.
08:48 S1: Too easy.
So there you go.
I hope you found that video useful.
And if you have any other suggestions in regard to dismantling a pallet, please leave a comment
in the comment section below.
And if this is your first time to my channel, welcome and please subscribe.
The button is just down there, and don't forget to give it the old thumbs up.
That is always greatly appreciated.
09:11 S1: Alrighty, I think I am just about done here.
So till next time, I'm outta here.
Cheers.
Oh!
Just one more quick thing, I forgot to mention that there are no prizes for finishing first
when pulling apart a pallet.
So just take your time, and that way you will save your back, and a helluva lot of frustration.
Okay.
See you.