Odd One. Anyone into ‘Carpentry’ or Metal Detectors?

[Totoro]

the best way to remove nails from pallets is to set fire to the pallets. You will have a lovely pile of metal at the end of the process.

a pinpointer is as good of a method as any and you can by stupid expensive one's just for wood workers with fancy names printed on them. I've never bothered but know a few people who have and they all get mixed results.

I made a documentary about it a few post up

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

I usually drill out the nails holes with a cheap jobber bit. That cleans out most of the metal. The pin pointer will hopefully help. The obvious answer is to get a spiral cutter made of something hard. That would cost more than the planer thicknesser.

 

[d8mok]

@Betsy I believe is good with wood

 

[Betsy]

I wouldn't fk about locating nails in pallets @Iwasgoodonce, the £££s you're saving on material isn't worth the time wasted sharpening your planer blades.

If you want the free timber, just run them through the bandsaw making 4x cuts



Use the lats between the cuts to make stuff and the rest is just firewood..

 

[novocaine]

I usually drill out the nails holes with a cheap jobber bit. That cleans out most of the metal. The pin pointer will hopefully help. The obvious answer is to get a spiral cutter made of something hard. That would cost more than the planer thicknesser.

I used to use a plug cutter an drill around the nail. resulted in a big hole but no nail and made it really easy to break down a pallet.

ala one these. seem to remember that the set I have the 8mm left a hole the 12mm cutter could make a plug to fit. so the last 2" of each stave would be turned into a load of plugs to fill the holes in the rest of it.

I wouldn't fk about locating nails in pallets @Iwasgoodonce, the £££s you're saving on material isn't worth the time wasted sharpening your planer blades.

If you want the free timber, just run them through the bandsaw making 4x cuts
View attachment 877440


Use the lats between the cuts to make stuff and the rest is just firewood..

save the time, just use it all as fire wood. If rustic is the aesthetic you are going with Pallets are fine, if it's for fine furniture it's possibly the wrong choice. (someone will be along shortly to show I'm wrong).

 

[Betsy]

I you can always use a drift punch.. something like this



Instead of trying to remove the nails, just twonk them through and remove the lat.. best to get it going with a regular nail punch.. use something decent though so you don’t bend it.. mine are Starret, they’re 20+ yrs old and still work a charm.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Thanks everyone. The gizmo duly arrived and I have just done a quick test. It found these pieces of metal that were stuck in the old nail holes:



My son took it as a personal challenge to get these out. In future I’ll drill out the holes that light up with the cheap jobber drill bit. It certainly does the job and I’ll feel a lot happier sticking the planks through the planer/thicknesser.

 

[fennec]

As someone who works with a large amount of pallets, the real strategy is to only collect the pallets that are painted and sell them, then use the money to buy proper lumber. Certified pallets are at least $10 each

 

[bikeworkshop]

As someone who works with a large amount of pallets, the real strategy is to only collect the pallets that are painted and sell them, then use the money to buy proper lumber. Certified pallets are at least $10 each

It's true
A nail takes a lot off a sawtooth or blade.

People makea living repairing pallets, making 1 good one out of 2 broken ones.
If you visit your nearest sawmill, they will give you pieces too short for sale, probably for nothing, and they will
a) be better quality, including assorted hardwood
b) not contain any nails, guaranteed.

Drives me up the wall when I hit a piece of grown-over fence wire in a log with my chainsaw.

That little trace of sparks means 10% of the chain gone and at least 10 minutes sharpening.