Allotments 4 All
General => Top Tips => Topic started by: Phin on March 11, 2005, 15:15:43
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This was first posted in a discussion about raised beds but several people responded that it was a good idea or that it worked, so here it is as a 'Top Tip'
How do you break up salvaged pallets into separate planks for use as edging or raised beds without splitting the planks?
The trick is not to lever the planks with a claw hammer or crowbar, as pallet nails are spiralled and grip like a Yorkshire terrier. The result is that the planks split before the nails come out. Instead, hit the skids that hold the planks with a lump hammer. This should do one of two things, both of which are good:
1. the nails pop through the planks and stay in the skids
2. the nails stay in the plank and can be removed
either way the planks don’t split. Here a quick sketch to illustrate the technique:
(http://www.phinw.f2s.com/images/breaking_pallets.jpg)
It works best with pallets that have planks one side only, otherwise you may have to sacrifice a few planks to get started.
kenkew http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?action=profile;u=392 says you can also knock the nails straight through the planks. I reckon a centre punch or similar tool would be useful for this.
Phin
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Im glad that someone else has the pallet splitting problem as well, took me ages today to try and split a pallet up. Will definately try the lump hammer thing on the blocks.
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Thanks also. I've been trying to split up some pallets I've acquired for bed edging.
With luck I should be able make at least eight beds for this year & can then just keep begging pallets through the year to make the rest of the beds for the forthcoming years.
CC
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As a supplementary to this tip - the best way to remove the stubborn nails is to turn the plank over between two paving slabs, position the nain head in the space (I find the odd gap in my patio serves the purpose admirably) and tap them gently back through the plank
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CC
If you are using the pallet timber for edges do you treat the wood with a preservative first?
What is the life of the pallet timber as edging before replacement is required?
I did consider using pallets for this purpose but didn't think the timber would be durable enough
Derek
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If you can get hold of any of these 'sides' for pallets, they are handy as raised beds. They stack on top of each other so you could make them quite high.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/meatpaste/pallet.jpg
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I haven’t a clue Derek. I'll let you know in a few months as I've used them for this too!
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If anyone wants free pallets,most companies will have a stack of damaged ones-we have hundreds of them which get burnt as they cannot be resold.
A word of warning though-dont attempt to take any pallets which are painted blue as these ALL belong to a pallet company called GKN (timber is also stamped with this) and they are only ever rented-never purchased.GKN will prosecute those who take their pallets without consent as they consider it theft.
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Thanks for that info Steven
Why not take a load of pallets you want to get rid of down the local allotments...they vanish so quickly its as if a plague of locusts has decended
We are always grateful when a load arrives....first come first served basis...gotta be quick
Derek
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Thats not a bad idea Derek-the local allotments are only half a mile from my house and quite conveniently next to dog walking fields!
ps.I had to warn peeps about the blue GKN pallets because few years ago,i watched one of them garden makeover shows on cable when they constructed a deck out of them.Two weeks later,they had to broadcast an appology to GKN for mis-using (sawing up!) their property.
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This tip has come in handy for me too. I used to have a palet in ise as an unorthodox fence in a part of my garden. Recently decided to replace it with something else, and the pallet was destined for the skip (for building work in case you were wondering). Then i read this thread and thought 'hmm thats a good idea, i can probably use the wood if not the palet as a whole'. The palet was though sturdily made do i had tho (carefully) use a sledge hammer instead of the recomended club hammer, and i did get some damage, but did end up with some usable timber for use in the kitchen garden (edging paths etc).
The one part of the pallet i cant think of a use for are the 9 square blocks of wood that were in the middle of the pallet. Anyone got any ideas or shall i ditch these?
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Derek,
When used as compost bins the pallet strips last 2 to 5 years, then rot away.
A friend made decking for his landing stage from them: they lasted 3 years before becoming unsafe.
Do they really throw away those sides? They look expensive!!
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Richard
Collect a load together and play allotment jenga ? ;D
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If you can get hold of any of these 'sides' for pallets, they are handy as raised beds. They stack on top of each other so you could make them quite high.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/meatpaste/pallet.jpg
sorry to sound a bit thick but what are these, they are'nt normal pallet timber. Also where would one get them from
Ron
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Ron,
No, they're not normal pallet timber. I've taken another photo to show you how they stack on top of one another to make a 'box on a pallet'.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/meatpaste/DSCF0084.jpg)
I'm a lorry driver so I probably have more access to pallets and these sides than most people. They were hanging around outside our depot ready to be burnt until I rescued them.
Pete
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I remember that Steven....hehehehehe.
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Our lotty is next to an industrial estate and they chuck the pallets over the fence for us. I intende (by I, I mean I am going to nag the OH) to make a pallett deck in the middle of our flower and fruit plot so that we can dine out in style instead of having to sit on the shed step and slurp coffee.
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baggy
you are very lucky I cant find any pallets anywhere.
Its the old story when you dont want stuff its always there and when you NEED it you cant find it
Ron
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Oooh some good tips here - we can get some broken pallets but were told they wouldn't be much use because they always split when you try to break them up - now we know better...
thanks everyone :)
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The pallet patio has been constructed and looks stunning. Christened it today with a cheese roll and a beaker of warm coke. We know how to live ;D
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Pleased to hear of your pallet patio. Photo ? Have you painted it a tasteful colour? We have collected three pallets so far and want to put them all along the front of our shed to make a deck. My OH has just put one down in front of the door at the mo but we need more, and like slugcatcher says when you want one you can't find one ???
When we do finally get them we're painting them green to match the shed.
What's that about a beaker of warm coke? Tt. My OH ended the day on the lotty the other night with a can of ice cold lager each. Happy days :)
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When I said 'stunning' it was meant very tongue in cheek. It should look nice though as we plant to grow an arbour of sweet peas and other climbers over the top. My OH is obsessed with people staring as we Lotty just off a very main road. As for me I don't give a hoot if people think I'm weird. We are even going to BBQ on it in the summer. Then we will have chilled drinks and proper glasses. But yesterday the warm coke went down a treat.
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If you want pallets it may be worth while canvassing your local industrial estate, especially the smaller companies.
I took this approach where I live & found that several of the companies just skipped their pallets as they are non-returnable. The companies were grateful that somebody would take the pallets off their hands as they have to pay to have their skips emptied & the pallets fill up the skips quite quickly. By taking the pallets of the companies I'm saving them money!!!
One local company is so happy to get rid of their unwanted pallets to me that they even deliver them to me now!!!! I came home from work the other day & found six large, double sided pallets in my backyard.
With a little care I should be able to reclaim enough would to make another 12 beds for the plot. I've split so many pallets recently I'm becoming quite an expert at it (& the neighbours aremstarting to get used to pallets appearing & disappearing in my backyard)
CC
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hi,
i am new to this forum, we have an allotment in Glasgow, and we use pallets for everything.
my OH has an allotment, and i have one too but mine is used for my two kids to play as we live in a flat.
My OH has a brother who is a welder and he made a pallet popper.lol.
you may laugh. but it works.
we get our pallets from a friends plastic's company and they are sometimes 20' by 8' in size.
so far i have a deck and my OH has a 10' by 8' hut that is 13' high with an apex roof, that has a loft and the kids use to sleep in when we sometimes stay overif the weather is nice and we don't want to walk home.
at the moment my OH is building my kids a hut in my allotment they can use as a playhouse. If I ever find out how to post a pic on this forum i will give you all a look.
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How long do you find pallet wood lasts? I'm wary of using it since when I first took my site on it was covered with the rotting remains of beds made up with pallet wood. I burnt the lot and haven't used any since.
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Try using a preservative?
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I got 10 single beds that a hotel was skipping and made a single bed size(3high) compo heap with lid. and a surround for my bamboo I have just put in plot. pics on another thread somewhere ;D
Pallets??? Tried taking them apart with crowbar & clawhammer then resulted in sledge hammer follwed by anger then axe >:(
Made great kindling to start the BBQ ;D