[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 tried to pull apart a pallet?
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.
