Purposeful Pallets Breaking Down the Monsters without Thor

What we already know

     Pallets. Pallets. Pallets. Then, more pallets. They are all the new rage. So many good things are coming from used shipping pallets. I, for one, am completely inspired.Inspired to hire my own little set of Oompa Loompas to break them all down for me. It's awesome. Every time I get a set I remind myself that I can use all the many techniques I mentioned in my posts about the reclaimed wood wall, and I can also try something new. It always helps when the Voice of Reason states, "hey why aren't you using the sawzal to pull those apart". To which I reply, "because then I have cut nails to try to yank out and that's a pain in the ass." VoR replies by holding up my new favorite tool, "Try this." Seriously, I started this in July and it's almost February. That's just cruel.

   So before I endorse this method and curse the VoR for holding out on me since SUMMER, I need to give this a good try. And

remind myself repeatedly that I know where he sleeps and who cooks all of his food. I will have my revenge. In the end, this is my new favorite method, and my big sore manly man arms agree.




1. Pray to the Pallet Gods that they will be with you and give you strength to bust through this crap like Popeye. Stare at the pallets sizing them up whilst planning your attack like a BOSS.

Pile o Pallets, headed to slaughter

Sidebar- way cool saw marks!

Keep your regular tools handy in case you decide to abandon this cockamamy scheme from the VoR.






2. Grab your sawzal and make sure that you have the correct power source like a charged battery. Not that I had that problem, I would  never be so silly as to try to use a power tool with no power...unless I did.

Notice my tool of choice sitting closely by....just in case.

 The VoR (hubby) recommends that I start with the three inch blade. This lasts about 5 minutes before I realize that the VoR has not been reasoned with the experience of actually deconstructing a pallet himself. I ponder THAT realization for just a moment. The smaller blade doesn't work the way I need. I need it to cut through this crud like butter! So I go for the longer blade.

   With a longer blade (9inches made for wood and nails), the sawzal can slide and maneuver between the 2x4s and the smaller boards. This thing shakes like one of those quarter beds from the 50s! The whole point it to separate the the wood that makes up sides of the pallets from the 2x4s that hold it together. Hold and shake...giggle, giggle, giggle. Switch hands because your arm will soon fall off. Hold and shake...giggle, giggle, giggle. Eventually the board pulls apart from the pallet structure and small dances of joy ensue.  

3. Now its time to pull those nasty nails out. I like prybars but they are not easy work on single boards. Insert the new famed toy with which nail removal is easy as pie. I have no idea what this amazing device is called, but I love it!!! 
 

Yes you'll be using the three pound hammer with it!

4. You flip the board so the cut ends of the nails are up, the nail heads are not facing you at this point. Position the miracle tool so that the pointy end is right on top of the nail. Use the three pound hammer to bang the miracle tool into the nail. Beware of the power of the three pound hammer. The hammer will make hamburger meat of your fingers with one tilt in the wrong way.You'll scream profanities and pace repeatedly, and still it will hurt like hell. So be careful. 

This board is actually hanging off the workbench. I counter balance it with my other arm.

 

Pure heaven! Yep pop that sucker out!

5.  Pound until the nail comes out the other side or you can just pull it out without assistance. OHHHHHHH the joy!!!!


Yes sir once again the Voice of Reason had a great idea to make a painful job a little less painful. Imagine if he would have told me about it in July! I'll ponder that while I drink the rest of his favorite whiskey tonight.

Click on the pic to learn about the best whiskey around! And it ain't from Kentucky!

Cheers,
Mandy