Free and versatile, it’s no wonder that wood pallets have become one of the most commonly used materials for DIY projects. Once they have served their purpose of transporting cargo and goods, they are often discarded or picked up by local pallet services which makes them an easy to find resource that is perfect for home improvements on a budget.
Not all pallets are the same, it’s very common for them to be treated with chemicals which could potentially make the wood unsafe for some projects. It’s important to know how to identify which treatment technique has been used to treat the pallet, you don’t want to go out collecting a whole bunch of pallets from a pallet provider just to find that they aren’t suitable to use.
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Where To Get Pallets
It’s best to think small when on the hunt for pallets, small businesses generally don’t have the same resources as big companies when it comes to unloading scrap and spare materials. More often than not, pallets can be found near the dumpsters of smaller businesses where they sit waiting to be hauled away as trash. There’s a lot of small garden centres and power equipment stores which receive their parts on untreated, single-use pallet wood which is the exact kind you’ll be on the lookout for.
New businesses are also a great source, so if you see a new store popping up in your neighborhood be sure to pop in an ask if they have any pallets you could have. They might actually be happy to get them out of the way so they can concentrate on opening their shop.
The internet has it all, placing an ad on Craigslist or Facebook is a great place to start if you want pallets asap. Or perhaps someone in your area has already listed pallets on those sites, a little digging is all it takes to find out. There’s also a freebie finding site called Freecycle which you could try out. Otherwise, use Google search to either seek out free pallets in your area or find small businesses that you could call and ask.
Which Pallets to Avoid
First up: steer clear of pallets that have been stained, chemically treated or painted. If the letters ‘MB’ have been stamped or branded anywhere on the pallet, it means the wood has been treated with the chemical methyl bromide which is not safe to use.
Whatever you do, do not collect these pallets! Once you have them, it will be hard to get rid of them unless you contact a total pallet management service. Sometimes you’ll find other stamps on the pallet wood, a google search is the best way to clarify what these mean.
You’ll also want to consider where the pallet has been and what it’s transported, if there’s any stains or blotches on the pallet then it will be best to give it a miss. You just can’t be sure what has been spilled on it.
Which Pallets are Best
If a pallet is branded with ‘HT’ then it has been treated with heat instead of chemicals, and will be safe to use for any purpose. This process of treatment involves heating a pallet up to a minimum core temperature of between 56°C to 60°C for at least 30 minutes in a kiln. This method is completely safe for human health, and these pallets are suitable for both indoor and outdoor projects.
Cleaning
If you have any doubts about where the pallet has been or what it has been used to transport, there’s always the option of cleaning it which is a lot easier than you’d think. First dismantle the pallet, then use bleach and water to give it a good clean.
The wood might shrink as it dries, so consider putting it inside or in a sheltered area to dry out for a few days before starting your DIY project. Nothing worse than cutting everything to size and putting it all together, to later find out that it’s shrunk!
When in Doubt – Stay Safe
If you can’t find any branding or are unsure whether the pallet has been treated or not, do not use it for indoor projects unless it comes from a trusted source.
Pallet recycling is a great way to create low-cost DIY projects, while repurposing an item which could otherwise go to waste, but never put the health and safety of your family at risk. Never, ever, burn questionable pallet wood in your indoor or outdoor fireplace.