Dismantling a pallet (see film)
Tools Bolster chisel, Crow bar, Lump hammer.
Most pallets are the same dimensions, but the slats on them vary in width.All the projects on this site are based on slat widths of 9-10cms wide, if your slats are smaller, you will need more to suit. The best place to dismantle your pallets, are outside in the yard or garden
1. Take the pallet and stand it upright, take the bolster chisel and place it into the top joint of the first slat and strike the chisel downwards with the lump hammer until the nails separate from the pallet then lever towards you
2. Place the crow bar into the next lower joint and hammer down then lever the bar away from the joint. Once these two joints have come away you can lever by hand the slat down towards you. If the bottom joint doesn't come away then turn the pallet upside-down and repeat the procedure in section one using the bolster chisel. Now repeat this to all slats front and back.
Tools for preparing pallet slats Claw hammer, Belt sander, Wood plane.
3. Now de-nail each slat (see film) place the edge of the slat onto a work surface with the nail ends upright, take the claw
hammer and knock downwards each nail, then turn the slat over and place the claw under the head of the nail and lever nail out.Repeat this to all slats then stock pile.
4. Next place the slat onto the work surface, and fix a stopper to the surface as a safety precaution so that it doesn't slip (see film) now take the belt sander and sand up the grain and down until smooth, then turn over and repeat.do this to all the the lengths
5. Now clean up the edges by using the wood plane, hold the length onto the edge of the work surface then plane down the length away from you just to remove any rough edges, then turn over and repeat the other side. (see film)
