Milling boards from an old pallet, without a planer or jointer 

I understand the days of weekly project videos are gone, but it's nice to see videos made every so often from our main man Steve

One caution when deconstructing a pallet that has those twisted nails, where you're planning on actually using the parts of the boards with the nail holes, is that those nails usually come on a large roll that can be belt-fed into the nail gun, and this roll is made by welding the nails to a couple of strands of iron wire, usually 1/16 inch (2.1mm). When the nail is shot into the pallet, this wire gets broken between the nails in the roll, and the nail can drag one or more fragments of the wire down with it, embedding it into the wood alongside the nail. So after pulling the nail, it's best to ream out the hole with a slightly oversized drill bit, and the fluted sides of the bit can often drag out these bits of wire. Otherwise, those little metal bits can take a toll on planer knives, and give you a really bad day.

Just wanted to let you know that my husband enjoys you videos so much..He is 75 years old and has over the past year started his woodworking hobby. He relys on you videos the most.

This seems like one of your most calm and carefree videos ever - I found it very soothing for some reason. Good content as always, thanks for still making free content!

I like the format of you providing voice over to what you're doing.

I can't wait to see the video where he talks about how he made this long form pallet video as an experiment against some algorithm change or something. :)

I love how you show an "excess" of setup and movement between steps. It gives a better idea of how much time and work a project takes, and helps mitigate the thinking/feeling that I should be able to get a project done in the length of a RU-vid video, just like my heroes. 😉

Steve, Even after all the years of watching you, I still enjoy seeing you do what you do. You make myself and all who watch and wait for your videos laugh and learn from you. Thanks and don't stop making the videos.

I knew all of this, but still kept watching just because it's fun to watch Steve work in his shop. I hope he'll make some project videos soon!

Steve This is quite possibly the most honest pallet reuse video on the net. I have built your candy dish coffin and the tall corner planter projects which used pallets. I like that you show how to not use planers and jointers as the damage to the blades from this wood can easily outweigh the value of the wood. six thumbs up We call

I'm able to break down a few pallets at work every now and then and even though it's certainly not faster than just going to the big box store, I enjoy it. It's part of that zen space I find from doing artistic things with my hands and I think it makes the end product more interesting. Not every project needs it (the majority don't), but then, not every project needs the exotic hardwoods, either.

This is one of the types of videos I like from WWMM, keep making them! Steve for President !!! (Podcasts … move over 🤣)

We missed you, Steve! Great video topic

Perfect timing, Steve! I was literally typing "How to flatten boards from a pallet without a planer" in to the search bar, then saw your video on my home page, before I pressed 'enter'. The algorithm at work!

I liked the projects because of the comments you made while doing them. I don't recall a project that was something I would do with the exception of doors you made for a shed. I miss your existence more than the projects. You had a familiar manor much like watching Engels coach shop with Dave Engels, just enjoyable to watch and listen. Sorry that you've more or less quit.

These are the best looking paint stirrers that I have ever seen! Lol but pallets really are great for the person that would rather keep costs as low as possible or practice/play in the shop.

A big reason why the nails are so tough to get out is that they have little spikes on the shaft so they will not vibrate out, a good practice is to use a metal detector to scan the lumber. Those little shards can do a number on jointer/planer blades. Also you can drill out the nail holes, since that's where most on they hide. Just a little psa for you all.

In all my years of DIY woodworking, my greatest asset was deaf neighbours.

You've given the wood a second life and offered reminders related to safety. Thank you

Thanks Steve. I found the disposal info helpful too.Voiceover format works just as well! So yeah, as ever, time vs. money. I'm cash poor but time rich at the moment so, much as it's a pain, breaking pallets works for me just now. Here in the UK they're all pine so I use the peices mostly for practice/rough work but having seen the lengths you've gone to here has been an inspiration. Cheers.

Thank you Sir for coming back. I love it when you produce a video.

Bought my 1st table saw a week ago and I'm beginning my woodworking journey! So glad I found this channel at the start!

My Dad worked at a pallet mill back in the early 70's. He brought home a lot of those spiral nails and used them to build extra strong rabbit cages and nest boxes. He used them for a lot of building projects.

Hey. You don't have to do the whole RU-vidr influencer constantly staring at the camera thing and remembering your lines. Just seeing you focus and work with the commentary is actually really enjoyable and I can imagine is a much lower effort way to get videos out, as in probably less stressful and time consuming. I hope to see more of this. It's different than what I'm used to and I imagine is more enjoyable for you. I've personally only watched your how to's, tips, and project videos.

Steve, I have watched your channel, from what feels like forever. Honestly... I watched the chessboard in parts when they came out. ;) What I love about you and your channel is, you are still humble, you still target your work for everyone and anyone. Thank you. And microjig...

You'd never guess that lumber came from a pallet. You cleaned it up so nicely!

Love seeing your videos again! :D

Steve, I enjoy watching you work because you’re never (?) rushing when using power tools. That should be a lesson to both beginners and pros. Your calm voice is telling us that if we’re careful, we can all do it. And it’s reassuring to see you create without needing many thousands of $$$ worth of tools. Thank you for the lesson.

You are the 1st person i ever subscribed to on RU-vid in 2013 when u were making weekly pallet project videos. Really miss those days. And when I saw the pallet i thought "yes! a new Steve Ramsey pallet project for spring season" was still nice seeing the pallet master at work. Hope all is good w you steve!

I've only done a few pallet reclamations. One of them the boards were in decent shape but dirty and stained bad. Rather than sanding them, I ran them through my planer just to take a tiny bit of the surface off. To my surprise, they were a beautiful red oak underneath!

good one Steve, I think this video also highlights the myth that pallet wood is "free". Once you have sourced/procured the pallets, transported to ur shop, taken apart and then de-nailed and finally squared it off by jointing and planing you could have actually built whatever project you were going to build in the time it takes to do the aforementioned if you just bought the lumber. Also its a very rare pallet that you can get all of the wood from it without either breaking some boards or it already being damaged. That all being said I still like the idea of the wood being used instead of filling up a land fill..."there's gold in them there pallets!"

Steve, you look 30 years younger in this video!! Love the shoes

Great stuff, although I was mesmerized at the beginning by those glowing white shoes!

This video was made for me. I come across tons of pallets delivery guys don't want at work. EDIT: I got to the part about getting into carpentry -- this video really was tailored for me! :D

I'm all for enthusiasm and engagement, but I appreciated the very matter-of-fact presentation in this video. Thanks! (I was also _very_ relieved to see the the throat plate was dropped back down before you started cutting after it rose up with the blade at 13:14.)

I thought there was a massive lens flare, but it was just your shoes :) Great video!!

Great honest pallet wood video, especially about it actually not saving money unless you luck into a very rare hardwood pallet that isn't all knots. Thanks Steve, glad to see a video from you again, rather than just the shorts.

Got to love those spiral nails. Who needs a virgin active gym membership when you have pallets 🤣 Great video Steve

Wow, who would have thought about reclaiming pallet wood?! I bet this trend blows up on RU-vid. Still a relaxing and helpful video, thanks Steve

Nice to see you Steve! This is an honest look at preparing pallet wood! It’s not easy to get some wood like this, but sometimes it’s good to see what’s involved.

Are we not going to talk about how clean your shoes are?! 😂 Great video!

I've just ruined a brand new blade on my thicknesser running pallet wood through it. Wish I'd seen this video first. Excellent, thank you.

Great and informative video. Though some people would argue that pallet wood isn't worth this work, I would counter that doing this is good practice for milling lumber with the available tools. Keeping this in mind the next time I have some lumber that I would otherwise deem worthless.

There is a trendy romance about pallet wood projects. I think it’s a good thing too. It’s a shame it’s such a messy and nail riddled source of wood though.

A Steve Ramsey classic. Thank you

I get lots of pallets from the flooring store manage. I build stuff too. But I don't cut things as seen in the video. I built a stand that holds one pallet standing up. Then I take a sawzall with a metal cutting blade, then I slide the blade down between the planks and the cross memebers. Pallet planks are intact and only takes about 5 to 10 minutes and I end up with good pieces that can be reused. Hope this helps. Love your videos.

As long as I see you enjoying what you do Steve, its a win for me

I am a 60+ year old woman. I will collect pallets for some of my projects, but I am picky about the pallets I collect. If it looks like I am not going to get enough material out of it, or is going to be too difficult to break apart, I leave it. It doesn't take me long to break apart a decent pallet.

When I built my house I used pallet wood for the painted vanities in a couple of the bathrooms. They are 30 years old and still look great. All raised panel construction with raised panel doors. Kilz is you friend here as it hides the different kinds of wood.

I have gotten into using pallet wood because I found a guy who will deliver them to me for free and let's face it, free is better. I have found the best way to take them apart is using a pallet buster and to get the nails out, I bought a tool called an Air Locker, both on Amazon. I paid around $110 total for both and the amount of time, money and wood these tools have saved me is incredible! Highly recommend them if using a lot of pallet wood!

I'm not going to lie, I was so happy to see you run in to the Grr-Ripper a little. I've done that twice, and felt like a failure both times. Now that I've seen it happen to Steve, it feels more like a badge of honor than a mistake. Thanks for the great video, and all the content you've made for us mere mortals.

Only the master could disassemble a pallet and keep those white kicks looking fresh!

You have been such a huge influence and help to me for all things wood shop. Thanks for being so informative and making great, easy to follow content.

Thanks Steve!

Very useful video, Steve. Especially for those of us who don't have a Jointer or a Planer. It takes time for sure, but that's the price to pay if you don't have money to buy expensive tools. Thanks.

Glad you mentioned about the chemicals.

Great alternative for people who don't have a jointer or planer. Most people using pallets can't afford a table saw either though.

Good to see one of your practical how-to videos again. This is great instruction for just using the tools with techniques that work and are safe. The pile also makes great picture frame wood before you reduced the height.

I have a pallet from our new flooring delivery I've been wanting break down. Perfect timing, thanks Steve!

Love this format! Would watch even longer, keep doing them.

Good to see/hear someone going through the full process. Lots of content you see do explain why some boards are not used or discarded

Pallets get used over and over, the ones from air conditioner and heater dealers are usually quite clean

No matter how much I watch what YOU can do with all your tools and how versatile you apply technique and workarounds using the table saw ( and I’m always amazed and impressed), I am not going to have a table saw. I’m just too old and not comfortable in my STILL newbie woodworking journey to use one. I just bought my 3rd circular saw though…first one is corded and way too big & heavy for an old woman who is also too big & heavy! LOL. So, I bought the second one, a Walmart battery operated POS that I’ve already worn out…Thank God, as it about wore ME out too, what with the crappy batteries, the unreliable cutting angle and now, the blade guard spring, that popped off mid-cut; no injury, unless you count a near heart attack when the spring let go. All that, to ask this…with how you cut down those pallet boards so beautifully, is it a probable expectation to be able to do that with a circular saw and say, some kind of track saw guide? I’m hoping for better precision with my newest circular saw, or it COULD just be my ineptitude at this point. It’s a Ryobi, so go ahead and laugh…I’m in Texas, so I can’t hear you! Haven’t put the newly charged up battery in yet, but I was hoping it was a step up until I’ve heard so many negatives about Ryobi here on RU-vid, as soon as I got it home, of course. I DID buy a Milwaukee jig saw a couple of months ago and I love it, but still needed a circular saw, sooo, just wondering about the possibilities of it, maybe splitting thin boards like those pallet boards you just processed into even thinner ones. Thanks for all the knowledge you share and for your always interesting verbal delivery of such. It makes what COULD be a boring subject at times, a delight to listen to and learn from.

Starting the day with this video in particular is kind of a gift for me, i deeply wanted to start a projet with palet wood but thought i would definitely need a jointer planner for it but you showed another way! This revive the project =)) And thanks a thousands times for speaking slowly, articulating and not putting fancy effects or music in the background! That said =) What don't you ever use a thiner insert plate for every work and why the genuine insert plate whole is that large please?

This a great video, as I don't have a jointer or a planer as well and I've been making wooden bookmarks from cutting board scraps. I definately learned some new skills that'd make my new batch easier! Thanks Steve, once again.

Similar situation: Although not pallet wood... after a kitchen remodel, I reclaimed our old red oak cabinet doors (from the dumpster) and I just cut them into center panels and trimmed the rails and stiles to squared pieces (all of various lengths). Thinking about what to do with all this. Thanks for your videos, now I have to do “something.”

Steve I have a suggestion for a push block for narrow stock. I made a block 5 1/2" long and slightly wider(1/64") than the top of my fence with a nob on top for gripping. I put a piece of 1/2" plywood (you can use what ever you want) on the back side of the fence almost down to the table top. On the saw blade side I screwed a piece of 1/4" plywood to the top and it goes down to the table top. The screws are HIGHER then the saw blade can go AND they are BRASS SCREWS. If you make a strip so narrow the blade cuts into the plywood just replace the 1/4 inch piece when your done. With the block resting on top and having pieces riding both sides of the fence it is very stable and I use mine on anything too small for my push stick. Hope this helps. And yes I also use the feather board and I always enjoy your videos.

It's so nice to see you again Steve! Kind of like old times.

Thank you, Steve.

When I lived in the French countryside, pallets were a-plenty and I collected over 150 that I used for many projects. I found the best way to break them down was to use a reciprocating saw with a 'wood & metal' blade, cutting between the support blocks and the planks. The nail heads where then tapped out with a nail punch. Where the case was that the nails left in the plank were long, much time was spent tapping them left and right as they refused to go down smoothly - or the head snapped off when pulling them out. I found the best way to get them out quickly was to grip the nail with an old pair of 'vice-grips' and hit the vice -grip whilst holding the nail straight. Worked every time and was quick and efficient. Enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing.

Great job Steve! Love the voiceover format, it suits you! And I know it makes shooting a video a lil easier than trying to do both at same time 💕👍

Thank you for this video. I’m finally ready to replace my old table saw. Was unsure what to buy so I downloaded your tool list. Very timely.

Taking the time always is best

When I got started 10 years ago I started with pallets and other found materials. At the time I didn’t have the money to buy material to work with. But I had time. So it was worth it to me to take the time to mill up a pallet. Now that I am in a better financial place, it’s worth it to buy lumber that’s ready to work with. But I think you learn a lot from this process. It definitely opens your eyes on many processes. And of course…. Now I like to buy from a lumber mill instead of the box store. And my favorite lumber mill has thick touch sawn boards. So knowing that milling process comes in helpful.

I have lots of unused pallet wood which I already dismantled but was a bit nervous of running it through my table saw for fear of not removing every single nail. This was interesting, thanks Steve.

wow spanking new white sneakers in the shop, you are a pro. Mine wouldn't look so nice.

Amazing how that turned out. Thanks for the info

Perfect timing Steve. I woke up to this video. This was my plan for the day. Thanks for tips

I have dismantled many pallets and you make it look so simple. You got lucky with those nails. I gotta make one of those 2' x 4' push blocks!! Thank you, Steve

Great video, but those shiny white shoes were giving me anxiety 😂. Great to see a video from you Steve!

There's just something extremely satisfying about taking some piece of trash or junk that would otherwise never see the inside of the shop, and turning it into a fine or useful piece of craftsmanship. While a ready-milled board from the big box store may convert faster into the latest project, or even may be cheaper once milling time is figured in, you still can't beat that little feeling of accomplishment that comes from a successful and beautiful piece of upcycling. Oh, and a tip about harvesting the boards from the pallet: The only two options are not either cutting them free in smaller pieces with a saw, or prying them with a pry bar that lifts at an angle and deepens existing splits. A third option is to push the board straight up (or down, depending on the method and pallet orientation) from the pallet's 2x4, by making a 'bridge' that lifts up part of the pallet, and allows for hammering on a chunk of scrap 2x4 that directs the hammer force onto a pallet board, pulling the board straight away from the pallet's 2x4. There are several videos on YT detailing a couple of methods, either bridging a single slat at a time, or bridging under the 2 end slats and driving down all the middle ones. And it's a quick, easy disassembly, where once you have your technique down, you can do one in about 10 minutes. Enjoy!!

A fantastic video as always. Very informative and I really like the narration of the process. Keep up the good work.

best way i've found to take apart a pallet is a drill with a scrap piece of steel tubing just big enough to fit around the nails and with teeth filed into the end. it won't split the boards and it leaves the nail heads sticking out and easy to pry out.

I have made a lot of different things with pallet wood and other scrap wood. It takes a long time, but I find it satisfying to make something beautiful out of wood that should have been thrown away. Often the thick pieces are some different hardwood I can't buy where I live. Great for small boxes, lamps, toys, etc.

I’m like you in knowing it’s cheaper in the long run to buy lumber ready to go but the satisfaction of milling your own from wood that ultimately ends up in a landfill is so rewarding.

Glad to see this type of video on your channel again! This would be good if i ever find myself in possession of a pallet with cool wood! Keep up the good work!

When you drum up some projects to do with these boards, please share it in full feature video(s)! I’m going crazy with all these 60 second shorts on the internet, and montages of folks doing ill-advised things, and miss the golden ages of maker content!

I bought the microjig and found it much harder and much less safe to use than traditional push sticks. The microjig almost NEVER stuck the boards as I pushed through, and I always felt like my hand/arm/body was going to fall forwards directly toward the blade. I don't know if I got a bad microjig or what, but I tried something else similar to it and felt the exact same way. It was also super impractical to keep changing the orientation and height of the microjig for different size cuts/boards/etc. Just my two cents...

There is a certain satisfaction in making something out of what would otherwise would have been trash.

Great demo and tips. Thank you. Peace and good fortune and good health to you and your family. 😃

Just like Blade Runner, the voice over really works

This is the best video I’ve seen on home milling. As someone who tries to use reclaimed whenever possible, I pull my hair out trying to get things jointed with hand planners and sanding. This method seems so easy I can’t wait to try it! Thank you!

really useful to see the techniques without the need for a jointer/planer

Sweet paint job on that jigsaw.! Ramone would be proud.

Dude! The white shoes!!!! No one who works in a garage has such white shoes!

great content, ive wached most if not all of your videos. This one is calming for some reason I'd love to see more of these types of content

Really fantastic tips, Steve! 😃 Thanks a lot!!! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

I doubt I would ever try to reuse pine pallet wood but thank you for demonstrating how to make such thin cuts on the table saw. That’s something I struggle with. I already have a Microjig and now I understand why I need to make a wooden push block as well.

I've got so much pallet wood in my garage. I had a project where I built a raised plant bed with some but then ended up being the guy people gave leftover pallets to in my neighborhood. Need to find another project for them.

Nice. I came across 2 pallets made of white oak that were used to transport concrete pavers. The top boards are mostly junk because of the nails and splitting, but the main internal members (6) are 3x3x48", arrow straight and nearly perfect. You bet I saved those to mill down. Not sure what for yet, but I will find a use for them. The rest is used for kindling in the fireplace. (Yes, I checked to make sure they were not treated.)