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    Home » pallet projects » Pallet Projects plus Tips for Dismantling Pallets

    Pallet Projects plus Tips for Dismantling Pallets

    Published by Gail | Published November 7, 2017 | Updated December 14, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    I love pallet projects, but I don’t like to dismantle pallets. I’ve only done it a few times, but with a bad shoulder, the best way to dismantle pallets is with a reciprocating saw. Even that method hurts my shoulder with the vibration of the saw.

    Maybe you don’t have a reciprocating saw, or you don’t like power tools. If that’s the case, I have the best way to dismantle pallets!

    Not only does this work on pallets, but it also works on fence sections. That’s a win/win for me since I do a lot of reclaimed fence projects.

    Easily Dismantle Pallets

    free pallets available at the hardware store

    Free Pallets

    I came across these pallets last year. Had I known about this method of dismantling pallets I would have scooped up as many of these pallets as possible.

    *This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.*

    Let’s get right to the video of me dismantling pallets, shall we?

    Of course I have sped up the video, but it only took me four minutes to dismantle this pallet. This was soooo easy! The Duckbill Deck Wrecker does all the work. It’s all about leverage. Now, you might think this is a newfangled tool. But, while at dinner with cousin Terry over the weekend, she told me that her dad tried to get her to get a patent on a tool like this. Neither of them understood the process, so it never happened. We’re talking about pre-google days.

    Remember, I have a bad shoulder, and this was no problem at all.

     

    deck wreckerThis is the Duckbill Deck Wrecker! It works fabulously on pallets AND fence sections.

    Order a Duckbill Deck Wrecker for your pallet projects (great for fence and deck sections too)  below with my Amazon Affiliate Link-I make a small commission, but it doesn't cost you any extray money.

     

    This is a picture of when I used the Deck Wrecker to take apart a pallet for my Pallet Coffee Cup Rack

     

    pin it

    My Repurposed Life - How to dismantle a pallet

     

    So happy you stopped by from Pinterest! Sign up for more great DIY ideas like this. 

    How to take pallets apart

    pallet-boards-deck-wrecker

    This is the pile of boards I collected from taking this pallet apart. This was a very strange pallet. It’s as though it had been repurposed or refurbished at some point. There were old boards attached that had nails in them that had previously been cut off.

     

    This method of dismantling pallets leaves the nails in tact, so that has to be dealt with.

     

    how-to-remove-nails-pallet-boardsI tapped the nails through the boards with my hammer. Because the nails were very long, I used a scrap piece of wood to get good leverage while removing the pallet wood nails. Removing the nails was a little extra work, but since the demolition went so quickly I didn’t mind it at all.

     

    sharps-container-for-screwsI use an old kitty litter jug to collect my old screws and nails.

    pallet-boardsSo, now I have all these great boards to use for pallet wood projects in the future.


    I have asked some of my best friends to share their best pallet projects with you. They are very clever, and have their own unique way of dealing with the removal of pallet boards. I sure hope you find something to inspire you!!

    Unique Pallet Projects to Inspire You

    Pin This For Later!

     

     

     

    Outdoor Pallet Projects

    EASY portable bar great for weddings, parties, backyard events, tailgating, and even Lemonade stand for the kiddos.

     

    Pallet Potting Table Refresh Restyle

     

    Garden Bench | Pallet Love Seat

     

    Pretty Glazed Pallet Top Table, Coffee Bar, Outdoor Table

    Easy ONE pallet Potting Table

     

    Build-Pallet-PlayhouseBuilt by Kids shows us How fun it is to be a kid in this Pallet Playhouse

     

    Disguise an outdoor eyesore such as a gas meter with a faux garden gate

    cascading-pallet-planter-flowersOh my gosh, you seriously won’t believe what this pallet flower box looks like after the flowers filled in. Great job Amy from Her Tool Belt!

    snow-cone-stand

    We have two projects from Infarrantly Creative—first up is this adorable snow cone stand made from pallets.

     

     

     

    Pallet Projects to Inspire You

    everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know-about-pallet-wood.53-AM

    Pallets can have some chemicals in them, so if you’re unsure, you should check out this post from Donna at Funky Junk Interiors.

     

    Pallet Home Decor Ideas

     

    MyLove2Create, pallet and scrap wood frame with horizontal photoEasy pallet and scrap wood frames from our final MRL contributor—My  Love 2 Create

    Pallet-sign-IdeasThese pallet signs can be found over at the DIY Village, a tutorial from One Project Closer.

     

    pallet wood flower crateI love this little flower crate made out of pallet boards from Follow Your Heart Woodworking

     

    Pallet Wall Ideas

    How_to_Install_Pallet_Wall_LedgesUnique pallet wall with ledges from Pretty Handy Girl.

    Install-a-Pallet-Wall-The-Easy-WayAddicted 2 DIY shares her secret for putting up a pallet wall without breaking apart any pallets!

     

     

    Pallet Organization Projects

    Half Pallet Coffee Cup Rack

     

    mobile-pallet-wood-storageCheck out this pallet mobile wood storage from Fix This Build That.

    pallet wood shelf

    Pallet Shelf

     

    pallet coffee cup rack

    Repurposed Pallet Coffee Cup Rack

    Pallet-Wood-Wall-Storage-Rack-via-KnickofTime.net_

    This pallet wood wall rack with storage is an easy fix to an age old problem—from another one of MRL contributors, Angie from Knick of Time.

     

     

     

     

    Holiday Pallet Projects

    deer-head-pallet-wood-art

    This wood slice deer head pallet project really dresses up the mantel for Kim from The Kim Six Fix

     

    lighted-pallet-wood-christmas-signHere’s another beautiful pallet project for your mantel from Kim.

    pallet-ornament

    Small pallet scraps were used to make this Christmas ornament from Patina Paradise.

    pallet-wood-christmas-treeHere’s another project from Joan, a great pallet wood Christmas Tree.

    How to Make a Christmas Stocking Shelf out of Pallet Wood Create And Babble

     

    Pallet Furniture Ideas

    pallet-coffee-table

    This pallet coffee table tutorial is perfectly easy to follow by Repurpose Life Blog

     

    farmhousepalletbedwithrollingtrundle_thumb

    Beckie also made this farmhouse pallet bed with rolling trundle for her son.

     

     

    pallet-benchMindi also made this oh so cute DIY upholstered pallet bench

     

    Have you done a pallet project? Do you have a secret way to dismantle pallets? Do tell us all about it in a comment below.

     

    gail

    sharing here:  Remodelaholic's Pallets a Plenty

    See more pallet projects here

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    1. Jean Wild

      July 09, 2019 at 4:15 pm

      can you make some collapsable tomato cages from pallets?

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        July 09, 2019 at 5:44 pm

        Jean,

        I'm so sorry, I'm not a gardener, so I'm not sure what exactly that is or how to make a tomato cage collapse. Or even why you would want the cage to collapse. 🙂 I wish I could be of more help.

        gail

    2. robert labradore

      December 27, 2018 at 5:35 am

      your just a advertisement for a tool . so if you don't have this tool your screwed .

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        December 30, 2018 at 10:40 pm

        If you really read the article you will see that there are lots of tips from bloggers that don't have the tool. The tool is definitely worth the cost, especially for a 61 year old woman who can no longer dismantle pallets the hard way. 🙂

        gail

    3. crochet

      October 11, 2016 at 4:57 pm

      Hi there I am so thrilled I found your blog page, I really found you
      by mistake, while I was researching on Aol for something else, Nonetheless I am here now
      and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post and a all round entertaining blog (I
      also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to reead through it all at
      the moment but I have bookmarked it annd also added your RSS feeds,
      so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the food work.

      Reply
    4. Connie Petherbridge

      October 09, 2016 at 6:20 pm

      Hi: Can the Deck Wrecker only be per-chested from Amazon?

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        October 09, 2016 at 8:22 pm

        I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that question Connie. I've never seen it anywhere else.

        gail

      • Momsgoneridin

        February 20, 2017 at 12:07 pm

        Hi, i purchased a "deck wrecker" bar from Home Depot. It was called a "Wrecking Claw ( trademark)" Angel-GUARD Products, thru the mail, it was under $50. And shipped for free right to my house. It works great and has a split claw at the end of each pry bar called a catspaw.

    5. Laurie Kearnes

      September 16, 2016 at 5:02 pm

      oops - can't find the affilate link in this post - or the shop now button. Can you tell me where it is. I know-duh! But thanks!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 18, 2016 at 5:32 pm

        I'm guessing you're on mobile. The words DUCKBILL DECK WRECKER right under the video are linked to Amazon.

        I hope you can find it.

        gail

    6. Laurie Kearnes

      September 16, 2016 at 4:59 pm

      Ok - it's on my list! Thanks!

      Reply
    7. Nat

      May 13, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Thank you for the recommendation for the Deck Wrecker. I'm going out to get one soon!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 13, 2016 at 3:37 pm

        I truly think you will love the duckbill deck wrecker whether you're using it for decks, fences or pallets! 🙂

        gail

    8. Rhonda

      March 04, 2016 at 2:07 pm

      Awesome projects

      Reply
    9. Marie, The Interior Frugalista

      January 14, 2016 at 9:54 am

      I just popped over from your DIY Pallet Board Tray post for the Power Tool Challenge where I said I took apart a pallet once and vowed never to do it again. I need me a Deck Wrecker!!!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        January 14, 2016 at 10:25 am

        yes! everyone needs a deck wrecker! It is so incredibly easy to dismantle pallets this way. 🙂

    10. Amy

      December 12, 2015 at 10:52 am

      I need to get one of those tools, you make it look so easy! Thanks for including my cascading planter box.

      Reply
    11. Katie @ Addicted 2 DIY

      December 11, 2015 at 9:42 am

      Thanks so much for including my pallet wall, Gail! I love this roundup! There's so many great ideas. I need to check out that Deck Wrecker! I have a stack of pallets at my house just waiting to be broken down.

      Reply
    12. Patricia

      December 09, 2015 at 10:43 pm

      a great collection of pallet projects! that bed with trundle looks like a challenge.... but many of them look do-able!
      I especially like the rack with storage... from Knick of time.

      Reply
    13. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      December 09, 2015 at 6:37 pm

      I use a lot of pallets but have never seen that tool before. Thanks for sharing and for including my flower crate with all those great pallet projects!

      Reply
    14. Debbie @ Refresh Restyle

      December 09, 2015 at 4:40 pm

      Great tips and projects! pinned it for later when I can work on a pallet!
      Debbie

      Reply
    15. Mindi

      December 09, 2015 at 2:09 pm

      This is awesome, why do I not have one of those tools?!! Great video Gail and so many inspiring pallet projects, thanks for including mine!! Pinned!

      Reply
    16. Joan

      December 09, 2015 at 8:38 am

      As many pallets as I've dismantled, you would think I would have one of those tools. Maybe I need to put it on my Christmas list. I usually take a circular saw and just saw down the side rails and then I'm only left with the middle. So glad to see you become a pallet convert. 🙂

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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