Wood Suggestion

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Vic99

Vic99

Minister of Fire
Dec 13, 2006
857
MA, Suburb of Lowell
This is my first year burning. Like many new guys, I underestimated the amount of wood that I will need for a season, so I have been collecting pallets to supplement my supply.

Is there an easy way to break up pallets that I'm missing. It seems pretty time consuming for so little wood.

Basically, I rip it down the middle with a chainsaw or a sawsall and then either pull the planks off or use a rubber mallet to whack/bend the planks enough so that I can tear them off. I don't try to rip off every last piece . . . obviously it just needs to be small enough to get into the firebox.

Maybe there is no easy way.

Thanks.
 
I had to resort to using pallets my first burning season too. Sorry to say I never found a quick way to dismantle them. I was leary about using my chainsaw becuase of all the nails. I used a circular saw sometimes and a sawz-all others. I was glad the next season when I stockpiled enough cordwood and didn't have to mess with pallets again.
 
Rip down the side (or both sides if you are at the center 2 X) of the 2 x4 cutting the slat boards off. You are now left with the 2 x 4 with little pieces of slats nailed to them and the slat boards. Cut the 2 x 4 into length. This DOES mean that you are feeding nails into the firebox, so you won't want to throw the ashes where nails are an issue. I can dismantle a pallet in about 60 seconds using this method. I used to have an old steel box stove in the shop that got fed many pallets.
 
I used some also. I would use a chain saw and rip 3 or so down the middle and then cut them to sizes that would fit in the stove. I burned the nails also. Just throw the ash out or buy a good magnet.
 
wow, arent you getting real desperate to burn pallets??? :) just kidding./
 
Adirondackwoodburner said:
wow, arent you getting real desperate to burn pallets??? :) just kidding./
Click to expand...

Burning pallets is just heating. Burning the furniture some night in March is desperation.
 
haha, good one bart! Where on earth does pallet wood come from?? that is some ultra hard stuff
 
Have the lowest man on the totem pole at work rip em down for you. It works for me. Working 3rd shift does have it's advantages now and again. A chainsaw, and maybe a saws-all will work alright for you.
 
Adirondackwoodburner said:
haha, good one bart! Where on earth does pallet wood come from?? that is some ultra hard stuff
Click to expand...
A lot of pallets are oak! yummmm... some are spruce and pine.
 
Lowest man at work, huh . . . . I'm a school teacher . . . give the 11 year olds power tools and rubber mallets. . . . have the parents sign a waiver.

Actually, pallets are pretty easy for me to get and I can burn them this year . . . I'll try some of the suggestions that are a bit different then what I do.

Thanks
 
Of course the caveat of common sense applies. After all, if they cannot rip a 4 way pallet down, they do not belong in a manufacturing/assembly plant. At least IMHO.

As Mel Brooks stated...It's good to be the King..
 
BrotherBart said:
Adirondackwoodburner said:
wow, arent you getting real desperate to burn pallets??? :) just kidding./
Click to expand...

Burning pallets is just heating. Burning the furniture some night in March is desperation.
Click to expand...

Burning pianos is depression.
 
I'll tell you what, if you can find larger skids with 4x4's on the bottom..........most of them are hardwood. I cut 'em to length and mix 'em in with the cord wood.
 
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