The Honest Carpenter
Published 2 May 2020Pallet wood projects have been all the craze for a while now. But, in general pallets are very SUB-PAR lumber, and they have other problems associated with them as well! There is a much better option out there: CULL WOOD. This short video from The Honest Carpenter will compare the two: pallet wood vs. cull wood.
DON’T USE PALLET WOOD!
Pallets are typically pine or oak, but they’re inferior grades of that lumber. They’re shaggy and the end grain splits. Not to mention that they’re full of nails!
To work with pallets, you often have to break them down. But, the spiral shank nails don’t come out easily. Then, you might have nail fragments in your lumber, which can damage your saw blades, or harm you.
Also, pallet wood is not as thick as most dimensional lumber (it’s usually only 1/2″ to 5/8″ thick). And, pieces are typically only 3′ to 4′ long. So, you have to work around these dimensional limitations from the beginning of a project.
Also, pallet wood sometimes contains dangerous insecticides, such as METHYL BROMIDE!
AVOID PALLETS MARKED WITH THE LETTERS “MB” OR “EUR.” THEY’VE BEEN FUMIGATED.
Even non-fumigated pallets may have had chemicals spilled on them during shipping. And, pallet wood is never actually “treated” (with a fungicide), so they will eventually rot outside.
CULL WOOD IS THE SUPERIOR OPTION!
Cull wood is wood that has been pulled off the shelves at lumberyards because it isn’t quite up to salable standards. In many cases, it will contain only minor defects.
This wood is often marked down 70%! In some cases, you can even get it for free…
Also, cull wood comes in all varieties and dimensions. It is actual lumber–the same kind you would typically use for projects. And, it won’t have contain nails or spilt chemicals.
Thanks for watching the video!
Be sure to visit us at The Honest Carpenter Website:
www.thehonestcarpenter.comDon’t Use Pallet Wood!! USE THIS INSTEAD…(Cull Wood Vs. Pallet Wood)
