Pallet Reclamation Bars

I have broken down a few shipping pallets, in my time. Most recently, I used pallet demolition to test out a Stanley FatMax Fubar they sent me for review. Each time, I am surprised at how much work is involved. Modern shipping pallets are tough and well-made, and do not come apart easily.

If I had to do it very often, I would spring for a purpose-made tool. Several commercial models can be found for sale online using Googlons like “pallet buster” and “deck wrecker,” but I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for the maker-made Pallet Reclamation Bar from Cargo Cycles of Norwich. As you can see in the video, it’s a heavy tool, and if you’re not in the UK shipping may be prohibitive. If you know your way around a welder, it would not be too difficult to build something similar yourself. The key features seem to be:

1. A long handle to provide plenty of leverage and allow you to work from a standing position.
2. One or more forks, each having two tines that can wrap around a stringer and pry on both sides at once against a board nailed on top.
3. A narrow fork for prying around nominal 2″ stringers, and a wide fork for prying around nominal 4″ stringers.

The Cargo Cycle Pallet Reclamation Bar does not seem to have a dedicated web presence, but its design, development, and construction are detailed in the linked thread, below, at British country living forum Over the Gate, and the video includes e-mail and telephone contact points for interested buyers.

Over the Gate :: reclaim timber from old pallets

More:

• One-Pallet Park Bench
• Winery Uses Shipping Pallets as Shelving
• Wood Pallet Bike Rack
• How-To: Vertical Pallet Garden
• Paracord And Pallet Wood Hanging Chair
• Pallet Chair — Tiny Yellow House
• Beautiful hand-painted shipping pallet coffee table
• How-To: Sled from wooden pallet