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Like others said, reclaiming wood - even mediocre to bad wood - can be a satisfying part of that hobby. I took a beat up pallet and turned it into a storage ch

by pp19dd 5y ago

Like others said, reclaiming wood - even mediocre to bad wood - can be a satisfying part of that hobby. I took a beat up pallet and turned it into a storage chest. It filled up my summer and fall and half of winter. The reclaiming labor was worth it alone: https://imgur.com/gallery/jpFNJPB https://imgur.com/gallery/jpFNJPB

danparsonson 5y ago
That's stunning, what a fantastic result! How did you carve the surface detail? You've alluded to it in your post but for anyone else thinking about using pallet wood - look for heat treated wood (stamped HT), and be mindful that these things can be used to ship hazardous materials, and may retain some residue of whatever they were carrying.
- pp19dd 5y ago
  Didn't go into it because I have nothing to contribute being an amateur, but yep, anyone working with shipping pallets should read authoritative sources on safety first. If you don't see that HT stamp, move on. And luckily they're a lot of effort to disassemble to a point of discouragement. Surface detail was a scroll saw and power-carving with a cheap rotary tool. Flex shaft, assortment of diamond coated burrs, and some patience. Just started getting into power carving and I have a long way to go, but enough can be done with just a hand file and sanding: https://i.imgur.com/kjLPtGu.jpg https://i.imgur.com/kjLPtGu.jpg
YZF 5y ago
I'll second that. Also look for old houses being torn down or for scraps being thrown from new houses being build. I just got a bunch of leftover wood from a building site down the street. Even though they were trying to reuse most of it they still have to throw some away and if you ask nicely they'll probably let you have it... I've also gotten some very nice pallet wood from a local business importing countertops from China. Do watch out for chemically treated wood though I think that's more rare these days. The wood should have stamps/marks showing how it has been treated.
- clairity 5y ago
  i have been lamenting the 100 year old house down the street being gutted of its original wood (in good shape still, as far as i could see) and replaced with the cheap stuff of today, for no obvious benefit. a literal replacement, likely to keep the tax basis. the facade, roof, plumbing, and wiring (plus insulation) are likely upgrades but not the framing timber. such a waste. i’ve done some (small) reclamation projects with similar old wood, and it’s so much better than today’s lumber.
mellavora 5y ago
I like to build stuff out of empty wine crates. As a bonus, I have to empty the wine crate before I build something..
digitalsanctum 5y ago
Funny you should mention pallets. I have a couple in the shop waiting and ready to be reincarnated.

by pp19dd 5y ago

danparsonson 5y ago

That's stunning, what a fantastic result! How did you carve the surface detail? You've alluded to it in your post but for anyone else thinking about using pallet wood - look for heat treated wood (stamped HT), and be mindful that these things can be used to ship hazardous materials, and may retain some residue of whatever they were carrying.

pp19dd 5y ago
Didn't go into it because I have nothing to contribute being an amateur, but yep, anyone working with shipping pallets should read authoritative sources on safety first. If you don't see that HT stamp, move on. And luckily they're a lot of effort to disassemble to a point of discouragement. Surface detail was a scroll saw and power-carving with a cheap rotary tool. Flex shaft, assortment of diamond coated burrs, and some patience. Just started getting into power carving and I have a long way to go, but enough can be done with just a hand file and sanding: https://i.imgur.com/kjLPtGu.jpg https://i.imgur.com/kjLPtGu.jpg

YZF 5y ago

I'll second that. Also look for old houses being torn down or for scraps being thrown from new houses being build. I just got a bunch of leftover wood from a building site down the street. Even though they were trying to reuse most of it they still have to throw some away and if you ask nicely they'll probably let you have it... I've also gotten some very nice pallet wood from a local business importing countertops from China. Do watch out for chemically treated wood though I think that's more rare these days. The wood should have stamps/marks showing how it has been treated.

clairity 5y ago
i have been lamenting the 100 year old house down the street being gutted of its original wood (in good shape still, as far as i could see) and replaced with the cheap stuff of today, for no obvious benefit. a literal replacement, likely to keep the tax basis. the facade, roof, plumbing, and wiring (plus insulation) are likely upgrades but not the framing timber. such a waste. i’ve done some (small) reclamation projects with similar old wood, and it’s so much better than today’s lumber.

mellavora 5y ago

I like to build stuff out of empty wine crates. As a bonus, I have to empty the wine crate before I build something..

digitalsanctum 5y ago

Funny you should mention pallets. I have a couple in the shop waiting and ready to be reincarnated.