Adaptive Curmudgeon does not like what he sees in the mirror: Am I The Pallet People:
Years ago I started hacking pallets apart. I “made” nail-free kiln-dried camping firewood. I’d blast through a bunch of pallets in an hour or less. I’d get about 50% useable firewood (in short lengths) and 50% nail ridden health hazards. The firewood went in a new, clean, dry trash can where it stayed dry and readily available. I hauled the junk to the dump before it wound up embedded in my truck’s tires.
* * * * I started wondering if I could get good useable “project” wood out of pallets. I’m not low on funds now but I will be soon. Could all this (free!) wood keep me occupied and off the streets? Lots of people use pallet wood but often they’re making decorative things. I don’t make decorative things. Nor do I have access to really excellent pallets.
Last summer, after restacking the firewood to a smaller footprint (it rests upon pallets upon cinderblocks to hopefully confuse the termites), we had a number of pallets that were not in very good shape, so I thought I would break them apart for just such decorative creations as AC tut-tuts. So the youngest and I got to work with crowbars, hammers, and pliers to not only break them apart but also to pull the nails and staples so I could use them for woodburning.
Aw, but, c’mon, man, we know what I’m really using them for: To clutter my shed until I get my garage clean enough where I can do anything in it besides park a vehicle and a lawnmower.
Am I the pallet people? No, I am of the pallet people. And I have bad news.
