Easiest Way to Break Down a Pallet Without Damaging the Boards

The faster you disassemble your pallet, the faster you can get to work on your pallet wood projects . This is how to break down a pallet without damaging the boards. The only tool you need is a hammer.

[alexandraW]

The first video that doesn't use the entire woodworking toolset! Thank you! I needed some simple directions and obtainable tools 👍

[jmackinjersey]

Quick tip. Get you a longer 2x4 and run it the entire length under the top pieces. Then you don't have to move the 2x every time. It will save you a lot of time and energy.

[TickyTack]

No one wants free pallets, and I don't want to waste perfectly good wood. You are a life saver!

[BoshoffChristina]

Thank you for showing me a way that doesn't involve me purchasing expensive tools I don't have. I love it.

[destinedforhiskingdom]

This is the easiest way, I am a woman and I have had so much difficulty trying to break pallets down to make planters. Thanks for this video. I am going to try it now.

[thedr]

Totally helped me, I've got dozens of pallets and busted so many trying to use a crowbar or a reciprocating saw. Thanks for this vid!

[motobob]

The best way I’ve seen so far if you plan to use all of the wood. Watched tons of videos.
Thanks

[johnlewis]

Without doubt the best video on pallet dismantling for a woodcraft beginner like myself and I’ve looked at quite a few. Brilliant !

[coolcatcilla]

This is so awesome, thank you for being clear and to the point. I picked up some palettes from a store with the intention of using them for Halloween projects, but I hadn’t thought about how to take them apart 🤦🏾‍♀️ you’re a life saver!

[billparrish]

This is a great method, because it pulls the slats straight out of the stringer, instead of at an angle like a pry bar does, which causes split slats. One change I do, since I'm overweight and my days of comfortably working on my knees are in the rear view, is to prop the pallet up on 2 others, which are positioned just under the 2 end slats, with the slats I'm removing facing down. Then while standing, hammer on a longer 2x4 flat down onto the slats. Alternately, I've tapped down on the slats with the flat top of a sledge hammer, and even a post-hole digging bar with a tamper head (has good weight, and the tamper head is nearly as wide as the slats). For those slats that are opposite another slat on the stringer, and thus hard to hit flat-on with my tools, I'll finish up with these shorter chunks as in the video. With the pallet now much lighter after removing most of the slats, it's easier to pick up and set on a sawhorse bench, allowing me to stand while doing this method.

And one thing to bear in mind, especially when the pallet has those hard-to-remove heavy twisted nails, is that those come in a strip together in the nail gun, connected by short wire pieces, which often break off and become embedded in the nail hole. Those little wire bits are murder on an expensive planer. So as a precaution, it's always a good idea to drill out the nail holes with a slightly oversized drill bit, which is much less expensive than a replacement set of planer knives, or even a table saw or miter saw blade.

[goldberry]

The guy at the hardware store that I've become friends with because I'm always in there getting pallets told me about this video. It will certainly help me build my pallet empire. Thanks

[cabbagecollector]

This is great not having to buy some random tool for the nails like other videos. Saved my free pallet inspiration!

[nicholasbreecher]

2 years later and this video is still helping people. Thanks for the help.

[Normal]

I love this idea. I split so many boards, when breaking down my pallets, using a prybar, and hammer. This also looks a lot less back breaking.

[harrisongrant]

I've been taking pallets from work and from local businesses (with both their permission) for years now, and I've always wondered what the best way to disassemble them without wrecking them completely is, so this was very helpful for me, especially since it's free (for me) wood that I can actually use.

[anthonysicily]

Awesome, no special crowbars, not gouging out the nails, just a hammer. Genius. Thank you

[theseus_lavender]

I love this... i was about buy a pry bar set and thought i'd have a quick word with "Uncle Youtube"... I hadn't thought about using physics in this way, its perfect. Thankyou

[jpendowski]

Thank you for being clear, concise and to the point. Your excellent method is useful for a beginner or experienced woodworker.

[TN_HondaDad]

Never would have thought to do it this way, thanks for paying it forward and will try it next time when I begin another "pallet project"

[realdealappeal]

New to woodwork. Messing with pallets for fun. Watched many videos and tried all the different ways. Hammer n pry bar. Sawzall, circular saw down the supports. This truly is the Best way. Qicker, less aggravation, and best way to keep the boards in the condition they are with no cracking around nails and makes it easiest on your next step removing nails. Was even able to sit on low mechanic chair on wheels n move pallet around board to board with no effort or energy. Great video for beginners. Thanks for taking time to make this video and make the project simple but efficient. 👍