Why you SHOULD use old pallets

Why? Why Not? 

Reclaimed Pallets can be used for so many things these days.  It is exciting to see the creativity that people are showing on Pinterest, blogs, the web, facebook, etc. (Well - at least it's exciting to me! LOL!) It's like people are determined to find something - anything to make out of old pallets!  Stuff like home decor, shelves, wine racks, book cases, cabinets, furniture, signs, playhouses, stairs, chairs - the list goes on and on! (too many ideas! - Just ask my husband!)

History?  Pallets have history?

So, how long have pallets been used? About 100 years!  Since the 1920's.  The majority of pallets we have used were basically brand new.  New wood!-like they were nnly used once and that's it!  I once heard someone say not to use old pallets because you don't know what type of contaminates might be on them.  I even had someone tell me that there might be radiation on them so I shouldn't use them.  Really???  Well - Guess what?  I did it anyway and I seem to be okay...  Well....some people may think otherwise!  haha!

For Real? 

I think you have to use your own judgement.  Using pallet wood (Old pallets, used pallets, recycled pallets, reclaimed pallets - All the same thing!) is basically recycling wood. Where else do you get recycled wood?  Old fences?  Maybe, but I don't know anyone that has a habit of putting up and taking down old fences.  Maybe I'm just too lazy to search for old fences.  

Pallets are so easy to find!  

We found a business that gets a ton of pallets. They can't keep them and they don't reuse them.  So - they get rid of them after their products are unloaded.  Well, guess what?  Can you beleive, the employees were actually cutting them up with a chainsaw and putting them in their huge dumpster?  (Are they nuts!?)  So we take our 16 foot trailer, back it up to their loading dock and load up our trailer with pallets.  When their employees were there, they helped me load them! Yaee!  That makes it a Win-Win-Win-Win!  Win! -They are still getting rid of them, Win! - They don't have to cut them up with a chainsaw anymore, Win! -I get pallets, and Win - we're all recycling!  Ta-Da!  Magic! I guess you would probably call it being "Green"!  Recycle People! - Recycle! Reuse! Repurpose!

What? Pallets can be exhilarating?

Yep! The most pallets I ever got to fit on our trailer at one time was about 65.  ...and let me tell you, those 65 - I loaded them BY MYSELF!  yes!  yes, by myself!!! I know I'm nuts! Oh boy, I sure needed a nap when I got done.  It was basically a workout!  I was so sore the next day.  Needless to say, I learned not to pick up a load of pallets by myself anymore!  Although It was exhilarating knowing that I'm a "big girl" and perfectly capable of doing anything-myself! Did you know that loading pallets is an Art?  The trick is to stand them up (not lay them down), on their short side so the long side is standing up. You can fit so many more than you could if you just laid them down!

Thanks for sticking with me!  For some of you this might be a boring story, but Pallets are some Serious Stuff!!

Leave a comment! What projects have you made? XOXO - Jess