Possible source for free wood!

[tookiedoo78]

If you have any warehouses/stores around you that get a lot of stuff in by truck, check out their pallets. Many places will give you their pallets free. Where I work, we get a good many pallets made of oak, but I see a variety of hardwoods and softwoods from time to time. I don't have the capability to use them yet, but if you have a planer and/or band saw, you can probably get some good pieces out of them. Just watch out for nails!
Josh

[Pajaro]

Been there, done that, some time back. I got some pretty good Oak I think i still have a couple of 1/2" boards left. And yes they are hard on planers. I use old blades to get most of the grit and grime off, then put good blades on finish up. I have two sets of good blades that were made bad very quickly by nails, stones and something i couldn't tell what it was.
But here in Dallas, Most of the pallets are pickup and reused now days.. Hard to find a good one being tossed out.

[greatdane2]

After nicking to many blades planing scrap wood from pallets, I now use a belt sander to smooth of the board so I can see what I have and then plane as needed.
Alan.

[Wood Dog]

How about one of these........Little Wizard and Lumber Wizard Metal Detectors - Woodcraft.com

[greatdane2]

Not sure how good they are thesedays, looked at them years ago and they would not find smaller nails etc in thick wood. The other problem is gravel that can ruin a blade just as bad.

[Pajaro]

greatdane2. That is a good idea (belt sander). If I ever find a good oak pallet again, I will drag out my old hand held belt sander first. Thanks...

[greatdane2]

I bought a import 6x48 belt sander a few years ago and don't use it much but for a few jobs like this it is worth the money.