Found Wood = Pallets wood ?

[carvedbears61]

CBears,
I have a clear wood pallet looks like oak or poplar. Only thick enough for
Christmas ornaments what will this do to my knifes and gouges. Do I run from it or use it.

[Claude]

I've used pallet wood before. Got some nice pieces of oak that way, as well as some Southern basswood. Nails were usually rusty enough they were easily identifiable for removal.

Claude

[sludgeguy]

I've used poplar pallet wood before for a shallow relief carving.
Watch for metal, easily spotted. It carved well, not as good as quality basswood but well worth the price (free). I didn't notice it dulling my tools much quicker than other woods. I'd say to give it a try.
Just my 2 cents,
Doug

[Keoma]

I LOVE PALLETTS!!!! my husband hates them, since I have a pile and a knack for finding them But the coolest wood comes from them! I get oak, poplar, pine, gum and even mahogany from them. Keep your eyes peeled! The coolest place to find them is behind an Import store. Thats where I get mine. They come from all over the world and are loaded with little gems! Good luck and have fun! But please remember to wear a mask while working it. Not only is ALL sawdust bad, but wood from other countries and I am especially wary of.
Ha-do yourself a favor and break it aprt now, then set it all aside in a nice neat stack then you wont have a mess to deal with or keep tripping over the pallet!

[CarverFromNoWhere]

O yeah pallet wood is great and it's free, great tip there Keoma behind import stores I have found some actually very pricey rare woods in pallets that came from other countries. I also found some really really nice, was unbeliveable it was birdseye maple, easy to find all kinds of woods this way.

Get a metal detector my family has many because we metal detect and have found much money and jewelry but I like to use them for finding hidden nails it found wood and in logs going to the sawmill.

I have something I was gonna post and now that ya have this topic up I wil be right back with a pic.

Carl

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Ok here it is, yesterday I was digging around in a pile of wood I have hoarded away and I seen this small poplar tree growing from the pile. So I investigated and realized it had just finished dropping it's leaves. Well I grabbed a hold of it and gave it a tug and when I did the pile went all over the place and out came this small pallet with a tree growing from one of the boards. The strangest thing I have ever seen, (tree related that is) has anyone else ever seen a tree grow from a sawn board? I know they will regen from the stumps and roots but from a board
Carl

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

looks like it grew "through" the board

[JJireh]

That's wild. No real way for it to grow without bark or nubs, that is mostly heartwood. A seed could have sprouted and found its way through a crack or hole, or as Hi Ho mentioned it sprang up from below.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Yeah I took a closer look at the pallet and on the oposite board there is a nail hole in the exact same spot there must have been a board across there and it just sprouted through the nail hole.
Carl

[Buckskin]

Pallet wood can be a great source of free or cheap wood. You can always use a cheap magnetic stud finder or just a magnet to find nails. On the harder woods you find you will find yourself stropping more often. Otherwise, have fun and carve it up!!!!