Timber pallets

[genescampbell]

Just wanting to know if timber pallets are treated or could they be used as firewood. There seems to be heaps around where i live but no quite sure if they'd be ok to use.


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[austastar]

Hi,
    The treatment used to be Copper Arcenate, and that left a toxic ash after the fire. I think the smoke/fumes were toxic as well.
The more modern treatments are not as toxic, but I would still be cautious about breathing the fumes and leaving the ash bed on the ground,
Cheers

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[kylarama]

The common disposable type pine pallets are untreated.

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[BBull]

if they have no markings they are plain pine. All treated pallets require to have markings on them.
But that doesn't mean that they all do. With so much stuff coming in from overseas these days I wouldn't risk it.
Fire wood is cheap, it grows on trees.

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

From what we see, all the hardwood pallets are treated.  These arent usually given away though. 

Then there are the pine pallets, these often dont seem to be.  But pine also doesnt put out much heat, great for a bon fire like this though!!! 

Check this on youtube!!  https://youtu.be/K1bVZMWs7VQ

Pic from the video here:

[loanrangie]

Generally imported pallets are heat treated with some being fumigated, i would have no problem burning them as they aren't treated with carcinogenic chemicals as normal practice.

[Beachman]

My local mower shop is grateful for taking there untreated pine pallets off there hands. Agree they don't generate as much heat as hardwood, but seeing they are in abundance they are perfect for the home fire pit as I just keep stacking pieces on.   

[1302toby]

If the pallets are imported they will be marked either HT or CT. HT is heat treated and safe to burn but CT is chemical treated and best left alone.

[Fizzie]

Pic from the video here:

Think I saw that fire up at Spring Gully when we were there

Bloke drove in towing what looked like a car trailer, filled with pallets - 2 stack wide, 5 or 6 long, 5 high.

That night they built a stack of about 20 of them, let 'er rip, & then kept ? throwin' another pallet on the fire ?.

Fire was probably 3m across, flames were 5m high & no-one was within 10m of it, but, boy, they had a fire

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

Think I saw that fire up at Spring Gully when we were there

Bloke drove in towing what looked like a car trailer, filled with pallets - 2 stack wide, 5 or 6 long, 5 high.

That night they built a stack of about 20 of them, let 'er rip, & then kept ? throwin' another pallet on the fire ?.

Fire was probably 3m across, flames were 5m high & no-one was within 10m of it, but, boy, they had a fire

Aha!  Sounds great!!

Has got me thinking.... We give away around 100 broken pallets each month, most of them pine.  Not sure if they're untreated, but perhaps we can start setting them aside instead for annual MySwag Bonfire in QLD somewhere.........Would of course have to get local fire authority permission & likely involvement.... 

Hmmmm!! I like this idea!!!   

[Fizzie]

we can start setting them aside instead for annual MySwag Bonfire in QLD somewhere

Sounds great Jon

& that would also be the weekend that Tentworld brings out all it's new goodies to show off, together with heaps of freebies & so on, wouldn't it!

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

Sounds great Jon

& that would also be the weekend that Tentworld brings out all it's new goodies to show off, together with heaps of freebies & so on, wouldn't it!

If that's what it takes to get your there Fizzie - anything   

I hear you do the best chicken dance when you're motivated by prizes ? 

[Fizzie]

I hear you do the best chicken dance when you're motivated by prizes ?

Enough alcohol you never know what may happen, but the chicken dance is incredibly unlikely

[Raym]

Burn pallets, shameful.

https://www.toowoombahospitalfoundation.org.au/event/pup19creators

For those with stalker book. If you close the photo after it opens you can scroll down to the post apparently.

https://www.facebook.com/toowoombahospitalfoundation/photos/pcb.1155501661277965/1155496517945146/?type=3&theater

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

Burn pallets, shameful.

https://www.toowoombahospitalfoundation.org.au/event/pup19creators

For those with stalker book. If you close the photo after it opens you can scroll down to the post apparently.

You're right, that's an awesome fundraising activity & quite unique - despite also living in Toowoomba I had not heard of it - thank you for letting me know Raym.  Toowoomba Hospital Foundation definitely have some great creative fundraisers that are also community building.  Very impressive.   

We give away loads of broken pallets away each year - most of which I'm quite sure are being burnt but we do not question those who take them off our hands.

Now I know there are some other purposes for them, I'll look to find somewhere to stock pile them to support both projects.  I dont expect construction will use too many. 

[Raym]

The Foundation collects pallets for makers but not sure what their need is. I used skids for this as I needed thicker boards to allow for dressing them to be flat with parallel faces for gluing.  Not a project I am keen to repeat, it hasn't been easy.
 

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

The Foundation collects pallets for makers but not sure what their need is. I used skids for this as I needed thicker boards to allow for dressing them to be flat with parallel faces for gluing.  Not a project I am keen to repeat, it hasn't been easy.

Holy smokes Raym, do you mean to say you're the one in the pic who made that rocking horse!?  I think I'm going to have to go to that auction to try win it!!!  Looks terrific!  Well done!

[Raym]

Holy smokes Raym, do you mean to say you're the one in the pic who made that rocking horse!?  I think I'm going to have to go to that auction to try win it!!!  Looks terrific!  Well done!

Thank you. This is the second year for this event. This was my effort for last year, it was a doll sized horse, and wasn't real difficult.

https://www.facebook.com/raysrockinghorses/photos/a.1011180692318804/1531989090237959/?type=3&theater

There were some great furniture pieces last year.

[Fizzie]

Burn pallets, shameful.

But Ray, not all of us have your skills & ability to turn some "useless", rough bits of timber into a work of art!

 

[Raym]

But Ray, not all of us have your skills & ability to turn some "useless", rough bits of timber into a work of art!

 

I don't believe that for a moment. Some of the stuff I see other folk do in the shed thread leaves me in awe.

No special skills etc. I just think I am to stupid to recognise stuff I shouldn't try to do. 

[Spada]

Raym,

Its not just your talent for shaping the wood that needs to be admired, but also the fact that your putting it to use for a charity event 

that's what makes the difference between living in a suburb, v's being part of a community.

[Raym]

Holy smokes Raym, do you mean to say you're the one in the pic who made that rocking horse!?  I think I'm going to have to go to that auction to try win it!!!  Looks terrific!  Well done!

Here you go Jon just to entice you a bit more.

Almost done waiting for some swing iron brackets & hair. The saddle etc isn't fixed yet, need to make sure I haven't got to make adjustments to fit the mane.

Will put up a photo when complete.

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

Here you go Jon just to entice you a bit more.

Almost done waiting for some swing iron brackets & hair. The saddle etc isn't fixed yet, need to make sure I haven't got to make adjustments to fit the mane.

Will put up a photo when complete.

WOW Raym - my 3 month old son would love this I am sure!  I am going to have to go to that auction to try win it ! 

[Raym]

Done. If I think about doing this again I hope someone slaps some sense into me.

[Jon Burrell - Tentworld]

Done. If I think about doing this again I hope someone slaps some sense into me.

Raym, you'd better hope I win this year then!...