Pallets! - Page 4

Might need to rethink my pricing structure. FYI

For what it's worth. Where I am it's a tough market. We pay $2.00 ea for "good" wooden pallets. This price is delivered and we buy min. 200 per. I did see a special on recycling these but they basically turn them into pressboard etc... they sell the nails to scrap yards! Did a little research on this because the return did not seem worth the investment. In some areas the good old govt. subsidises them because of the renewable green factor. Me personally I try to keep Uncle Sam out of my business.
Std pallet is called a 4x4. This is 48 x48 inches.

I get $1 for a 40"x48" pallet in Ft Worth TX. For the size and weight it's not enough $ to make it worth my while. If I had more storage space and a bigger truck that might change.

i think around here for a 48x40 is $2.00 for #2 and $3.00 for#1

I got some questions on building pallets. I buddy got this deal and the guy will give us 40x48 pallets for free and if we build 48x48s he will buy the of of us just not sure on what cheap wood would be good to build with?

I suppose the guy offering free pallets is expecting you to take them apart and rebuild them into 4x4 pallets? Usually pallets are made from low grade lumber purchased from local sawmills. This is usually framing lumber--2x4, 2x6, etc, in the low grades that the pallet mill will rip and chop into pallet stock.

Depending on where the pallets go (stay in the US or go offshore) the lumber may need to have certification that it has been "heat treated" to kill bugs and parasites that are in wood. This is required even to ship lumber between the US and Canada. Not sure how this would be handled using recycled pallet boards.

I've understood that the pallet buz is high volume, very competitive, and can be costly as your competitive edge mostly comes from highly automated equipment (which is expensive). Or very low cost labor...which is almost nonexistent in North America!

Mechanic, where do you get that tool, and what do you call it?

Hey all,

I know this post is pretty old but for those who want to find out more about pallets, their sizes, where are they used and advantages/disadvantages here is a great guide: Standard Pallet Size - Pallet Dimensions List: GLOBAL

This is not a self promotion in any way I just want to help out with the stuff I know and learn about new options of recycling.