Bass Coast Post
  • Home
    • Recent articles
  • News
    • Point of view
    • View from the chamber
  • Writers
    • Anne Davie
    • Anne Heath Mennell
    • Bob Middleton
    • Carolyn Landon
    • Catherine Watson
    • Christine Grayden
    • Dick Wettenhall
    • Ed Thexton
    • Etsuko Yasunaga
    • Frank Coldebella
    • Gayle Marien
    • Geoff Ellis
    • Gill Heal
    • Harry Freeman
    • Ian Burns
    • Joan Woods
    • John Coldebella
    • Julie Paterson
    • Julie Statkus
    • Kit Sleeman
    • Laura Brearley >
      • Coastal Connections
    • Lauren Burns
    • Liane Arno
    • Linda Cuttriss
    • Linda Gordon
    • Lisa Schonberg
    • Liz Low
    • Marian Quigley
    • Mark Robertson
    • Mary Whelan
    • Meryl Brown Tobin
    • Michael Whelan
    • Mikhaela Barlow
    • Miriam Strickland
    • Natasha Williams-Novak
    • Neil Daly
    • Patsy Hunt
    • Pauline Wilkinson
    • Richard Kemp
    • Sally McNiece
    • Terri Allen
    • Tim Shannon
  • Features
    • Features 2024
    • Features 2023
    • Features 2022
    • Features 2021
    • Features 2020
    • Features 2019
    • Features 2018
    • Features 2017
    • Features 2016
    • Features 2015
    • Features 2014
    • Features 2013
    • Features 2012
  • Arts
  • Local history
  • Environment
  • Nature notes
    • Nature notes
  • A cook's journal
  • Community
    • Diary
    • Courses
    • Groups
    • Stories
  • Contact us

​Pallets for beginners

4/11/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture
Geoff Ellis’s guide to the wonderful world of pallet fencing, furniture and firewood.
Above: the Great Wall of Pallets
By Geoff Ellis
 
EVER wondered what happens to those stacks of pallets outside Bunnings? A fair few of them have ended up at my place. There’s almost nothing you can’t do with a pallet. I use pallets for fencing, firewood and furniture.
 
Along the way, I’ve picked up a fair bit of experience, most of it the hard way. I thought it was time to share what I’ve learned.
  1. Don't use CHEP pallets. They are bloody heavy and they are 'returnable' – ie. Mr Chep (a giant logistics company) owns them and there is a deposit owing on them.
  2. Don't get ideas about making a fortune by collecting the deposit when you return abandoned CHEP pallets to the depot. You need to have an account with CHEP or they will ask you "Where did you steal these from?" as they note your rego and intimidate you with a forklift.
  3. Ditto LOSCAM. Same story but the pallets are lighter and are a nice reddish colour.
  4. So only use non-returnables - these are pallets that have come from distant parts and aren't going back as it is uneconomic to send truckloads of pallets back to the warehouse or across the seas.
  5. If you need to prise them apart, leave them out in the rain so the wood loosens its grip on the nails.
  6. Watch out for the nails. And wear your safety glasses.
Can I burn that pallet?

No. And yes!

Don’t burn a pallet that has been painted, treated or contaminated with chemicals, even in a closed wood heater.

Pallets that are stamped with ‘MB’ (Methyl Bromide) are to be avoided at all costs – even for building or craftwork, let alone incineration. 

You can burn pallet wood safely as long as it is the remains of Australian made pallets. If in doubt, leave it out.
​
Best practice is to mix up pallet wood and tree wood – the pallets are kiln dried and burn at a very high temperature and that will cause long term problems if pallets are the sole source of combustion. And watch out for the nails! 
3 Comments
Steve Smith link
28/11/2023 11:30:43 am

It helped when you said that proper pallet planning could help provide safety measures for safe business management. Last night, my cousin told me that he was looking for pallet distribution that they will use in their warehouse for safe and organized handling of products. He asked if I could help him with his inquiry. Thanks to this helpful pallet guide article for effective planning. I'll tell him he should consult a well-known pallet distribution company because they can provide more information about their pallets.

Reply
Prajkta link
3/2/2024 01:19:45 am

very informative post, i like how you explained.

Reply
Mihir link
29/3/2024 10:14:17 pm

What an insightful article! Thank you for posting it!





Reply



Leave a Reply.