Up-cycling Pallets Workshop with The Urban Pallet 19th Sept 2015

What a great workshop. I got to learn about different types of pallets or the wood the use. The below two pages are the best explanations so that saves me from typing and of course please use sense and safety. I will say that The Urban Pallet do make great things so if you don’t want to do it yourself check them out at http://www.theurbanpallet.com/

I made 3 little boxes with pre-cut slabs done by the lovely Meegan (spelling)

HOW TO IDENTIFY A USABLE PALLET

There are 2 main things to watch for on the stamp:
Avoid chemically-treated pallets to keep you and yours Safe.

1. The IPPC stamp: if you don’t see it, use it with caution! A pallet may be perfectly safe without this logo, but you don’t have clear information.

2. The treatment code : [HT] = Heat treatment / [MB] = Methyl Bromide / [DB] = Debarked / [KD] = Kiln Dried.

LOOK FOR HT TREATED PALLETS

Where to find: Gumtree, furniture stores, industrial areas, hardware stores, food outlets. Always ask for permission before you take pallets. Some pallets belong to companies and you will be find if you take them without approval.

WHAT DO THE LETTERS STAND FOR?
[MB]: Methyl bromide fumigation, this is a potent pesticide linked to human health problems and ozone layer depletion. Methyl bromide fumigation kills invasive species like pine beetles.

If you find an MB pallet (likely from Asia or Oceania), please do not use it for your craft projects or as firewood, find a waste-removal company that can dispose of it properly.

[DB]: These two letters indicate that the pallet is debarked according to IPPC regulations/stamps. Many pallets have this stamp. It does not matter if your pallet has this stamp or not. Many pallets do not have it.

Other Stamps: Sometimes you come across other acronyms stamped on the pallets you find. This stamp indicates the name of the pallet inspection firm, a manufacturing company, or an uncommon type of wood. If you find a stamp you are unsure of and cannot validate, avoid using this pallet. Do an internet search to see if other people have come across it before. The pallet below was made in Slovenia (SI) by the supplier 341220. The pallet was Heat Treated (HT) and debarked (DB). The pallet was made in July 2011. This pallet is safe to use. For the international country code, visit ISO website.

No Stamp: It means that it is a “national pallet”. National pallets are used for domestic transport within your country! Most domestic pallets are not treated with chemicals, so they should be safe. But you still have to be careful. Many crafters use these pallets safely, but it is better if you can trace from where they came. Sometimes you have to think about where you got them.

Pallet Codes and Finding Safe Pallets