Free pallets?

[ishiboo]

Where are some typical places to get used pallets for free? Our local hardware stores/etc. all seem to return or sell theirs.

I have forks on the tractor and a pallet jack now and need to start palletizing my loads

 

[5lima30]

Our local newspaper and the local TSC gives them away.

 

[Nosferatu]

The only pallets you're likely to get from stores for free are all the old broken ones that you don't want to be loading up. they are pretty much good for firewood and nothing else.

A lot of pallets these days are owned by the distributors, so retailers must return them.

 

[Journaler]

There's a local pallet recycler that takes usable wood from broken pallets, and combines them to make a single good pallet. I've picked through their piles, and gotten some good oak ones, $4 each. It's not as good as free, but sometimes you need a pallet now (buyer wants it shipped LTL), and don't have time to scour the CL ads.

 

[ishiboo]

There's a local pallet recycler that takes usable wood from broken pallets, and combines them to make a single good pallet. I've picked through their piles, and gotten some good oak ones, $4 each. It's not as good as free, but sometimes you need a pallet now (buyer wants it shipped LTL), and don't have time to scour the CL ads.

$4 a pallet would be fine... unfortunately, there is only ONE Craigslist ad with pallets here and they have 7 and don't reply.

Most of the local companies seem to sell them to pallet recyclers. I found a single lumber yard that gives them out, but they said someone just came and picked all theirs up.

 

[Steevo]

http://madison.craigslist.org/zip/3373923249.html
http://madison.craigslist.org/zip/3372840816.html
http://madison.craigslist.org/for/3331054723.html
http://greenbay.craigslist.org/bfs/3263997221.html
http://appleton.craigslist.org/mat/3263330368.html

 

[machine_punk]

I see free pallets on CL all the time, in the 'FREE' section. I know I'm not in your area, but that is what works for me.

Kev

 

[nonhog]

Lots of free around South Puget Sound.

 

[upndown]

CL freebies has worked well for me! Some good, some not so much..I strip the slats for my shed up north, the rest I cut up for the fire pit. Really good ones I give to friends for pallet racks etc...

 

[Cougar]

What size are you looking for.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have you checked the lumberyards ? Any small manufacturers ?

 

[copterdoctor]

plumbing supply warehouses, or grocery stores is where I seem to find them most often...

 

[Shadowdog500]

Kitz & Pfeil on Main Street. Joking of course.

Did you try the fleet farm by Mr. Cinders? Perhaps they have some.

I just looked online and there are two places that make palates in your area. One in Oshkosh and one in Appleton.

Chris

 

[KEH]

If no other option, you could make your own. Lumber is constantly being thrown away. Or find a local sawmill and buy green lumber.

KEH

 

[mncountrydoc]

Alot of the machine shops around here put them out for free no advertising

 

[premierplayer]

Try your local Landscapers.

 

[ishiboo]

Kitz & Pfeil on Main Street. Joking of course.

Did you try the fleet farm by Mr. Cinders? Perhaps they have some.

I just looked online and there are two places that make palates in your area. One in Oshkosh and one in Appleton.

Chris

Kitz was actually my first try! Are you local or just Googling? I tried several of the non-local pallet companies, as they pick up from local places, and they had zero interest selling me 10 pallets.

I actually found a small local company who couldn't tell me if they had any, but said go have someone in back point to where they'd be and you can take whatever you want.

There must have been 100 pallets there in good condition sitting. Many weathered and had been there for some time. When it rains it pours!

There are a total of *TWO* in the free section of Craigslist and they've been there for months. There are only ONE set for sale (7) and by the time they had emailed me back, I found some for free.

Thanks all for the help

 

[RAYJAY]

Our local newspaper and the local TSC gives them away.

LOCAL NEWS PAPER X2 work for one here, we dump truck loads of skids every other week,

 

[Crusty Nut]

my local beer distributor is always happy to give away the Corona and Pacifico pallets. They are "one trippers" from Mexico and slightly different size than industry standard and work great.

 

[fitz11]

If you still need some and don't mind coming to Appleton let me know.

 

[yost69]

Trucking companies is where I would try first. None there try landscaping businesses or produce markets.

Produce markets that buy at auctions, most of their bins and stuff will come on skids and they usually give them away when done.

I know when I hauled landscape stuff, bushes and small trees came on skids and I would always end up taking a load of empties back to the auction because the market that was selling the stuff couldn't get rid of them.

 

[rslaback]

Try the local school. We get a lot of stuff (paper etc.) delivered via pallet.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Look around the dumpsters at any business parks. Ours multiply like rabbits and I end up throwing them in the dumpster every few weeks and just keep a couple stacks worth.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Kitz was actually my first try! Are you local or just Googling?

I spend a week or two in Oshkosh almost every year for the air show since '94. Kitz&Pfeil is one of my regular stops. We also eat out every night at places like Robbins(good broasted chicken), The Roxy(good everything), Fox River Brew pub( they still open?, they had a good white chowder or soup), mr. Cinders(decent burgers), ardy&Eds car hop(neat place for a burger and a root beer in your car) , Shriners(good clam chowder), Mario's(OK Mexican), Etc.

Chris

 

[volvo]

..
Hit up your area busiest auto dealers. Our Bmw dealer is overrun with pallets and used tires everyday. Get in 8-12 a day, Free for the taking.

 

[JZHeyde]

If you end up near Chicago I would be happy to set you up with a bunch.

 

[Flatland Dave]

Feed stores, NAPA, small mfg outfits, implement dealers, lumber yards, HVAC companies.

 

[dolfans]

What all do you guys use the pallets for? Can you burn the wood and if so is it old and weathered enough?

 

[ishiboo]

I spend a week or two in Oshkosh almost every year for the air show since '94. Kitz&Pfeil is one of my regular stops. We also eat out every night at places like Robbins(good broasted chicken), The Roxy(good everything), Fox River Brew pub( they still open?, they had a good white chowder or soup), mr. Cinders(decent burgers), ardy&Eds car hop(neat place for a burger and a root beer in your car) , Shriners(good clam chowder), Mario's(OK Mexican), Etc.

Chris

Awesome... I think we should get a group of GJers together during AirVenture as there must be at least several. I try to attend every year and end up not going, this year I started volunteering so now I have an excuse to go

Fox River Brewing Company is still open - it's Fratellos and they have two restaurants at AirVenture. Mr. Cinders you have to hit the steak sandwich (just say "steak sandwich" if you want it, there are two different ones) if you want their best. The Chalice has the best hamburger

I live about 3 miles south of Ardy & Ed's.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Awesome... I think we should get a group of GJers together during AirVenture as there must be at least several. I try to attendevery year and end up not going, this year I started volunteering so now I have an excuse to go

Fox River Brewing Company is still open - it's Fratellos and they have two restaurants at AirVenture. Mr. Cinders you have to hit the steak sandwich (just say "steak sandwich" if you want it, there are two different ones) if you want their best. The Chalice has the best hamburger

I live about 3 miles south of Ardy & Ed's.

Lets plan that for next year.

What do you do when you volunteer? My wife worked operation thirst for years but stopped voulinteering two years ago when the new EAA president started changing things. We both may volunteer next year now that he quit(or was shown the door). we did get a golf cart ride from Paul Poberezny this year(he is known for giving people rides)

Did they have the free vouilnteer dinner at the nature center on the last day of the show this year. I heard a rumor that they weren't doing that this year.

Chris

 

[EOC_Jason]

What all do you guys use the pallets for? Can you burn the wood and if so is it old and weathered enough?

Yes I know several people that take them to burn, most pallets are made of Oak (though it might depend on the region)...

Besides cleaning out a few nails, it's basically free firewood.

 

[SVIPD]

Im in Dekalb, I can check our pallets to see how many we have but ours are free, first come first serve and were not too far from you.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What all do you guys use the pallets for? Can you burn the wood and if so is it old and weathered enough?

I know some that cut them up and use them as kindling in their wood burner. Those oak ones are using pretty damn hard.

We've had some people try to use them in their outdoor fire rings and want to cook over them. We tell them "No." After you explain that they get used by multiple companies and you never know what they can be soaked with or what spilled on them, most people would rather not cook over them.


Notice, I said "most" some don't care, they're the same ones that'll cook over paneling, PT wood or trash. Of course, we make them put those fires out.

 

[ishiboo]

Lets plan that for next year.

What do you do when you volunteer? My wife worked operation thirst for years but stopped voulinteering two years ago when the new EAA president started changing things. We both may volunteer next year now that he quit(or was shown the door). we did get a golf cart ride from Paul Poberezny this year(he is known for giving people rides)

Did they have the free vouilnteer dinner at the nature center on the last day of the show this year. I heard a rumor that they weren't doing that this year.

Chris

This year was a fluke... I had a friend and a relative volunteering in the medical centers and they lost one volunteer due to illness, so I came for a couple days. Next year I'm not sure what I'll do but I am going to come back.

I think there are multiple dinners, ours was at The Roxy actually.

 

[Twiggss]

We've had some people try to use them in their outdoor fire rings and want to cook over them. We tell them "No." After you explain that they get used by multiple companies and you never know what they can be soaked with or what spilled on them, most people would rather not cook over them.


Notice, I said "most" some don't care, they're the same ones that'll cook over paneling, PT wood or trash. Of course, we make them put those fires out.

wow

 

[Falcon67]

I have a stack of 5'x5' tire pallets - they make GREAT firewood. I keep one for mounting my tire changer on. The rest will go up in flames. I don't even take the nails out, just hack them into 24" parts with the chain saw.

 

[carhunter]

Alot of the machine shops around here put them out for free no advertising

That's a great source. The one near my old house would put out big oak pallets and crates. Some so heavy I could barely load them.

If nothing more they make good firewood

IIRC there's a couple non standard sizes of pallets that don't have much value for buy-backs. Like 38x40 or something. Maybe drive through the industrial areas and ask a few places if you see them sitting out.

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

I'd look right in your backyard, Oshkosh Truck. In the past I'd buy pallets from a jockey that was picking up there and repairing and reselling.