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Types of pallets. Pallet names stem from their construction. Stringer pallets are built with 2″ X 4″ wood, plastic or metal stringers. Block pallets are typically sturdier, made with both parallel and perpendicular stringers.
What wood is used to make a pallet?
The Material Used to Make Pallets These are oak and southern yellow pine (or SYP for short). Oak is used because of its strength and wide availability. There is often a surplus of oak leftover from markets such as housing or furniture construction, which is then used in pallet production.
How thick is the wood on a wood pallet?
Thickness of Pallet Wood The wood that is used to create pallets is called “stringers”, these stringer sizes are also standardized to ensure the safety of the pallet and the load bearing capabilities. For the GMA pallet the standard thickness of wood of the stringers is 5/16 inch thick.
Are pallets hardwood or softwood?
In the US, the world’s largest producer of wooden pallets, the two wood types most frequently used for pallet wood are oak and pine. This may come as a surprise to some, as oak is a hardwood and pine a softwood; however, whether a wood is a hardwood or softwood has very little to do with its robustness or durability.
Are pallets made of treated wood?
Pallets are either heat-treated (heated to a high temperature in kilns to seal the wood) or treated with methyl bromide — a toxic pesticide that has been linked to human health problems and ozone layer depletion. Avoid unmarked pallets or those stamped with an “MB” for methyl bromide.
How thick are the boards of a pallet?
A standard pallet size is 48″ X 40″ with each deck board being 3 ½” wide 5/16″ thick.
How wide is a slat on a pallet?
For more perspective on dimensions, a standard pallet is usually 6 ½” tall. GMA pallets typically weigh 37 pounds, but can easily weight more. Their deck boards measure 3 1⁄4 inches wide and are 5⁄16 inch thick.
How many slats does a pallet have?
Pallets considered GMA pallets, regardless of grade, are always 48” x 40” with the stringer length always being the 48” length. They are built using three stringers to support between three to five base boards and five to seven top deck boards.
Is pallet wood strong?
Pallet boards often have a beautiful rustic patina (pallet board on the left, new pine board on the right.) 4. The wood is usually strong.
How can you tell hardwood from softwood?
Simply try to dig your fingernail into the wood (in an inconspicuous spot of course). If your nail makes a mark then you are looking at salvaged softwood. If no mark can be seen then it is hardwood.
How can you tell if wood is treated?
How can you tell if wood is treated? Pressure-treated lumber has end tags or stamps identifying the chemical used. It can have a green or brown color from the treating process. Treated wood can smell oily or chemical as opposed to a nice natural smell of untreated wood.
Are all pallets heat treated?
All the wood used to make pallets is kiln dried to cure it, but that does not meet phytosanitary standards, and is not considered heat treating. For pallets that will remain inside the United States and products that will never be exported, no heat treating or fumigation is required.
Are wood pallets safe to use in your home?
Wood pallets are extremely versatile. Most pallet wood is not chemically treated if intended for domestic use. If it doesn’t carry a stamp or marking, then it was used only within the U.S. and is most likely already safe to use indoors.
How wide are most pallet boards?
The Standard Pallet Size: The standard pallet size in the United States is 48×40 (usually with each deck board being 3 in. wide and 5/16 in. thick).
How thick are pallets UK?
The standard pallet size is 48” X 40” (120cm x 100cm). Each deck board being 3” (9cm) wide 5” (0.8cm) thick.
How much does a pallet full of wood weigh?
48 x 40 Wooden GMA Pallet Measuring 48 inches long by 40 inches wide, this pallet is used in a variety of industries, including produce and grocery shipping. These pallets can weigh anywhere from 33-48 lbs.
What’s the difference between a skid and a pallet?
The skid is the original pallet. The terms skid and pallet are often used interchangeably though they are not the same. A skid unlike a pallet has no bottom deck. The absence of the bottom deck makes the skid a cheaper version of the pallet and also makes it easier to drag (due to less friction).
How many 48×40 pallets fit on a truck?
A standard GMA pallet is 48″ long x 40″ wide. Some simple math tells us that a 53-foot trailer (which is 636” long) will fit 13 pallets lengthwise, with about 1 foot extra. These trailers are wide enough for two rows of pallets. So you’re looking at 26 pallets loaded into every 53-foot trailer.
What are the parts of a pallet called?
Pallets are made from many different parts. Here’s an overview of common pallet components. Stringers. Blocks. Notches. Deckboards. Lead boards. Chamfered edges.
How much wood does it take to make a pallet?
Approximately 10.11 board feet. This figure is approximate since not all pallets are the same: They come in different sizes and there are many pallet types. You can often extract expensive and durable hardwood from a wooden pallet.
What is a four way pallet?
If a forklift or hand truck can get under a pallet on all four sides, then it is a 4-way pallet. Block pallets use blocks to support the deck, rather than stringers. Block pallets are also 4-way pallets because the tines of a forklift or hand truck can enter the pallet on all four sides.
