salvaging wood

[walkabout]

came across some pallets with some  decent wood in them, only drawback being that thay have some nails in them. would it be possible to salvage said wood and splice together for a bow, and fill the nail holes and get something workable? id probably go with a pyramid design if i did so i can overbuild a little. wood is oak or ash, ill know for sure when i get it sanded a little.

[Dave Bowers]

That's funny I have ofter thought of the same thing; i'd be curious as well.

[walkabout]

thinking about it, if one would treat the holes as pin knots then there would be some chance of it working. of course the bow would need a backing for insurance, id use some of the rawhide i recently acquired if it were possible. the thing which seems the most crucial is getting the slabs apart without damaging them, maybe grinding off nail heads then coaxing the pieces off with wooden wedges.

[John Scifres]

The difference between holes and knots is that wood grows around pins and limbs so the grain is intact.  Holes simply punch through it.  Pallets are generally made with low grade wood but not always.  It would be a lot of work to get a good piece but not at all impossible.  Backing is probably the only way to make sure.  Give it a shot and let us know what happens.

[walkabout]

yea i was thinking that too, essentially when nails are driven in it would crush the surrounding wood in all directions. i think the brunt of the work would be in removal like i said, i might get the dremel and a cutting wheel and see if i can get something workable.

[Pat B]

Nails usually don't punch a hole but part the wood fibers as they go in. I have used old fence post with staple holes in them and never had one break. A simple backing should be insurance enough.

[frank bullitt]

Pallet wood in my area, and I have loaded and handled alot, has good hardwood. Most of what I have seen, is of Ash, Hickory, and Sycamore.

Sycamore is not a favored wood as most know! I have seen and saved some Walnut at times.

I would plug the nail holes and go for it. If anything you should be able to make up some kids bows!
 Better than the chipper mill or worse!

[George Tsoukalas]

I wouldn't use it. Jawge

[Apex Predator]

If I was using free pallet wood, I would be picky and only use the clear stuff.

[Osagetree]

Too much time and effort for such a high risk endevor for me but, I would not want you to be discouraged if your mind is set and that is all you have to work with.

[Eric Krewson]

I had the same idea years ago and haunted the scrap wood pile at the power plant I worked at looking for suitable pallet wood. I found some interesting wood with a spectacular piece of curly maple being my best find. I only found a few pieces of oak, long and clear enough to make a bow out of.

I glued a hickory backing on my pallet bow with gorilla glue, the whole bow exploded the first time I pulled it back so I decided, no more pallet bows and no more gorilla glue.

Too many other wood good sources out there to fool with pallets but I understand being intrigued by the possibilities.

[walkabout]

yea ive heard bad things about attempts at bows with gorilla glue much less along with questionable wood. right now my options for wood are pretty slim so i was simply searching for alternative sources. maybe when i can build laminate bows ill use the wood for testing forms and my tools.