Thread: Cheap (Free) Timber

Pallets, little bit of looking and tear down and you got free timber

Originally Posted by steamjunkprops

Pallets, little bit of looking and tear down and you got free timber

As far as I understand it taking Pallets is illegal. They are the property of companies like Brambles

Originally Posted by Damienol

As far as I understand it taking Pallets is illegal. They are the property of companies like Brambles

I believe some are owned.
I usually go round industrial estates and talk to owners. Some just want to get rid of a couple pallets that are getting in the way.

This is where it becomes interesting. You just have to keep an eye out for it. Rubbish collection days can bring up some nice timber but you usually have to scrounge for it.

Reno's are good but these are a hit and miss.

It is not very often but sometimes free wood comes up on these forums. Take a look at Gumtree but again not very often.

Originally Posted by Damienol

As far as I understand it taking Pallets is illegal. They are the property of companies like Brambles

I believe some are owned.
I usually go round industrial estates and talk to owners. Some just want to get rid of a couple pallets that are getting in the way.

Tree loppers are an excellent resource, but you do have to process and dry the pieces yourself.

Bunnings or Masters usually have a huge pile of pallets that they are happy for you to take.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

Bunnings or Masters usually have a huge pile of pallets that they are happy for you to take.

Officeworks also

One of our club members visits charity & $1 shops etc & picks up some great vases, bowls etc in a variety of timbers.
He says it is a great source for cheap timber which he re-shapes. Great for practice & better than pine.

HTH
Col

I just picked up this lot from Masters Nerang. There were also some long narrow pallets and a few bits of unknown hardwood around 5 to 6 metres that were tempting - carried PVC pipes I guess - but too big for the Tribute. Buried in their pile were a few damaged shelving pieces with the shop fitting hardware still attached. I grabbed one for the levellers.


I didn't plan to go scrounging but saw them as I pulled into the carpark and thought of this thread. I need to make a couple of small light weight trestle tables and a mobile base for a re-purposed bathroom vanity so this lot will save me using my longer and prettier stock.

Building sites, especially reno's. Old joists, rafters etc. Need work to clean up, but can be good source.
Also, you often find old timber furniture in chuck outs (avoid chipboard, the most common).
Garage sales can also be a cheap source.
TM

Pine pallets are usually single use only.
Hardwood pallets with branding on them like 'Chep' are company owned & shouldn't be cut up.

Check out the commercial & industrial estates, sometimes new equipment comes on/in pine/ply crates that are no longer required.

I saw a place in Slacks Creel in Brissy that had a big pile of pine & ply sitting in the carpark with a sign on it. "Help yourself, take as much as you want."

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try my luck at Bunnings this weekend. Hopefully I will have some hardwood luck

Did a quick search on GumTree last night and found quite a few companies advertising free pallets. Oh all sizes.

Woooohoooo - I am back in action.