Lumber pallets

[D6c]

For those of you who have made special pallets for stickering & stack drying lumber I'd like to see pictures of what you've built.  I'm thinking of building a few and would like some design ideas and size recommendations.
For now I've just laid down some 6 x 6's on 2' centers, stacked lumber on them and then banded the stack and covered it with used pole barn steel.  I've got a pile of used 6 x 6 pole barn poles I could use to build pallets.

Here's a video where they have a stacking rack with vertical channels to help align the stickers.  Might be worth building something like that and then set a pallet in it to stack lumber on.  (about 6:00 minutes into the vid)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yigFtAuUPDE

[mike_belben]

Thats pretty slick

[Peter Drouin]

A big saw like that and cuts so sloooooooow.  :D :D :D :D
I'll get some pix of what I use today.

[PA_Walnut]

I will get some pix today. Been building pallets fast and furious, using 2x6's for runners and cutting poplar and black oak for tops. Got my wife tuned-in to making them, so she's becoming a machine at it.

We like using poplar for 12'ers and oak for 8' and smaller. Even making 4' pallets for dealing with shorter crotch material, etc.

I like the ability to fork everything around easily and stack it.

[Peter Drouin]

I started with 1" top and bottom cord with 2x4x4'
Then I went to 2" top and bottom cord or a mix with 2x4s


  

  

 
They worked well, but the forks on the John Deere and now the Cat will bust out the bottom cord.
So now I have a new Idea,  :D :D :D : :D :D
I use 4x4x4' all the pallets are 4' deep. 8', 10',12' pallets have 4, 2x4 front to back.
14', 16' have 5, 2x4s with a sticking on them.
I use 4"x 5/16 lag bolts with a washer.
I get them from tractor supply by the lb, Use an inpact gun.


 
No bottom cord to bust up.

[D6c]

Thanks Peter,
That last pic looks like a good sturdy design.  I like the idea of no bottom board to break out.  I use a tractor with a front end loader and it's not always easy to tell exactly where the forks are.

[drobertson]

DC, I reckon you are doing this for your own? if so then you might go to the drying board.  there are some good ideas there, from folks that do it for a living, with quality results. I've found out after many stacks of stacking for customers that will be back for the pick up, seem to be delayed, even after discussions on what needs to be done,, so often times near the end of my sawing days, I would bring all logs to the same respective lengths,, just so stacking would be more uniform. It's a pain but makes better lumber in the end.  Lots of cookies though!  that said, do a study from the folks that dry lumber, I'm pretty sure you will get some good solid advice,,

[WV Sawmiller]

   I make mine with 2X6's and 2X4's on edge for runners. Go ahead and nail first row of stickers on the pallet as a starting point. I made some 3' wide and several 2' wide because I have short forks on my tractor. I think I use 3 - 2X6's for 24" pallets and 4 - 2X6's for a 3' stack.

   Somebody here had made a peaked roof they put on top of the stack of lumber that kept the sun and rain off and also added weight to help keep the top stacks of lumber straight. It was very well designed especially if you are storing your lumber in the open area instead of under a shed for air drying.

[PA_Walnut]

Love the pre-made peak roofed idea!
Gonna add that to the to-do list.

The list never ends...the work list never gets smaller. 

[Kbeitz]

That would be like having a bunch of little buildings that you don't
have to pay taxes on. Good idea...  Make them to fit your forklift
truck for easy moving. yea... More projects...
Also I would not have to put cement blocks on top of my tin covers.



 

[D6c]

...also I would not have to put cement blocks on top of my tin covers.

With the wind we get here my tin covers and cement blocks keep blowing off...seriously, they do.

[pineywoods]

stack covers....I make mine with 6X6junk hardwoods, covered with old roofing tin, completely flat, lot less effort to make vs peaked. Lift them on and off with forks on tractor..Flat covers are stacked when not in use..

[Crusarius]

I know steel is expensive but could make the roof out of steel or something very heavy. Put some stickers under the steel so there is no steel to wood contact then Put some loops or fork pockets on it and use the tractor to pick it up and place it.

Be pretty sweet. built in cover and weight. shouldn't have to worry to much about it blowing away unless you get some crazy winds.

[Bruno of NH]

I use the cheap straps to hold down my tin.
It won't blow off