Guides/Scrapwood

The main hazard from re-use of wood is damage to tools from nails, screws etc. embedded in the wood. Even a small panel pin can ruin a plane iron or wood chisel.

It is also possible but less likely for such items to be thrown out by power tools and so be a hazard to the wombler.

Old wood often has a lot of splinters and these can be a hazard to un gloved hands. Pallets are particularly prone to this. Pallets are also prone to having very hard knots and other defects in their planks.

Look carefully at any holes in your recovered timber, especially around joints or where hinges etc. were attached to ensure that there are no nails or broken screws below the surface. Old floor joists are particularly prone to this sort of contamination and floorboard nails are very substantial obstacles to saw blades. Pallets are usually held together by barbed nails that often break off when extraction is attempted.

Other hazards are dust from MDF, chipboard and lead based paint (when sanded off) which can be harmful if ingested.