So much experience, knowledge and wisdom. Who would’ve thought de-nailing pallets could be so informative. Only a master of his craft can make this subject interesting. This is why I rave about Next Level Carpentry. It’s an honor watching you work.

You sir are the mentor that I wish I had, I have no doubt that you would agree that one can always learn no matter how much they know.

Love your videos, it’s great to see someone who respects the resources he works with and takes the time to do it right way. Your video reminded me of my childhood, my grandfather was a builder, he had a tenant in one of his stores, who imported printers ink from Germany for newspaper printers. The ink came in 4’x2’ x2’ crates made from rough sawn pine 5/4 by 6” planks. My grandfather made a deal to get rid of all the crates for the tenant, and every afternoon after school he had me disassemble the crates and stack the wood by size. He didn’t stop with the lumber he also had me straighten the nails. I didn’t realize it then, but it made me pretty handy with a claw hammer over the years. This was in the 50s and I know for a fact of 4 houses he built and sold using that crate lumber and those straightened nails. He lived through the Depression and was always careful to utilize everything to its maximum usefulness. I learned a lot from him and now try to pass it on the my grand kids. If you think pulling a bent nail is difficult, you should try driving one that’s been bent and straightened. Keep up your great videos!

Stacking tool boxes are for us old guys who can't lift heavy weight anymore. Very cool stacking tool boxes. I like it.

It’s great to see you having fun. Cheers, Chip!

I have only seen 4 videos of yours and I am extremely grateful for the advice on how to do it properly and step by step thanks and I will continue to learn more from you thanks again

Nice job Matt, I've been in the carpentry trade for 30 years now, and still love learning more from guys like you. Congrats on the new shop....I'm still building mine. 800 sq.ft. of heaven.

Great post. I want to point out something to the viewers that I discovered when pulling nails from pallets. Nails used in some of the nail guns are linked with copper wire. After you pull the nail there can be a small non-magnetic ring left in the wood. Be sure to double check any pallet wood before you plane, joint, or saw.

I really enjoy your videos. I learn something every time. The house of waffle hammer sharpening bit was something I never considered. I also love your stacking toolboxes. Thanks!

I also have a "WMD" case for wrecking anything from pallets to patios. But, OMG! Your kit has five times the tools my one has, including a couple of tools I've never even heard of! Also, your stacking cases are a fab idea. This video has been really educational for me. Thank you, Matt!

Sorry, I hit the wrong button. Anyway about 35 years ago I did the same thing you did. Collected all the pallets marked to be disposed of and made large dog houses. Those were some heavy duty dog houses. The first one I sold to a cousin around 1991 and as of a year ago it's still in great condition. My first wood working was done with any wood that was discarded through out the cities that were close. Again I'm happy to see wood salvaged and recycled.

Perfect follow-up to the pallet scavenging video. Eager to see how that wood turns out. The WMD stacking tool box segment could stand on its own! And the little blade guard segment was great.

A large pair of channel locks works really well to pull stubborn nails. You use the rounded nature of the top of the tool to leverage the pull. Great video!

Awesome, Matt. Thank you. Love the little Applewood blade cover, btw. Really pretty piece of stock, and a great idea with the magnet.

Love the stackable “WoodTainers”. Thanks For Sharing!

Your French is perfect and your knowledge of French wines is unmatched! 👍😉

Love your video. Thank you for the Stanley knife blade guard tutorial. In my book you are a next level woodwork ninja.

Wow. I'm happy to see someone salvaging pallet wood. I and my gamily lived in a small town near the White River in AR. We hardly ever had money other than to live. 4v

I have been meaning for the longest time to thank you for these videos and most especially for the tip on the 22-oz hammer with the serrated face!! I went right out and bought one, and it is now one of my favorite tools when I tear apart the 2x6's and 2x8's that I get from a trailer dealer! I had been using a nail guide and a1-1/2 lb sledge which was more tedious. I hope to get one of those slide hammer nail pullers soon. Finally, two other videos that have been most helpful to me were the ones about how to establish a straight edge on warped or bowed boards and the one on how to make elliptical curves with just a large square and some string. You are an awesome teacher!!!

Thanks for making pulling nails interesting! Only you can do that, Matt! Great sheath idea too! Toolbox build will have to come one day - please😁

I continue to be amazed that you can bring so much knowledge, even to subjects as seemingly mundane as nail removal. Thanks for all your video efforts.

Greetings! First time viewer. Was actually admiring your hammer english - then you slowed it up and explained it. Neat! Thanks for sharing your skills and knowledge.

That's the neatest shop I've ever seen. Thank you for sharing. I love the stacking tool boxes!

Hello Matt...Great channel...! Enjoying your work and workflow And your dry humor: "Dry as Cardboard"...!

Dear Matt, yet again you stun me with your elegant and previously un-seen solutions to a mundane problem - pulling nails. I like your tool box collection idea and if I worked away from the shed, it would be a must have. I do have a tool carrier with thin drawers that hold only small tools. Not much use and mostly collects dust. Keep up the brilliant work. Cheers.

I really enjoy all your videos, and this one in particular. I NEVER watch a video that's 38 minutes long, but I did today, and am glad I did. I have a stack of pallets waiting to be taken apart with my pallet breaker, which works great, but was concerned about getting the nails out. Now I know. I've never seen that hammer nail puller before and I am convinced I need one. BTW, my shop teacher (from 40+ years ago) called the framing hammer a "striated face." I've called it that since then. Not sure I can switch the term to "waffle" at this late stage. :) Love your sense of humor, too.

Definitely subscribing! Thanks so much. You're the type of guy that instills good habits and practices in everyone around him. Yes please!

Oh, man, does this video bring back memories. My favorite hand tool when I worked as a carpenter in the 1960s through the 1980s was a 20 oz. Estwing claw hammer. I had a right forearm like Popeye and a callus on the outside of my right knee from that hammer handle hanging, and banging, on my tool belt. I used a hacksaw and a three-corner file to clean up the grid on the face of my hammer -- but the sparks you made working on yours were way more cool! Way more. I used that hammer for about twenty years building and rebuilding houses, garages, decks, and barns. A great construction and deconstruction tool. Loved the video. Thanks.

...as always, most excellent craftsmanship...

Great content, I install cabinets for a living, the stacking boxes are real neat. Cheers.

Your ideas and approach is priceless. Thanks. 😎😎😎👍👍👍

As usual, a very great learning and entertaining video. Hats is off to you! I really liked your "Segue" segue and the "names" for the trays of your boxes. I think I will make some of those for my own tools. I didn't think I would learn much about getting bent nails out of a stubborn board but boy was I wrong. It is true--"You can teach an OLD dog a new trick" -- or even two. Keep it up it is always a pleasure when one of your vids comes out.

Enjoyed your videos; and I appreciate the editing to streamline the final products. Keep up the good work.

Great job Matt!

you are a true master maker and also quite explanitory on your videos nice to see this art still going strong keep it going thank You from Australia

I ordered myself a crescent nailpuller a few weeks ago. It was put on back order but it gets here Wednesday! I can't wait.

Once again Matt - awesome video work!

Chizall is awesome. I have one two but now I have to give him a name and make some custom holster for it, and write that name on it :D Amazing ingenuity!!! Also that chisel holder is kickass. I have to make that one too.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. That was a quick turn-around. I think 'Toolbox Tour' is a very big hit, at least for me, and you can 'Segway' any way you want.

Hey Matt ,,,, Brother You just keep knockin em outta the Park! Outstanding Bro, Outstanding!

Thanks for the toolbox segment. Guess it's just joined my list of projects.

I see that industrial (atypical) pallets are better since they have less nails and better quality wood. My experience with normal pallets is that they are often oak, so hard that even pulling nails fails, head breaks off. Then you have to use reciprocating saw which leaves the nail in. One has to weight the pro's and con's of using pallet wood. As always thank you for great video and sharing your knowledge. I always learn something new. I appreciate people like you and this is what makes youtube a place to be, better then watching TV :)

thanks for sharing the contents of your toolbox. Given me some ideas where my travel kit is lacking.

Oooh - I like the chisel holder. Adding it to my things to make list.

Great video, thanks! Those big waffle headed framing hammers are good for removing excess skin on your thumb and forefinger...or any other place it may contact your body. I worked with my uncle for several years building houses. Right after I first started, we were framing a house and he was giving me a hard time about my aim when driving 16 penny nails. I told him, Yeah, I miss sometimes, but look at those pretty flowers I made around those nails." He laughed and said, "Those are not flowers, they are hoofprints that some ass left in the wood." I just shut up and worked on improving my nail driving skills. This was back before carpenters had all the fancy air-powered nail drivers they have nowadays.

Great tips and an excellent video.

Wow! What a densely packed set of tips and designs in these videos... They say the devil's in the details, and you're one hell of a devil, Matt. Thanks for sharing so much of practical value. It's like your viewers get all the benefit an apprentice would by working for you, but without having to get blisters or listen to your corny jokes all day...:-)

Splendid video Matt! I am a relatively new subscriber and have thoroughly enjoyed not to mention learned a great deal from your well done videos. You have another dedicated viewer. thanx

Hey Matt, glad to see you back on so soon. Yes, I have made a few of those carpenter tool boxes in my day. Even made several nail boxes for both common nails and finishing nails. But........ those MATTWAUKEE PACKOUT BOXES you made were exceptional. I just bought the 3 set Milwaukee Packout boxes at the Home Depot. I think I like yours better, LOL, but no wheels at the bottom........ Always enjoy your channel Matt and if you have specifications on your boxes I may attempt to build a few. Also I loved your Chip segment of your video. Pour Chip was really working hard to get those nails out, LOL. After watching I think I am now convinced I need one of those black specialty nail pullers. I did see your video on those before and that is one tool I was not familiar with but after watching you pull nails with it I think I have to have one. I know I can buy those aftermarket models but maybe I will try to find an authentic one on eBay. Good times Brother. Al from Maryland

A kind of 'Triple Header'. More bang for the buck! Nice Job, Matt:)

There’s always something new to learn... first time i learned of a waffle head hammer... all this years i always thought all hammers were the same... and its the first time i heard of my hammer called as a pancake head....nice....

Thanks for making these videos.

Those boxes are the balls. Nice work.

Excellent design like it a lot!

I have just completed making 15 stacking boxes (range from 50mm-150mm high). Mine are less sturdy but similar size to yours. I will use them for storage - not for transport so less sturdy is ok plus I've used side handles. I've made 1/4 inch high pads/feet for each box which are used to register in the box below thus ensuring vertical alignment. In total the stack is about 5 feet high. I like your design as well. I plan to number and label each box similar to yours. just started my sorting today. Have a nice day.

Matt...I like the Chisel Holder...somebody was Thinkin'! I also liked the Rail Spike... Cool Idea! I'm always throwin' stuff like that in my Toolbox...various pieces of Metal Rods...different pieces of Metal Tubing... Plastic...etc. Ya never know!!!

This is a nice method. Good preservation of wood, ease of use, and fast. It is a little heavy on special tools, most of which I don't have. A good method that has been working for me, is to take 3 chunks of 2x4, 6" long, another 1-2 feet long, and a simple carpenter's hammer. Lay the pallet on a hard floor (or wide, solid workbench), stand 2 of the shorter 2x4's on their ends on either side of a nailed slat near the nail, raise up the pallet and slide the 3rd 6" piece under the slat and on top of the other 2 2x4s, like a bridge holding up the pallet by that slat. Then put the longer 2x4 against the slat and on its 2x4 structural member and hammer it downward (or just hammer on the member with one hand while steadying it with the other), pushing the pallet back to the floor by driving its structural 2x4 downward, which pulls the nails straight up out of the structural 2x4 and leaves them in the end of the slat, free of the 2x4 member. Since the nails are extracted straight up, and the bridging 2x4 is spreading out the pressure on the slat, there's no angle or claws under the slat to split or crack it. Do this for each slat near each of its 3 nail locations (both ends and the middle), and as each slat is freed from the pallet, turn it over and hammer out the nails backward until the point is flush with the slat, and remove them with the hammer claw. Depending on the nail length, you may need to put a 2x4 under the claw end of the hammer to bring it up to the height of the nail head so it can complete the nail extraction. This method is surprisingly fast -- maybe faster than reading all that! lol An entire pallet can be broken down and de-nailed in 10 minutes, once you get the various parts of it down pat. And an even faster version of this method, if you have many pallets of the same or similar design, is to make a 'gang de-nailer' jig out of a length of 2x4 to serve as the bridge for multiple slats, supported by several 6" 2x4 chunks attached to it perpendicularly. Rotate it 90 degrees so it's as tall as the space in the pallet, shove it in to the place you want it at the end or middle of a section of slats, and rotate it so that the shorter chunks are pointing down at the floor through the bottom side of the pallet, with the longer piece they're attached to holding up the pallet by the slats, a bridge across several slats. The hammering takes more force with this jig since you're pulling more nails at once, so you may need a helper (or some creative clamping) to hold the 'driver' 2x4 vertically and in contact with the 2x4 member, then use a heavier shop hammer or even a sledge to drive the 2x4 member down. I've not tried removing all of the slats at once with this method -- it's pretty tough only doing 4 to 6. But it does save some time since the bridge is attached to the vertical chunks. Good luck!

Interesting tips truly useful.

I love hammers...I hate “breaking them in” as they used to say. It’s amazing slide hammers haven’t changed..I have my Granddad’s, he passed in the 70’s.

Unlike many of your commenters, sadly, I have nothing insightful to offer... I Just wanted to say I really enjoyed this video (as I always seem to) - thanks for posting Matt! 👍

Great video. I've been using pallet wood for a while and found a pair of vise grips tightly clipped to a broken, stubborn nail will help, I leave just enough room between the vise-grip jaws and the lumber so I can slip a long breaker-bar in between and gently jerk it back and forth until the nail relents and voila. Thanks again sir. One major thing I've taken from your videos is patience.

Lol ... Love the segue pun! Classic!

Another Great video! Thank you Matt! You do such great work, both in your carpentry++ skills and your video content! It is awesome that you are up and running and already uploading new videos from your new shop so soon. I am really great-full for your channel, I hope you keep up the amazing work for decades to come! And Matt, don’t worry about video length, we all have ffwd and video speed control and scroll bar powers. Not to mention pause/play and libraries with ‘favorites’ and ‘watch later’ lists.. As long as the content is enjoyable and helpful, which it always is, then we’ll watch! I’d rather get all the information in a long video than miss some good stuff in a shorter one.. 👍 Btw, I think a good quality hack saw blade works pretty efficiently for touching up a waffle head as well, and maybe better for any of those with less steady of a hand or confidence. And I wish I could get a chance to work with you one day... Best regards, Trent Semper Fi

Cool tricks👌

A young carpenter can't do a video like this, because only the older carpenter has stories behind the mundane things in life which keeps me watching. My kind of humor. Not too much. Not too little. Nothing vulgar. Always witty. 👌

Learned a lot. Thanks for the tips. I also find a lot of good pallet wood.

great tips! thank you!

One tool you need is a metal detector. Maybe a tip, cut a gallon plastic milk carton and put the old nails in that. When you get a full container give it (or take it) to the scrapper.

My Dad taught me to hold the nail with an electrician’s pliers (aka Klien’s) while driving the nail out of the board, keeps them from bending and helps to control the work piece. When the hammer gets close to the pliers is no longer needed. Give it a try, you will be amazed! He also taught me to keep a course piece on sandpaper to dress the face of my hammer

I use a pneumatic air locker tool it's like a nail gun for shooting nails out To help me remove nails and it works awesome especially I'm stubborn nails.. All them other tools you have I have Also to help me out.. as always Thank you for your time and information Very top notch videos

Great video as always Matt! Love the stackable toolbox..Festool has nothing on you! ; -)

Brilliant!

I was watching your video and remembered a device I made and used to remove nails from skids (what we call pallets in Indiana). I took a 2" piece of 3/8" cold-rolled bar stock, drilled a clearance hole to fit my 1/8" pin-punch, and used it to both straighten bent nails and as a support to prevent nails from bending further while driving them out with the punch. Skids were free from work and I tore many apart to heat my shop in cold weather

I don't have that fency nail puller and I think I should get one. If a nail breaks of I like to use a punch to drive it out a little bit so I can grab it with pliers or crowbar. When a nail doesn't want to move out I bang it in a little deeper just with the hammer or also with a punch. That breaks the bond (rust for tho most part) between the nail and the wood and it can be driven out. Sometimes I drive a nail back and forth in it's hole to loosen it if I can't pull it out. I am really looking forward for those door videos. Keep the good stuff coming!

Matt, I just wanted to let you know that I find your videos refreshing and informative. I teach wood working in a high school setting. With the covid issues this has been a challenging to say the least. Being forced to online teaching for a subject that is by nature is best suited for a in person hands on environment I have shared a lot of videos with my students. While there are a lot of videos out there dealing with the subject of using reclaimed lumber especially pallets. However yours is the first that I have found that shows and explains the extra work involved in utilizing said lumber. While I have been through the process and have talked about it with my students, it was nice to be able to show them some videos of the process involved and they are looking forward to the rest of the video series on the door.

Great videos. I like how you used your video production. 😄

I still have a 4 piece set of those Craftsman chisels. All honed precisely and stored in a box I made that keeps their cutting edges free from touching anything. I use them primarily for mortising jambs and doors for hardware. My "chizall" is one of two Stanley 1-1/2" chisels I keep in my tool belt. They've been through their share of embedded nails!

Great boxes matt

Great video, I use a fair bit of pallet wood, and came across a tool made by “ Air Locker “ it’s an inexpensive pneumatic nail remover” makes removing the rusty- skinny- pallet nails a lot easier for those of us with less skill and or strength than your good self, having said that I’ve never picked up a pallet made of oak, cherry and elm. ..!!

The "dad joke" force is strong with this one :)

Awesome, thanks.

Matt, great video as always, informative and humorous! Think you beat Festool on the systainer system they sell for a small fortune. Can't wait to see your new shop.

Someone already said it, but the pallet buster, punch nailer and metal detector combo for ~$140 is the best time saver I've ever bought. I can have a mountain of wood de-nailed and checked for metal in just a couple hours. Then it's ready to be milled flat and true for projects.

Those are some of the nicest pallet boards I’ve ever seen. Around here it’s mostly thin spruce.

Love your videos Matt, let me share a tip with you my friend that I think you will like. You'll never use a grinder to sharpen your hammer again, the trick is , use the finest hacksaw bade you can find for a better more accurate re-corrugation of your hammer. Keep up the good videos my friend, you've got nutty humor , just like me !!!

Trust you don't have too many priors! (that segue / segway, but I did laugh) Thanks for the vid, cheers, David.

No wonder they couldn't find any WMDs abroad - you've been hoarding them all this time. Never seen a waffle-head hammer down-under but I will create one, thank you.

We love watching your videos... beats TV hands down! I was joking around... "now watch he's gonna use $5k worth of tools to make that little blade protector." I think I low-balled it... But now I'm inspired to make a mini knife block for my scalpels, pin tools, fettling knives, etc. One thing I do keep is a screwdriver handy for digging around in my tools... I never stick my hand in there to rummage around (anymore.)

There is a lot of experience in action there! Takes time to learn all those tricks. I'm very sorry I gave away my slide hammer nail puller, but at the time I thought I would be moving to a condo with no room for woodworking. Instead, we moved to a house and I'm without my antique WMD. By the way, they still make them, but I'm not buying one for a maybe a total of a dozen nails.

Thanks for the amount of work and content put into your channel... the stacking toolbox intrigues me, ingenious! Have you or will you produces a video on how it's made? Best wishes, from the UK.

The agility of this man is very impressive.

thanks matt!

Very interesting

38:20 Great video Marcel.

Matt, I was told 50+ years ago that a waffle head hammer was known as framing hammer. When missing a nail it will leave a indentation of the waffle, with no problem. A smooth faced hammer was known as a finishing hammer, no explanation needed. I’m telling my age. Nice video.

A very informative video on what is probably not one of woodworking's more glamorous subjects. My furniture making business uses recycled timber, mainly from salvage from demolition work and I have pulled more than my fair share of nails in my time. Could I add a few extra points to those already demonstrated by you? For longer nails, say over 3" I use a pinch bar. This is a metal bar about 3' long with a bend at one end. This gives much more leverage and requires less effort from the operator. This is significant when denailing hundreds of feet of timber, especially if the nails are rusted in or galvanised. Obviously rust is not a problem with galvanised nails but the zinc coating really holds fast in the timber. I find using the sliding hammer puller is more effective when used on a solid metal base - I use my sawbench top. I have managed to get hold of a pneumatic punch which is really effective on nails that go right through the wood. Just put the hollow tube over the nail, press the trigger and a ram comes down the tube and gives the nail a good smack. On thinner pieces of timber, say an inch or less, the nail will frequently be completely expelled from the wood. A metal detector is a good idea........ Keep up the good work.

Nice job... Wish I could find some cherry... most of what I find (besides standard pine or fir) is oak, ash, and poplar

Awesome. Do you have a video on making the Stacking Toolbox? I love the design.

Slide hammer puller is a must if you reclaim or need to reuse wood. I have some old horse nippers similar to those big end nippers which I often use to pull nails, edge probably wouldn't last long cutting them. (I once had a larger pair that were tougher and cut nail easily, hoping to find them again) Nails that are weak from rust and the heads break off often get pulled with either the horse nippers or the greenlee hammer puller from the opposite side as the nail head was on, or in the case of trim nails with it still intact because it's fast.

At 19.26 LOL! Cool! Segway.