When packaging durable goods or loading bulk supplies onto pallets, the last thing anyone wants is a pallet that can’t stand up to the job. Yet, most people who work with pallets regularly have experienced pallet failure. There are really only two components to a pallet: The lumber and the fasteners. Where fasteners are concerned, you can easily eliminate problems by choosing SCRAIL®, a BECK brand. Due to its aggressive thread design, SCRAIL® Nail Screw Fasteners have maximum holding power—so your pallets will stay strong. When it comes to the lumber, it’s all about wood selection. Let’s explore how to give your pallets the strength they need to hold up under any job.
Choosing the Right Lumber
If you’re experiencing lumber that breaks under the strain of the load, then you’ll need to choose better lumber. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy since pallets don’t need to be built to furniture quality standards to protect products and make it easier to move them around via forklift.
In general, look for hardwoods rather than softwoods. Oak is usually the best bet because it’s a sturdy hardwood and it’s widely available. People often find that when using oak, they can use thinner lumber and fewer boards to build sturdy pallets, which offers some cost savings—and there are often surpluses leftover from housing and furniture construction, which makes it a cost-effective choice when repurposed for pallet production.
Choosing the Right Fasteners
There are lots of different options when it comes to pallet fasteners. Some options can save you money, but they’ll increase everyone’s frustration levels. Other options are ideal for helping build a stronger pallet whether using hardwoods or softwoods. Staples, nails with plain shanks, and threaded nails are all common options—and then you have the SCRAIL® system. Let’s take a look at each:
To learn more about the features of SCRAIL® fasteners, watch our video to see it in action for yourself. You’ll see how they are shot like nails, plus are easy to adjust and remove like screws.