Cutting up pallets for wood.

[flobadob]

What would be the best type of saw to use to cut up a load of pallets for sticks and blocks. Would a jigsaw or perhaps circular saw be the way to go. Id say a chainsaw might not really be the way to go. Has anyone ever done it and what did you use?

[dizmouk2009]

I use an aligator saw, a chainsaw is fine but they are more dangerous than aligator saws.

[flobadob]

Just googled that. Am I right in saying that an aligator saw is basically a motorised hand saw?

[tamborine]

because of the nails the bikers use a jigsaw.

[carlton23]

I`ve used a circular saw with no problems and made a compost bin out of pallets, but be sure the wood is dry and not been in the wet too long or you`ll burn the armiture

[heathfield]

Handheld circular saw is fine, the bigger the better, and would likely cut faster than a jigsaw. Avoid cutting the blocks themselves - it's where the big nails are!

[dizmouk2009]

They are extremely robust and the chances of breaking the cutting teeth (even on nails) is unlikely.

Purely for the saftey aspect:
I would still suggest the aligator saw, especially for safety. Rule out a chain saw straight away... If you hit a nail with it you could be looking at a new chain or even death - if that chain comes off and wraps around your neck - you're a gone'r! The circular saw would be my second option :)
Yeah flobadob a aligator saw is just a motorised hand saw.

[flobadob]

I'm going to go for a Black and Decker scorpion saw from Homebase tomorrow. Looks the same as an alligator saw so I'm assuming they are the same thing.

[boxtops]

I've got a Scorpion saw but I've never tried it on a pallet. As diz says, watch out for the nails!

[tamborine]

the bikers say pallets are made of hard-woods from abroad & treated with repellant that burns like petrol.

[flobadob]

This scorpion saw apparently doubles as a jigsaw.