About 15 years ago I found out that most wooden shipping pallets in the U.S. were made from eastern hardwoods because of strength.

I took several samples and ran them through a wood planer and put a finish coat on them. The wood was as beautiful as any high-end furniture.

It's a shame to use this beautiful old timber to ship stuff on but it can be reclaimed. The trick is learning to ID the wood. Most new palettes are made from softer woods now.