48 × 42 stringer pallet: drawing, specs and parts list
A standard 48 × 42 in stringer pallet has 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards on 3 notched stringers 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 in. It stands 4-3/4 in tall, takes 84 nails and 13.93 board feet of lumber, and weighs about 61 lb in mixed hardwood, green. Entry: partial 4-way.
Reviewed
- All dimensions in inches, actual size.
- Nails per Uniform Standard Table 5: two per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in, three up to 7-1/4 in.
- 2.25 in helical nails.
- Interior bottom boards clustered between the notches for fork entry.
- Top gap 3.250 in, 59% deck coverage.
| 1 | 2 | Top lead board 5/8 × 5-1/2 × 42 |
| 2 | 5 | Top interior board 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 42 |
| 3 | 3 | Stringer, notched 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 × 48 |
| 4 | 2 | Bottom lead board 5/8 × 5-1/2 × 42 |
| 5 | 3 | Bottom interior board 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 42 |
The engine's standard design for this size, drawn from the same parts list as every number on this page. Your mill's build may differ.
Specifications
| Size (L × W × H) | 48 × 42 × 4.75 in |
|---|---|
| Type | Stringer |
| Entry | Partial 4-way (notched) |
| Pallet weight | ≈ 61 lb |
| Top deck | 7 boards, 5/8 in thick |
| Stringers | 3 × 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 in, notched |
| Bottom deck | 5 boards, 5/8 in thick |
| Lumber | Mixed hardwood |
| Fasteners | 84 × 2-1/4 in helical |
| Board feet | 13.93 |
| Classification | 48 x 42 in, Stringer, Double-Face Non-Reversible, Flush, Partial 4-Way, Reusable |
Parts list and cut sizes
| Part | Qty | Cut size, in | Board feet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top lead board | 2 | 5/8 × 5-1/2 × 42 | 2.01 |
| Top interior board | 5 | 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 42 | 3.19 |
| Stringer, notched | 3 | 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 × 48 | 4.81 |
| Bottom lead board | 2 | 5/8 × 5-1/2 × 42 | 2.01 |
| Bottom interior board | 3 | 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 42 | 1.91 |
| Total | 15 | 13.93 |
Boards are thickness × width × length; stringers and blocks are width × height × length. Actual sizes.
How it's built
The 7 top deckboards run across the 42 in width and are spaced along the 48 in stringers with 3-1/4 in gaps. The end (lead) boards are 5-1/2 in wide and the interior boards 3-1/2 in, all 5/8 in thick.
3 stringers, 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 in, carry the deck. Each is notched 1-1/4 in deep and 9 in long, starting 6 in from each end, so forklift tines can enter from the sides as well as the ends (partial 4-way). Pallet jacks still enter from the ends.
The bottom deck has 5 boards, 5/8 in thick. The interior bottom boards are clustered between the notches so tines clear them.
Nails follow the Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets minimum per joint by board width: 48 in the top deck and 36 in the bottom deck, 84 in total, 2-1/4 in helical.
More on this construction: stringer pallets, deck board spacing and nail schedules.
Weight by species
| Species | Green | Kiln dried |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed hardwood | 61 lb | 41 lb |
| Oak | 73 lb | 54 lb |
| Southern yellow pine | 62 lb | 47 lb |
| SPF | 45 lb | 32 lb |
| Douglas fir | 54 lb | 42 lb |
13.93 board feet × pounds per board foot for the species, nails included. Kiln dried is to 19% moisture; see moisture content.
Questions
- How much does a 48 × 42 stringer pallet weigh?
- About 61 lb (28 kg) in mixed hardwood, green. The same design ranges from about 32 lb in kiln-dried SPF to 73 lb in green oak.
- How many nails are in a 48 × 42 stringer pallet?
- 84: 48 in the top deck and 36 in the bottom deck. That's the Uniform Standard minimum: two nails per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and three on wider boards. See the nail schedule guide.
- How many board feet are in a 48 × 42 stringer pallet?
- 13.93 board feet, from actual part sizes (thickness × width × length ÷ 144) with notches not deducted. Buy more than that to cover trim and kerf; see board feet.
- How tall is a 48 × 42 stringer pallet?
- 4-3/4 in overall (121 mm), from the floor to the top of the deck.