I have an eye for spotting pallets, they seem to be crying out, 'Take me home', ha ha. No, seriously, if I see one as I am driving around and it looks decent, clean and not broken, I ask whoever it might belong to if I can have it. No harm in asking they can always say no.
Pallets do have a life though if you use them outdoors. You might be able to extend that by painting them with a preservative. I am just removing the pallets from my raised beds which have been there for 7 years, and replacing them with bricks.
I made an outdoor work table with pallets, it is 7 years old, and I have only had to replace some of the slats on the top. It will do for another couple of years. The pallets I have used for my summer house are partly painted on the outside, I am hoping it will last a few years . I made an indoor shoe rack for my porch, that is varnished and will last forever.
So, Parker. Keep your eyes open, industrial estates, back doors of diy warehouses, anywhere that they have deliveries on pallets, and always ask, don't just take them. It helps to have a big car. I have my back seats down permanently in my Focus estate, just in case.
Ilona