One more bit of proof that some very nice wood can be found in pallets if you
keep your eyes open and get a little luck.

About a decade ago now my oldest son had me go to with him to pick up cartons of
wood flooring, as he was laying a new floor in his kitchen and dining room.  And
while we were waiting for the guy on the forklift to come back with his order,
I’m noticing these stacks of exotic wood along the wall.  When the guy showed up
and dropped the load on the floor, I asked him what was up with the stacked
wood, and he says “Oh, that is just the nice stuff we’ve pulled out of the
pallets that arrive here.  We take them apart and put the nice wood there for
our customers — take whatever you want!  Seriously, take it, so we don’t run out
of space.”  We did.  I still have a few pieces of purpleheart and cocobolo from
that day.

Why did this guy put brass corners on his toolbox?  That’s easy — because he
could.  Decoration, because I doubt it reinforces much of anything.  Does look
kinda nice though, and makes it easier to identify if some unkind stranger
lurking around his place decides to take it and gets nabbed by the constabulary.

Charlie