Abstract: One variation of a method includes: receiving a recycled wood workpiece in an inductor volume; accessing an image of the inductor volume; based on a set of features detected in the image, detecting a first reflective elliptical object embedded in a surface of the recycled wood workpiece and deriving a first location of the first reflective elliptical object. This variation of the method further includes: identifying the first reflective elliptical object as a first metal fastener occupying the first location; triggering the stage to drive an inductor, arranged within the inductor volume, within a target coupling distance of the first location of the first metal fastener; and triggering a driver to supply a target alternating current to the inductor to heat the first metal fastener via induction heating and to reduce retention of the first metal fastener by the recycled wood workpiece.