Lifting large nails from hardwood joists

**Mobyturns** · 23rd April 2015, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by RussellB

I purchased a Easwing wrecking bar in the foolish belief that such a fine instrument would hook under the head of the nails, but its claw is all but useless, not gripping either the shaft or the head.

I haven't worked as a chippy in a long time, but we used to place the claw of the bar on the shaft of the nail then give the rear of the bar a sharp tap with the claw hammer to drive the V of the claw into the nail, then use the leverage of the bar to remove the nail. It worked on probably 90% of nails, and is very quick compared to the "nail pullers".

**The Bleeder** · 23rd April 2015, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by RussellB

I recently lifted some rotted decking and was left with a bunch of largish nails protruding from the hardwood joists. I tried to lift them out with a claw hammer but they were firmly rooted in the joists and refused to budge. I purchased a Easwing wrecking bar in the foolish belief that such a fine instrument would hook under the head of the nails, but its claw is all but useless, not gripping either the shaft or the head. There are the Japanese nail lifters at Carb-Tech but from the web site they look like they might be too small to pry nails of that size. I'm guessing the nails are about 3mm with round heads and protrude about 20-25mm. Any ideas?

Just get one of these

http://www.bunnings.com.au/trojan-60...g-bar_p5610097

**auscab** · 24th April 2015, 12:33 PM

If the nails have to come out , I heat them red hot with the oxy torch for a while , let that heat run down the nail and when its cooled a bit I have a go at pulling them out .
The same for rusted in screws actually.
I had a job a few years ago on a set of 1850s chairs that had corner blocks that had to come out . They had two 12 or 14 G screws holding each one in and they had rusted into place and were not moving . I welded up a tool that held the heat and transferred it through the head of the screw , a minute on each screw and they all came out . Heat is a great tool .

Rob

**rod1949** · 24th April 2015, 03:45 PM

Go for what Big Shed said... they're the ants pants. But try and steer clear of the chinese makes as they are crap.

**Mark Damien** · 11th September 2015, 10:16 PM

I picked up a pair of the pincers (long handle) from VEK Tools ($59)They use them at the Recycling Timber yard. The long handle takes the pain out of pulling nails.

**RussellB** · 11th September 2015, 11:11 PM

Yeah - that's the style I ended up buying. They worked well except some of the nails were so rusted in the hardwood and they just snipped them in the pull, but in that situation nothing would have lifted those nails, so now its part of the tool kit.

Originally Posted by Mark Damien

I picked up a pair of the pincers (long handle) from VEK Tools ($59)They use them at the Recycling Timber yard. The long handle takes the pain out of pulling nails.

**gms002a** · 12th September 2015, 12:58 AM

I have one of these- very good

http://www.linearcanvas.com/photogra...ools-nail-jack

**Tonyz** · 12th September 2015, 09:40 AM

thinking totally outside the square and maybe not enough coffee but, everyone is commenting on breaking the contact by pulling them out, what if....just maybe giving them a good thump with nail punch and hammer to break the seal, then use pullers

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