Thread: Lifting large nails from hardwood joists

If you are going to cover the joists again just break the nails off by knocking them back and forth and then hammer in anything that protrudes.
Just been through the same exercise of replacing decking at my son's place.

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?

pincers.jpegYou could try using a pair of pincers. I've used a pair to pull old rusty nails out of hardwood before. They work OK where you've got enough nail poking out for them to get a good grip on. I've included the photo at left, because I think that this tool has a few different names. Grip the nail close to the timber with the jaws, and rock the pincers sideways over those curved shaped jaws. Gives you a lot of leverage. I use an vintage pair, but I'm fairly sure that I've seen them in Bunnings. Once you've used the pincers to get the nail moving, a claw hammer will often be able to extract the nail the rest of the way.

Roy

Cut them off with an angle grinder and a cut off disc.

Pinch bar ?

Actually - that's a good idea. I guess I just need to break the nail from the grip of the timber, which seems to be the primary issue. I've got a bit of RSI so I might need to find some locking jaws or something hefty that snaps against the shank so I don't have to grip it all the time. That's why the wrecking bar was appealing. I've seen lots of solutions for small nails or nails in softwood, but not big nails in hardwood.

Originally Posted by RoyG

pincers.jpegYou could try using a pair of pincers. I've used a pair to pull old rusty nails out of hardwood before. They work OK where you've got enough nail poking out for them to get a good grip on. I've included the photo at left, because I think that this tool has a few different names. Grip the nail close to the timber with the jaws, and rock the pincers sideways over those curved shaped jaws. Gives you a lot of leverage. I use an vintage pair, but I'm fairly sure that I've seen them in Bunnings. Once you've used the pincers to get the nail moving, a claw hammer will often be able to extract the nail the rest of the way.

Roy

I used to have a pair of these nail pullers

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-NA...772738&sr=1-11

until someone borrowed them and lost them

Also very useful for disassembling pallets etc.

They can handle larger nails in hardwood OK? I've seen them on the web they seem to pump the handle or something, I guess to lock the jaw?

Originally Posted by Big Shed

I used to have a pair of these nail pullers

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-NA...772738&sr=1-11

until someone borrowed them and lost them

Also very useful for disassembling pallets etc.

Originally Posted by RussellB

They can handle larger nails in hardwood OK? I've seen them on the web they seem to pump the handle or something, I guess to lock the jaw?

They pulled out any nail I used them on, even large rusted 4" ones out of old hardwood pallets.

You use the movable handle to knock the jaws in to the timber either side of the nail, then the leverage to grip and pull the nail out.

If you're concerned about having to provide a constant gripping pressure by hand a good set of locking vice grips may be the answer to breaking the initial bond between the nail and the timber. Use the same method as with the pincers.

They have been around a long time. Many moons ago when I did my apprenticeship in NZ my boss had a pair which were made in the USA. You simply whack the ends down into the timber by hand either side of the nail and by rocking the handle in the direction of the foot , the pincers close. Then you just lever the nail out . They are probably the best thing I've seen to remove framing nails from hardwood.

Stewie

Youtube has the answers...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8UzI2xVaWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c4WhBI4dAo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orPe8SXurQk

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?

The way I pull difficult nails is first to lock the nail with a good pair of vise grip, then get your wrecking bar underneath and lever it out. If the nail wouldn't budge, then drill a hole down the hardwood next the nail to relief some pressure. The idea is to apply constant pressure and not sudden jolt which could knock the vise grip out of its grip. I have never failed so far.

The pinchers as described by RoyG are like the steelfixing pliers we used, back in the day.
Problem with using them on nails in hardwood is that you have to squeeze so hard that it ends up cutting the nail just above the timber.
I think Chris Parks has 'nailed' the solution. (With the grinder)
Slim

Thanks everyone. Great info.