Thread: Nails and Old Timber

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

I like the look of those. I have a couple of pairs of pincers but used with too much enthusiasm and they become cutters .

Regards
Paul

Been there and ... I was going to say the pincers might be quicker but thinking about it I've doubts, hmm dunno

the good thing about these is that they put more pressure on the nail shank as you lever it out. But doesn't work on the 100 yo spotty I'm trying to recycle

I have two of the slide-hammer nail pullers. A Crescent No. 56, bought new some time in the past 10 years; and a Bridgeport Rex No. 64 from a deceased neighbor. They generally work by engaging the nail head with the slide hammer, and then prying against the foot extension, which tends to tighten the grip of the pincers, and also lifts the nail.

I've collected about 10 patents of similar devices with subtle variations among them, sufficient to be "new and useful." One in particular, US743318, by Norris (1903), has a projection on the foot so that it can be used on a curved surface - specifically a barrel hoop.

The earliest I found was US129210, by Capewell (1872). It has a cylindrical body with an internal ram to strike the bottom of the cylinder.

The most recent is US3169010, by Crawford (1965). It lacks the fulcrum foot. What would have been the fulcrum foot is replaced by a separate pliers handle more or less parallel to the shaft. After the pincers have engaged the nail head via the slide hammer, the pliers squeeze against the shaft, capturing the nail. The slide hammer is then simultaneously rammed upwards to assist removal. The benefits here are potential re-use of the nail (which would be bent by the other devices), and avoidance of marring the wood beyond the nail location by a fulcrum foot.

Cheers,
Joe