Back to Basics-How to Pull Nails
Let’s be honest, as framers or really anyone in the trades, pulling nails and “deconstruction” are part of the job. It is just a simple fact that we will make mistakes, or changes will be made after the fact. In this post I wanted to introduce you to the way we pull nails and the tools we use.
When I started framing after school and on breaks, it was often my job to pull nails or fix things. I hated it but now realize that this was good training. It is very important that as apprentices we learn to use tools proficiently, and that only comes from repetition. The cat’s paw I first used was the old style here. It worked well enough, but I can distinctly remember nailing rim on a cantilever too low. It wasn’t flush with the joists, and I had to pull all the nails. I missed the handle on the cat’s paw and hit my knee with my hammer. This was a 2’ cantilever on second floor, I was new and scared being on top of the walls. I hated my job and hated life at that moment!
One of the reasons I had had trouble pulling nails is because I was taught not to use my hammer to pull the nail. We used wood handled hammers (no Stiletto yet, this was early 90’s) and a sure way to break your handle was to yank. Nail pullers don’t have the same leverage as a hammer and the head wasn’t shaped well.
The Shark nail puller was a big step forward in my view. It gouged less and got under the nail head better. This was our go to nail puller until a couple of years ago. I don’t know why but I went through quite a few of these in the last few years. I think the quality of the steel went down and I broke 3 of these in one year. In all cases the claw broke.
My co-worker tried out the Dalluge 12” bar from our local lumber yard. I kept trying other brands, and didn’t like them. He loves that Dalluge and kept telling me to buy one and stop borrowing his all the time. What makes this bar so great is that the claw isn’t too deep and the shape of the V gets under the head of the nail and grabs without gouging too much. I highly recommend this bar. It isn’t expensive, it does the job better than any bar I’ve ever used.
Now in addition to this nail puller I highly recommend the Martinez M1 titanium hammer. In 2002 I started using the Stiletto Tibone hammer and have been a convert every since. I’ve been swinging the M1 for over 3 years and will not swing another hammer. One of the major benefits of this hammer is the metal handle and the side nail puller on the hammer. This allows me to use leverage and reduce the amount of effort I need to put into pulling nails.
Click the picture below to see how I pull nails. Stay Safe!
