Any builder working with wood should have a nail puller and a plane. A nail puller is a narrow-profile tool with different uses. Using a homemade nail puller
To drive a nail, no special experience is required; every developer can cope with this task; it’s another matter to correctly pull out a driven nail. If the cap is flush with the surface, then it is recommended to know some of the subtleties of this work. And a lot depends when pulling out nails on what tool you choose. It is best to use a titanium nail puller for this purpose, which will handle nails best.
Purpose of the nail puller
There were times when they were widely used wooden nails, to do this, they first drilled holes in the boards that were suitable in diameter, and after that they connected the structural parts in a similar simple way. Such nails were called dowels. However, the dowel could not be pulled out. And today these products have been replaced with metal fasteners that have wide heads. When making wood products, there is often a need to pull out incorrectly driven nails.
They are easy to pick up with a tug - special tool with a flattened end where there is a wedge-shaped slot, which is convenient for gripping a nail. After hooking, you also need to pull out the fasteners, which are tightly compressed by wood fibers or wedged in a concrete panel, so you should use a forged nail puller. The lever force helps, so all nail pullers are made quite long, and near the hook there is a bend that acts as a support. Great importance It also has a material, so tools for pulling out nails are often made red-hot.
Claw hammers perform the functions of an ordinary carpenter's hammer or act as a nail puller. Such a tool will help both hammer in a nail and easily remove an unnecessary one if it is installed incorrectly. Today you can find similar hammers with different handles: wooden, metal, rubberized, fiberglass.
Thus, the purpose of a manual nail puller is to pull out nails. And the area of its use is quite large. With its help, you can carefully and easily pull a nail out of the floor or baseboard. Regardless of the description of the nail puller, it is used when dismantling various buildings, wooden structures, boxes and containers. The nail puller is an indispensable tool for loaders, carpenters, other technical workers and private developers at home.
In addition to the main function that a nail puller performs, its other functions are known: pulling out nails using a flattened end with a slot, breaking asphalt, ice and frozen soil, lifting various objects, opening boxes and other surfaces fastened with nails using a pointed end. The solid profile with which the nail puller is equipped successfully allows you to dismantle building materials.
Nail puller design
The nail puller is a lever-wedge device manual type for pulling out nails driven into the material. The nail puller is available in the form independent instrument or a tool that is combined with tools such as a crowbar or a hammer, as in the photo of nail pullers.
A nail puller is a curved metal wedge, which is divided in two by a working groove, which is intended for the process of capturing and holding during the procedure of pulling the nail out of the material by the “head”. The action of the nail puller is based on the impact of the wedge on the surface - fastener and the material into which the fastener is hammered, and on the principle of leverage when pulling out the nail. Man has been using the principle of leverage since ancient times, when it was necessary to break off a piece of stone and lift heavy object, which required considerable effort.
This construction tool at one end has a curved flattened platform with a slot that expands, and at the other there is a straight, pointed stake. The second end is often simply flattened and sharpened. Depending on the requirements for the tool, the nail puller can be different sizes. The price of nail pullers on the market also varies. The length of nail pullers ranges from 320 - 1000 millimeters, and the weight is 0.6 - 4 kilograms. The choice of the size of this construction tool depends directly on the size of the nails with which it will work.
Most hammers that are equipped additional function nail pullers are equipped with a rubber handle, thanks to which they are clamped in the palm of your hand like a glove. To increase the strength of nail pullers, high carbon steel is also heat treated, which is a common tool material. There are also nail pullers with a wood handle and an iron tip. But it is not recommended to get carried away with the variety of form factors; the main thing in a tool for extracting nails is flat surface blade, which is placed under the cap, and the level of its strength.
Making a nail puller with your own hands
Any owner needs a good nail puller no less than a saw, hammer or axe. Therefore, it is useful to know how to make a nail puller at home. We suggest you make a set of three nail pullers that will help you remove any nails and fasteners.
A nail puller for pulling out small nails is best made of steel with a high carbon content so that its working part can be hardened. To do this, take a steel wire 0.5 millimeters thick, then straighten it on an anvil and flatten the working end a little.
Make a shallow cut with a hacksaw along the axis, and file the edges of the cut with a needle file. Bend the working part of the tool in a vice. It is customary to bend in two steps: first in the place where the workpiece is thicker, and then closer to the working end. Remove small dents caused by the vice with a file. Then sand the working part of the tool and, if possible, polish it with polishing paste.
It remains to complete the hardening with future tempering. After this manipulation, grind the working part of the tool again and polish it. Place the resulting workpiece on the handle. Your DIY nail puller for small nails is ready!
Nail pullers for large and medium nails are usually made of reinforcing steel. Just remember that the working part does not need to be flattened. All rough processing Pre-apply on an emery wheel.
These nail pullers do not require handles. To pull out a long nail with a regular nail puller, you have to place it under its base. various items, for example, a piece of board, which is not very convenient. Improve your nail puller by welding an additional part at a distance of 6 centimeters from the working one.
Using a homemade nail puller
Now you should learn how to properly use a nail puller made at home. Using this tool is quite simple. Depending on the diameter of the nail, you need to select the appropriate homemade nail puller from the kit and pre-tap the wedge part of the tool with a hammer under the head.
When the nail enters the slot of the working part, move the handle towards the wood - the nail will come out of the hole a little. Place a low block to rest against. The nail will come out a little more after this. Now you can grab its cap with pliers.
In progress construction work there is a need not only to build any structure, ensuring it reliable fastening, but also to dismantle the building. In the latter case, you will need to quickly remove the fastening elements - ordinary nails. You can do this with improvised tools, but it is better to use a more convenient device - a nail puller.
Purpose and design features
A nail puller is used to remove nails from wooden, plastic and other structures. There are many varieties of this device, but general case it is a handle, at the end of which there is a curved wedge made of durable metal.
The wedge ends with a slot, i.e. has a forked tip. This groove captures the nail head and then removes it.
When a nail is more firmly attached to the surface of a workpiece or other construction object, the handle of the tool acts as a lever. Loaders often use a nail puller as an assistant to lift heavy loads, and carpenters use it to dismantle wooden structures.
This tool belongs to the manual category, although there are also electric nail puller models. You need to choose taking into account your financial capabilities, the range of planned work and the required ergonomics in use.
Hammer with claw function
This is a universal type of tool that can be used not only for removing nails, but also for driving them. Therefore, the claw hammer has two different ends on the working attachment:
- rounded head of a classic hammer;
- a pointed part with a slot to perform the functions of a nail puller.
The metal part of the hammer is made of high-strength steel. Many models are equipped with a rubberized handle. It is compact and mobile instrument. Thanks to the short handle, it is easy to carry and always have at hand.
However, on the other hand, this feature does not allow the tool to be fully used as a lever. In addition, the working slot does not always allow penetration under the head, and the wooden handle is less durable compared to full-fledged crowbar-type nail pullers.
IN professional models a hammer with a nail puller function has a one-piece forged design, always with a rubber handle. High-quality rubber helps to effectively dampen vibration.
Crowbar nail puller
In the classic design, the extraction device is a solid steel rod with flattened ends turned in different directions. There can be a slot for removing nails at both ends.
But especially popular is the nail puller mount, the second wedge of which is flattened and looks like a blade. With this end you can destroy structures, lift floorboards, and disassemble fastened boards.
The nail crowbar can be 400-1500 mm long. For manufacturing, reinforcement is used, as well as a round or hexagonal rod with a diameter of 10-25 mm. As the length of the tool increases, its thickness and strength increase, but its weight also increases.
How to choose a tool
There are many designs and modifications of the device, which is clearly visible in the photo of the nail puller. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
A flat tip that must be strong and sharp. It is made from high quality material, while other parts may be made from less durable materials. It is welcome to have a special protective paint or anti-corrosion coating on it.
The length of the tool depends on the type of work performed and its complexity. To dismantle large structures, furniture, doors, a tool with a longer handle of up to 1-1.5 m is required. But for small manipulations, for example with drawers, you can limit yourself to using short nail pullers 30-50 cm.
Nail puller weight. Heavier devices will require less effort from you when dismantling works ah or removing nails. A nail puller reinforced with stronger material allows you to disassemble even large structures without the risk of damaging the tool. But the work will be tiring.
You need to select the weight for yourself in order to effectively perform the work with a minimum of effort and fatigue. The optimal weight is 1 kg.
Making tools at home
It is not necessary to spend financial resources on purchasing a device. You can do it on your own. To learn how to make a nail puller with your own hands, we recommend that you study our simple instructions:
Select steel wire different diameters. For small nails, you can take not very thick wire, but for thicker ones, a reinforcing rod will do.
When processing the tip, one part of the wire should be flattened on an anvil with a hammer. The reinforcement can be cut at the desired angle. Use a hacksaw to make a small hole for the nails.
A needle file is used to process the edges and remove various defects.
The nozzle bends. First, a bend is made on the thicker part of the nozzle before the thin section begins. And then a bend is made at the flattened end. If possible, harden the workpiece.
The nozzle should be processed with a file and then polished. The attachment is attached to the selected handle.
A nail puller helps make many dismantling jobs easier. Right choice The tool will allow you to carry out manipulations quickly and efficiently. At the same time, you need to remember about the ergonomics of the tool and ease of use.
A nail puller is almost always present in our construction equipment, and it is rarely purchased as a separate tool; it is much more convenient when it is included with its permanent partners - a hammer or a crowbar.
Design and purpose of a nail puller
There is no person who can perfectly drive nails into any surface without making a single mistake. The percentage of errors made, of course, depends on the experience of the worker, but never drops to zero. Therefore, you can’t do without a nail puller on a construction site. In addition, quite often it is required not during the construction process, but to carry out the destruction of, for example, a wooden building. Many people burn the remains of a rotten building and use the ash, but it will ruin all the properties, so they are removed first.
It is not always easy to remove a nail with small pliers, especially if the material is quite strong and the nail is long. This is where school physics and the law of leverage come to the rescue. Even the most stubborn nail can be reached without much effort if you have a long lever with a firm grip on the end. From here it is easy to guess about the design of the nail puller, which is quite simple. A correctly pointed end of the gripper will help pry up even the most deeply driven nail.
In general, our tool looks something like this: a long handle, at the end of which there is a bend, ending in a flattened forked tip with a slot. The length of the tool depends on the severity of the tasks that it can perform; this is the same length of the lever, which is directly related to the effort expended to pull out the nail. The pointed end easily fits under the nail head, which may not even protrude above the surface of the material. The slot firmly grips the head, and the bend as a stop allows you to smoothly move the center of gravity of the tool slightly back so that the pointed end rises, dragging the nail along with it.
Thus, without unnecessary sudden movements and enormous efforts, you will get any unsuccessful or unwanted fasteners. We have already said that most often we can find a nail puller as an additional head on a hammer. For most economic works This is quite enough and convenient; immediately at the moment of hammering the nail, it can be removed. The hammer handle is long enough for leverage. But for more serious work, loaders and carpenters always have individual tools, made from high-strength materials. A nail puller is often used for more than just pulling nails, especially if it is highly durable.
Titanium nail puller – how to buy a good tool?
Looking at the design, it seems that choosing such a tool is as easy as pie. But if you experienced master, then you will approach the matter very demandingly. In addition, the range of seemingly monotonous devices is quite wide. For example, just by length you can expect to find a purchase from 32 cm to 1 m, weight can reach as much as 4 kg, although the lightest options will only pull 0.5 kg. The material used for manufacturing also differs; most often, it is high-carbon steel, but titanium nail puller is considered the leader in strength.
When choosing a tool, it is still important to look at some parameters. First, immediately pay attention to the tip. It should be fairly flat, sharp and durable. Sometimes only the tip is made of durable material, and everything else is made of cheaper metal, or even wood. It happens that the tip is protected by coatings, paint or anti-corrosion. Yes, over time it will wear off on numerous nail heads, but this will still extend the service life, preventing rusting and disintegration at least at first.
Next, choose the length and weight. If you are in the mood for a large amount of work, for example, windows, dismantling large-sized furniture and similar operations, then do not hesitate to take a nail puller about 1 m long. If your plans are limited to dismantling boxes, repairing benches and other little things, then the 30-40 cm option is quite suitable.
And the weight you should choose is light, although it is responsible for the effort made. That is, the greater the weight of the tool, the less effort you will need to make to reach the nail. But do not forget that you personally have to carry and deftly operate a heavy tool, which means that the chance of getting tired quickly is quite high. So you have to choose best option to ensure that the work requires moderate effort and that the tool itself is efficient without being heavy. A weight of 1 kg is considered just right according to these criteria.
Choosing a tool involves evaluating the material, quality of the tip, as well as the length of the lever and the weight of the entire device.
Creating a homemade version
For those who are especially skilled, we offer a way to independently make a set of the most commonly used types of nail pullers.
How to make a nail puller with your own hands - step by step diagram
Step 1: Preparing the nozzle
For this you will need steel wires of different diameters; for the smallest nails 0.5 mm is enough, but for heavy work you can even take fittings. The tip should be treated first. To do this, flatten the end with a hammer on an anvil (for reinforcement, you should not flatten it, you just have to cut the material to the desired sharpness, you can do it on an emery wheel). Next, use a regular hacksaw to cut a slot of moderate depth. Too long will force us to drive the nail deep into it, and this is not at all necessary, extra work.
Step 2: Processing the nozzle
Now you should take a file and process the edges to remove irregularities, nicks and other defects that inevitably form when working with metal. Next we have to bend this nozzle, try to do this in two steps. First, the thick part of the wire, which is located before the transition to the flattened one, is slightly bent. And after it, the part that is closer to the area where the work will be carried out also bends.
Many people also manage to harden such a workpiece, if you have such an opportunity, and you are sure that the wire material allows you to do this, do not ignore this idea. Now go over the entire tip with a file and sandpaper, and then with polishing paste, it’s almost ready, so let’s polish it. Thus, the entire set of tips is made according to your taste and whim, if you want to have a nail puller for almost every head size.
Step 3: Use
Now all that remains is to fit the resulting tip onto the handle, if there is one. But don’t despair, if you can’t find a reliable handle, you can attach it to an already existing tool, for example, to the same hammer. You can increase the leverage value by placing a block under the tool after the nail head is in the slot. Of course, the work will not be immediate, but you will achieve the effect. Since there is no huge lever, sometimes it will be difficult to get the nail out completely, but once you get it halfway out, it’s easy to finish the job even with pliers; a minimum of effort will be required.
A nail crowbar is convenient device for removing nails from different designs. It makes it much easier for the technician to carry out dismantling work. Helps resolve the issue of removing nails quickly and efficiently. In turn, this is an ergonomic tool, despite the fact that it belongs to the category hand tool, there are also models of electric nail puller
If you pay attention to the photo of a nail puller, you can understand that this tool is a curved wedge with a forked end, with the help of which the head of the nail or other element being removed is captured. It is made exclusively from high quality metal and has a long shoulder.
Scope of application
Despite the simple design, the use of the tool is necessary in construction industry. It is used wherever the task is to remove objects from different surfaces, it is also very helpful for loaders to lift heavy loads. It is used by carpenters, mechanics, and builders to solve everyday problems. Also, the nail puller can be used not for its intended purpose, but for the reconstruction of a room, not dismantling required designs, frames.
Varieties
In the classic version, the tool has the form of a rod made of steel with cut ends, and they can be on both sides of the nail puller.
The length of the standard device is from four hundred to five hundred millimeters, the diameter is from ten to twenty-five millimeters. If the length of the product increases, then the strength also increases due to the thickness, although the weight increases.
One type of tool is a hammer with a nail puller function. It has a short handle, making it mobile to use. This is a very versatile type of device, since the claw hammer can not only remove elements, but also hammer.
It has a design consisting of two different ends. On one work surface there is a round hammer head, and on the other there is a classic pointed part with a forked wedge.
The main part of the models has a non-slip rubberized handle. The only drawback is that the lever use of this device is limited.
The nail puller mount has gained particular popularity in the sales market among consumers. Its design has a second wedge that resembles a flat blade.
With its help you can dismantle wooden floors, raise construction devices, reconstruct the boards. At the same time, the other end perfectly performs the function of pulling out nails and other unnecessary elements.
To purchase the best nail puller, you need to determine what kind of work you need the tool for. In any case, before purchasing, pay attention to the following properties of the device:
First, the crowbar should be made of a high-strength metal, such as tool steel, that is not prone to warping. Although the tool best quality made from titanium. Of course, they are significantly overpriced.
It is advisable that the tip be coated with a special protective paint or anti-corrosion coating. This will make it as strong and durable as possible.
Secondly, the length of the tool matters. Give preference to those models that will be necessary for your work. So, to dismantle bulky structures, a device with a handle up to one and a half meters is required, and if minor dismantling work is necessary, a short nail puller up to fifty centimeters long can be useful.
The force of its impact on the material will depend on the weight of the tool. A heavy, reinforced nail puller can destroy large structures, but the work will be tedious.
Making a fixture
Instead of buying one, you can make a nail puller with your own hands. Let's take a step-by-step look at how to make the tool yourself:
- 1 step. First, choose a steel wire the right size depending on the diameter of the nails that need to be removed.
- Step 2. Next, process the tip of one part, use a hammer to flatten it, then cut a slot for further removal of elements.
- Step 3. If any defects or nicks have formed, remove them with a needle file.
- Step 4 The next step is to bend both ends of the nozzle. Start with the thicker part of the tool.
- Step 5 If possible, it is recommended to harden the device. Polish the product and attach it to the handle.
So, without much difficulty, you can independently make such a necessary thing as a nail crowbar.
Photo crowbar nail puller
With damaged caps that cannot be unscrewed. Due to its shape and strength, it can also be used for dismantling wooden, plastic and other structures that can come apart as a result of the applied force.
How does a nail puller work?
The tool may have different shape, but regardless of the variety, it always has the same working part. It is a flat wedge, shaped like a spatula with a forked tip. The longitudinal slot on it has a special groove that allows you to grab the head of a nail or screw. Subsequently, the tool is used as a lever to pull out the fastener.
Typically the tool is made of carbon steel. It has high hardness. Also on sale you can find cheaper nail pullers made of weak alloys, which are of little use for dismantling work. To identify low-quality tools, it is enough to scratch their working part using the tip of a nail. U good tool The steel is hard, so it won't scratch. If a bad nail puller is tested, then a mark will appear on it directly in the metal, and not just on the paint.
Where are nail pullers used?
The need to pull out nails may be necessary in a variety of circumstances. This tool is used by people from dozens of professions. First of all, it is necessary for builders, as well as finishers who perform renovation work. A nail puller is convenient for tearing off old floorboards, tearing off wall paneling, and dismantling a slate roof. The need for it also arises during disassembly wooden fences. Nail pullers are much more compact than crowbars, so they can be used for careful destruction brickwork. Thanks to the flat spatula, it is convenient to push them under the brick and use the lever to tear it off the wall.
The tool is also used by loaders and couriers who deliver lathed cargo. Due to its increased strength, this device can be used for striking when performing dismantling work. Of course, a hammer makes everything much more convenient, but when the latter is not at hand, you can get by with a nail puller.
Types of nail pullers
This is a very popular tool, for which there are no analogues in performing certain types of dismantling work, therefore dozens of well-known ones are engaged in its production brands. Each of them strives to improve the design, making it more convenient for performing certain tasks. In this regard, there are several very successful varieties of this instrument that are used everywhere. Conventionally, they can be divided into conventional nail pullers and those combined with other types of tools.
Regular
Such a tool is intended exclusively for tearing off nails. He has small size up to 40 cm. At its end there is an ordinary handle with an overlay, similar to the one found on hammers. This is a relatively lightweight nail puller that allows you to mainly work only with fasteners. He is quite capable of tearing off floorboards or dismantling wooden boxes. Pure nail pullers are not in great demand, since for the same price you can purchase a more advanced tool that can perform at least one additional function.
There are also more compact devices designed to work with small nails, which are usually used in furniture assembly, as well as knocking together small boxes. They are the size of an ordinary large one, with the exception that they are equipped with a spatula with a slot at the end. Using such a device, you can remove fasteners, creating minimal damage to the surface from which they are pulled out. This tool is also suitable for dismantling push pins that are tightly embedded in wood. They can also tear off the clips that hold the internal plastic elements of the car interior.
Combined
This nail puller combines one or more additional tools:
- Ticks.
- Mounting.
Nail pullers compatible with crowbar have dimensions up to 150 cm. At their second end there is a flat blade or a pointed wedge. This is a universal construction and demolition tool that is the easiest to work with because it has a large lever, which reduces the stress when pulling out nails. A similar device is good for dismantling floorboards, benches, wooden buildings, as well as roof sheathing. In addition, the tool can be used as an ordinary crowbar. Its forked blade is quite large, so it is not capable of grasping small nails with small diameter heads. It is also not suitable if you need to carefully disassemble small structures, the components of which need to be kept intact, preventing dents from appearing on the wood.
Are extremely popular hammers, they have a nail puller on the part opposite to the striker. They have a small leverage, so it is quite difficult to pull out fasteners using such a device. Wherein similar designs also have advantages. First of all, they are compact and can fit into a toolbox. Hammers can handle pulling out small nails quite well, but for long nails their lever is too short. The main part of the load falls on the hammer handle, which is usually made of wood. By overdoing it and pressing too hard, you can break it. If you plan to use a lot of force, then it is better to choose an all-metal hammer with a nail puller. Such a tool can easily withstand heavy loads, and besides, it will not be damaged if you lengthen the handle metal pipe to increase the lever arm. Typically, such hammers are used when they need to be used for driving nails. If one of them is bent, it can be immediately removed to hammer in the other.
Nailers-chisels
A highly specialized tool designed for beekeepers. It is used for processing and cleaning old frames. With its help, small nails are removed, and the frame strips are cleaned of old foundation with a chisel. Also on sale are reinforced chisels, which, in addition to performing the current two functions, also work as a hammer. This makes them versatile for bee frame repairs and more serious tasks. It is worth noting that although such a nail puller is a chisel, it is not sharp enough to carry out wood carving, like its carpentry counterparts.
Meet ticks, which themselves are used to remove nails. Moreover, on one of their handles there is a flat blade with a slot for nails, copying the shape of a nail puller. Such a device cannot cope with large fasteners, but it is quite useful for disassembling small ones. wooden boxes, which are usually used for transporting vegetables and fruits.
Nail pullers deserve special attention mounts. This is an almost universal dismantling tool that allows you to perform a large range of jobs. Typically, such devices are 4 in 1. They can be used as a nail puller, pry bar, hammer and a tool for bending metal rods. Often this device costs much more than all other varieties. However, it cannot compete with the power of a nail crowbar.
How to use a nail puller
Often when using a nail puller, you have to deal with severe hammered with nails, the cap of which is recessed into the surface. In this case, there is no way to get caught. To solve this problem you need to keep on hand auxiliary tools. First of all, it is a hammer or pliers.
If you are dismantling a structure in which there is access to the reverse side where the tip of the nail is located, then it is worth checking to see if it is protruding. If the pointed part sticks out, then you need to hit it with a hammer, after which the cap will come out and you can pull it out. Sometimes fasteners with reverse side curved to increase reliability. In this case, it needs to be straightened. For this purpose, pliers or pliers will be useful. After leveling, you should hit the sharp side so that the cap comes out a little.
In the case of dismantling surfaces in which the tip does not protrude from the back side, or there is no access to it, the work will have to be done more roughly. First you need to place the nail puller blade opposite the head, pointing it at an angle of 30 degrees. By hitting the back of the nail with a hammer, it must be driven into the surface until the head catches. The tool is then used as a lever to pull out the nail as usual. This is a fail-safe method, but it damages the boards, which is not always acceptable if you plan to use them in the future.
When the nail is driven with great force, the back of the nailer cuts into the wood, leaving a deep dent there. The same thing occurs when dismantling the fastening on slate roof. To avoid this effect, you should place a small soft wooden board under the tool stop. It will take the deformation effect on itself, distributing the load across larger area, so the dent will not appear.
