How to pull nails with a nail puller?

12th August 2021


	How to pull nails using a nail puller?


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			To make sure you don’t damage the material that the nail is stuck in, it is important to know how to pull nails with a nail puller. It’s also worth checking the specification of individual nail pullers because some of them grip under the head of the nail rather than onto the shaft.

			How to protect the wood when using a nail puller
			The nail puller will damage some of the surface of the timber as it extracts the nail, especially if the nail is buried into the wood.There is little that can be done to prevent this and this tool is not suitable for delicate finishing work.

			You may also find that the pivot point can damage the wood as pressure is applied to leverage the nail out, especially if it is a softwood.This damage can be reduced by protecting the wood under the pivot point. This can be done by placing a piece of thick leather, thin plywood, a putty knife, or something similar under the base heel as you pivot on it.

			With some practice you should be able to pull nails out and leave just a small indent in the surface of the wood where the nail had been.

			Using a nail puller with a handle
			Step 1 – Position jaws The jaws of the nail puller need to be positioned either side of the nail head, usually a millimetre or so away from it so they have space to grip under it as they are knocked down. Bear in mind the further the jaws are positioned from the head of the nail, the more damage you will do to the wood as they dig in.

			The jaw not attached to the pivot point should have pressure applied on it first, as it is being hit into the wood.Then the base heel, or foot piece, can be pivoted on and the jaws will be pushed together.

			Step 2 – Hammer into wood The handle will move up and down, either inside the shank or on a sleeve over the shank, and knock the jaws into the wood, under the nail head, so they will grip the shaft of the nail or catch under the head.

			It may take a few hits to get the jaws into the wood. Ensure that you are holding the puller with the other hand as you use the handle, to avoid slipping.You may also want to watch your fingers as you use the sliding handle, it will be heavy and if you catch your skin as you slam it down, it will hurt!

			Step 3 – Pull out nail Once the jaws are gripping the nail, you can extend the handle, for extra leverage, and pivot the nail puller on its base heel; this will make the jaws grip tighter onto the nail as it pulls it out.

			For longer nails that don’t come out with the first pull, you should be able to reposition the jaws around the shaft of the nail and pull it out a bit at a time.This is because the jaws often grip onto the shaft of the nail, if this is the case, headless nails can be removed as well.

			Using a nail puller without a handle
			Step 1 – Position jaws The jaws of the nail puller should be placed on either side of the nail head, about a millimetre or so away from the edges so they have space to grip underneath the head it as they are hit down. Remember, the further the jaws are positioned from the head of the nail, the more damage you will do as you dig into the wood.

			Step 2 – Knock into wood Using a suitable hammer, hit the jaws into the wood. Hold the tool in place with one hand, to avoid slipping, and tap the flat striking area at the top of the tool with the separate hammer.

			Once the jaws have penetrated the wood, the nail puller can be pivoted on the base heel which will close the jaws and grip the nail.

			Step 3 – Use hammer claw Once the jaws have a grip on the nail, the claw of the hammer can be used on one of the two points on the striking area, and the tool can be leveraged on its pivot point to pull the nail out.

			These nail pullers have two positions to place the claw of the hammer so you can choose the most convenient one to use for your job.For example, if you were in a space that would not allow the claw to grip the top point, it could grip the one on the back instead.

			Step 4 – Lever out nail The hammer will then give you the leverage you need to pull out the nail. A longer handle on the hammer will give you extra leverage and, for longer nails, you can use the nail puller to extract enough of the nail to be able to use the claw on the hammer to remove the rest of it.