How to remove nails with heads cut off?
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Yes, I know I can go to the big box store and buy lumber. That is not the point of this question.
I have some boards that have the nail heads removed, leaving the nail flush with the surface of the board. The boards come from pallets where apparently they used a sawsall or cutoff blade to reconstruct the pallets several times:
Side view:
Close up view:
After prying them out, I see tiny wires around the outside (my guess is to actually prevent removal ... what are these nails called?):
https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/27821/81954 gives some hints on how to remove nails, but relies upon the head being somewhat close to the surface. But in this case, the heads are sheared or sawed off flush with the surface.
Since this is for shop use (not fine furniture), and I don't need to preserve the whole width of the board (but do want to preserve the length), I have been cutting a notch into the wood about 1/4" deep, and chiseling the wood out just enough to get a ViceGrip around the nail, and then slowly prying up the nail and ViceGrip with a long crowbar. I can subsequently rip off the edge of the what is left over of the board and reuse most of the board.
Here is a view of the result after I've pryed out the nail:
That works but is time consuming.
Is there a tool that would both dig into the wood and around the nail, and have enough gripping force (similer to what I can get with the ViceGrip) to allow me to then pry out the nail? The "Nail Jack" style of tools are close but they don't have the toggle-bolt gripping action of a ViceGrip and lack a way to hammer the chisel edges into the wood deeply enough to grip the headless nail body.
How to remove these nails (no access to head)? seems like it would be applicable, but it is not.
removal nails reuse
New contributor
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Yes, I know I can go to the big box store and buy lumber. That is not the point of this question.
I have some boards that have the nail heads removed, leaving the nail flush with the surface of the board. The boards come from pallets where apparently they used a sawsall or cutoff blade to reconstruct the pallets several times:
Side view:
Close up view:
After prying them out, I see tiny wires around the outside (my guess is to actually prevent removal ... what are these nails called?):
https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/27821/81954 gives some hints on how to remove nails, but relies upon the head being somewhat close to the surface. But in this case, the heads are sheared or sawed off flush with the surface.
Since this is for shop use (not fine furniture), and I don't need to preserve the whole width of the board (but do want to preserve the length), I have been cutting a notch into the wood about 1/4" deep, and chiseling the wood out just enough to get a ViceGrip around the nail, and then slowly prying up the nail and ViceGrip with a long crowbar. I can subsequently rip off the edge of the what is left over of the board and reuse most of the board.
Here is a view of the result after I've pryed out the nail:
That works but is time consuming.
Is there a tool that would both dig into the wood and around the nail, and have enough gripping force (similer to what I can get with the ViceGrip) to allow me to then pry out the nail? The "Nail Jack" style of tools are close but they don't have the toggle-bolt gripping action of a ViceGrip and lack a way to hammer the chisel edges into the wood deeply enough to grip the headless nail body.
How to remove these nails (no access to head)? seems like it would be applicable, but it is not.
removal nails reuse
New contributor
3
What about driving them through and then gripping at the bottom?
â bib
4 hours ago
might try heating the nail with a woodburner, which could loosen the "socket" they are stuck in
â dandavis
3 hours ago
Make a nail puller
â hello moto
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Yes, I know I can go to the big box store and buy lumber. That is not the point of this question.
I have some boards that have the nail heads removed, leaving the nail flush with the surface of the board. The boards come from pallets where apparently they used a sawsall or cutoff blade to reconstruct the pallets several times:
Side view:
Close up view:
After prying them out, I see tiny wires around the outside (my guess is to actually prevent removal ... what are these nails called?):
https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/27821/81954 gives some hints on how to remove nails, but relies upon the head being somewhat close to the surface. But in this case, the heads are sheared or sawed off flush with the surface.
Since this is for shop use (not fine furniture), and I don't need to preserve the whole width of the board (but do want to preserve the length), I have been cutting a notch into the wood about 1/4" deep, and chiseling the wood out just enough to get a ViceGrip around the nail, and then slowly prying up the nail and ViceGrip with a long crowbar. I can subsequently rip off the edge of the what is left over of the board and reuse most of the board.
Here is a view of the result after I've pryed out the nail:
That works but is time consuming.
Is there a tool that would both dig into the wood and around the nail, and have enough gripping force (similer to what I can get with the ViceGrip) to allow me to then pry out the nail? The "Nail Jack" style of tools are close but they don't have the toggle-bolt gripping action of a ViceGrip and lack a way to hammer the chisel edges into the wood deeply enough to grip the headless nail body.
How to remove these nails (no access to head)? seems like it would be applicable, but it is not.
removal nails reuse
New contributor
Yes, I know I can go to the big box store and buy lumber. That is not the point of this question.
I have some boards that have the nail heads removed, leaving the nail flush with the surface of the board. The boards come from pallets where apparently they used a sawsall or cutoff blade to reconstruct the pallets several times:
Side view:
Close up view:
After prying them out, I see tiny wires around the outside (my guess is to actually prevent removal ... what are these nails called?):
https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/27821/81954 gives some hints on how to remove nails, but relies upon the head being somewhat close to the surface. But in this case, the heads are sheared or sawed off flush with the surface.
Since this is for shop use (not fine furniture), and I don't need to preserve the whole width of the board (but do want to preserve the length), I have been cutting a notch into the wood about 1/4" deep, and chiseling the wood out just enough to get a ViceGrip around the nail, and then slowly prying up the nail and ViceGrip with a long crowbar. I can subsequently rip off the edge of the what is left over of the board and reuse most of the board.
Here is a view of the result after I've pryed out the nail:
That works but is time consuming.
Is there a tool that would both dig into the wood and around the nail, and have enough gripping force (similer to what I can get with the ViceGrip) to allow me to then pry out the nail? The "Nail Jack" style of tools are close but they don't have the toggle-bolt gripping action of a ViceGrip and lack a way to hammer the chisel edges into the wood deeply enough to grip the headless nail body.
How to remove these nails (no access to head)? seems like it would be applicable, but it is not.
removal nails reuse
removal nails reuse
New contributor
New contributor
New contributor
asked 4 hours ago
bgoodr
1163
1163
New contributor
New contributor
3
What about driving them through and then gripping at the bottom?
â bib
4 hours ago
might try heating the nail with a woodburner, which could loosen the "socket" they are stuck in
â dandavis
3 hours ago
Make a nail puller
â hello moto
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
3
What about driving them through and then gripping at the bottom?
â bib
4 hours ago
might try heating the nail with a woodburner, which could loosen the "socket" they are stuck in
â dandavis
3 hours ago
Make a nail puller
â hello moto
1 hour ago
3
3
What about driving them through and then gripping at the bottom?
â bib
4 hours ago
What about driving them through and then gripping at the bottom?
â bib
4 hours ago
might try heating the nail with a woodburner, which could loosen the "socket" they are stuck in
â dandavis
3 hours ago
might try heating the nail with a woodburner, which could loosen the "socket" they are stuck in
â dandavis
3 hours ago
Make a nail puller
â hello moto
1 hour ago
Make a nail puller
â hello moto
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
I know this may not apply to every situation, but as an electrician I use a pair of side cutters and leverage it out of a hole. Lineman's pliers work too if there is enough space and you can get enough of a grip on it.
That sounds like it should work, but I suspect it's bad for the cutter's blade. Maybe it's best to use an old pair of side cutters if you're going to do a lot of this.
â mrog
24 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Use a small hole saw to drill out a wood plug around the nail. The method you have been using also works, obviously, though you don't need to clear so much area to get the grips on.
You can either leave the "artificial knotholes" resulting, or plug them. It would be a lot faster than cutting and prying each nail.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I use a device called a nail jack. It will work with or without a nail head. It has a beak that you center on the nail then a slide that you smack down on and it bites the nail. After it has a grip 1 sole has a lever that you rock back on and it pulls the nail out. I have used on all sizes of nails in both hard wood and soft wood. Aged oak with nails is the toughest as it sometimes bites through the nail and you need to get another bite, will try to see if they are still sold I have had mine for 35+ years. They call the nail puller 56 , cost is close to 60$ but are well worth it and last for years or decades in my case.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
A drill with a metal bit should help. You can try using it to push the remainder out, or, if it won't move, drill the nail out of the board.
1
In my experience, trying to drill out a small metal object in wood leads to the drill walking off into the wood, not following the metal to drill it out.
â Ecnerwal
1 hour ago
@Ecnerwal It's not the best but if you have no purchase for pliers it's the next best solution
â Machavity
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
You might be able to use a pneumatic denailer.
It punches the nails through the wood to drive them out, and seems to work from either end of the nail, so would not require the nail to have a head.
It is probably an expensive investment for a one-time task, but you may be able to rent one from your local home-improvement store.
Here is a video of the denailer in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gbm15fzNQM
New contributor
add a comment |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
I know this may not apply to every situation, but as an electrician I use a pair of side cutters and leverage it out of a hole. Lineman's pliers work too if there is enough space and you can get enough of a grip on it.
That sounds like it should work, but I suspect it's bad for the cutter's blade. Maybe it's best to use an old pair of side cutters if you're going to do a lot of this.
â mrog
24 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
I know this may not apply to every situation, but as an electrician I use a pair of side cutters and leverage it out of a hole. Lineman's pliers work too if there is enough space and you can get enough of a grip on it.
That sounds like it should work, but I suspect it's bad for the cutter's blade. Maybe it's best to use an old pair of side cutters if you're going to do a lot of this.
â mrog
24 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
I know this may not apply to every situation, but as an electrician I use a pair of side cutters and leverage it out of a hole. Lineman's pliers work too if there is enough space and you can get enough of a grip on it.
I know this may not apply to every situation, but as an electrician I use a pair of side cutters and leverage it out of a hole. Lineman's pliers work too if there is enough space and you can get enough of a grip on it.
answered 4 hours ago
Retired Master Electrician
7,353419
7,353419
That sounds like it should work, but I suspect it's bad for the cutter's blade. Maybe it's best to use an old pair of side cutters if you're going to do a lot of this.
â mrog
24 mins ago
add a comment |Â
That sounds like it should work, but I suspect it's bad for the cutter's blade. Maybe it's best to use an old pair of side cutters if you're going to do a lot of this.
â mrog
24 mins ago
That sounds like it should work, but I suspect it's bad for the cutter's blade. Maybe it's best to use an old pair of side cutters if you're going to do a lot of this.
â mrog
24 mins ago
That sounds like it should work, but I suspect it's bad for the cutter's blade. Maybe it's best to use an old pair of side cutters if you're going to do a lot of this.
â mrog
24 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Use a small hole saw to drill out a wood plug around the nail. The method you have been using also works, obviously, though you don't need to clear so much area to get the grips on.
You can either leave the "artificial knotholes" resulting, or plug them. It would be a lot faster than cutting and prying each nail.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Use a small hole saw to drill out a wood plug around the nail. The method you have been using also works, obviously, though you don't need to clear so much area to get the grips on.
You can either leave the "artificial knotholes" resulting, or plug them. It would be a lot faster than cutting and prying each nail.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Use a small hole saw to drill out a wood plug around the nail. The method you have been using also works, obviously, though you don't need to clear so much area to get the grips on.
You can either leave the "artificial knotholes" resulting, or plug them. It would be a lot faster than cutting and prying each nail.
Use a small hole saw to drill out a wood plug around the nail. The method you have been using also works, obviously, though you don't need to clear so much area to get the grips on.
You can either leave the "artificial knotholes" resulting, or plug them. It would be a lot faster than cutting and prying each nail.
answered 1 hour ago
Ecnerwal
54k23886
54k23886
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I use a device called a nail jack. It will work with or without a nail head. It has a beak that you center on the nail then a slide that you smack down on and it bites the nail. After it has a grip 1 sole has a lever that you rock back on and it pulls the nail out. I have used on all sizes of nails in both hard wood and soft wood. Aged oak with nails is the toughest as it sometimes bites through the nail and you need to get another bite, will try to see if they are still sold I have had mine for 35+ years. They call the nail puller 56 , cost is close to 60$ but are well worth it and last for years or decades in my case.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I use a device called a nail jack. It will work with or without a nail head. It has a beak that you center on the nail then a slide that you smack down on and it bites the nail. After it has a grip 1 sole has a lever that you rock back on and it pulls the nail out. I have used on all sizes of nails in both hard wood and soft wood. Aged oak with nails is the toughest as it sometimes bites through the nail and you need to get another bite, will try to see if they are still sold I have had mine for 35+ years. They call the nail puller 56 , cost is close to 60$ but are well worth it and last for years or decades in my case.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I use a device called a nail jack. It will work with or without a nail head. It has a beak that you center on the nail then a slide that you smack down on and it bites the nail. After it has a grip 1 sole has a lever that you rock back on and it pulls the nail out. I have used on all sizes of nails in both hard wood and soft wood. Aged oak with nails is the toughest as it sometimes bites through the nail and you need to get another bite, will try to see if they are still sold I have had mine for 35+ years. They call the nail puller 56 , cost is close to 60$ but are well worth it and last for years or decades in my case.
I use a device called a nail jack. It will work with or without a nail head. It has a beak that you center on the nail then a slide that you smack down on and it bites the nail. After it has a grip 1 sole has a lever that you rock back on and it pulls the nail out. I have used on all sizes of nails in both hard wood and soft wood. Aged oak with nails is the toughest as it sometimes bites through the nail and you need to get another bite, will try to see if they are still sold I have had mine for 35+ years. They call the nail puller 56 , cost is close to 60$ but are well worth it and last for years or decades in my case.
edited 1 hour ago
answered 1 hour ago
Ed Beal
25.1k11535
25.1k11535
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
A drill with a metal bit should help. You can try using it to push the remainder out, or, if it won't move, drill the nail out of the board.
1
In my experience, trying to drill out a small metal object in wood leads to the drill walking off into the wood, not following the metal to drill it out.
â Ecnerwal
1 hour ago
@Ecnerwal It's not the best but if you have no purchase for pliers it's the next best solution
â Machavity
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
A drill with a metal bit should help. You can try using it to push the remainder out, or, if it won't move, drill the nail out of the board.
1
In my experience, trying to drill out a small metal object in wood leads to the drill walking off into the wood, not following the metal to drill it out.
â Ecnerwal
1 hour ago
@Ecnerwal It's not the best but if you have no purchase for pliers it's the next best solution
â Machavity
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
A drill with a metal bit should help. You can try using it to push the remainder out, or, if it won't move, drill the nail out of the board.
A drill with a metal bit should help. You can try using it to push the remainder out, or, if it won't move, drill the nail out of the board.
answered 3 hours ago
Machavity
5,78311633
5,78311633
1
In my experience, trying to drill out a small metal object in wood leads to the drill walking off into the wood, not following the metal to drill it out.
â Ecnerwal
1 hour ago
@Ecnerwal It's not the best but if you have no purchase for pliers it's the next best solution
â Machavity
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1
In my experience, trying to drill out a small metal object in wood leads to the drill walking off into the wood, not following the metal to drill it out.
â Ecnerwal
1 hour ago
@Ecnerwal It's not the best but if you have no purchase for pliers it's the next best solution
â Machavity
1 hour ago
1
1
In my experience, trying to drill out a small metal object in wood leads to the drill walking off into the wood, not following the metal to drill it out.
â Ecnerwal
1 hour ago
In my experience, trying to drill out a small metal object in wood leads to the drill walking off into the wood, not following the metal to drill it out.
â Ecnerwal
1 hour ago
@Ecnerwal It's not the best but if you have no purchase for pliers it's the next best solution
â Machavity
1 hour ago
@Ecnerwal It's not the best but if you have no purchase for pliers it's the next best solution
â Machavity
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
You might be able to use a pneumatic denailer.
It punches the nails through the wood to drive them out, and seems to work from either end of the nail, so would not require the nail to have a head.
It is probably an expensive investment for a one-time task, but you may be able to rent one from your local home-improvement store.
Here is a video of the denailer in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gbm15fzNQM
New contributor
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
You might be able to use a pneumatic denailer.
It punches the nails through the wood to drive them out, and seems to work from either end of the nail, so would not require the nail to have a head.
It is probably an expensive investment for a one-time task, but you may be able to rent one from your local home-improvement store.
Here is a video of the denailer in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gbm15fzNQM
New contributor
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
You might be able to use a pneumatic denailer.
It punches the nails through the wood to drive them out, and seems to work from either end of the nail, so would not require the nail to have a head.
It is probably an expensive investment for a one-time task, but you may be able to rent one from your local home-improvement store.
Here is a video of the denailer in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gbm15fzNQM
New contributor
You might be able to use a pneumatic denailer.
It punches the nails through the wood to drive them out, and seems to work from either end of the nail, so would not require the nail to have a head.
It is probably an expensive investment for a one-time task, but you may be able to rent one from your local home-improvement store.
Here is a video of the denailer in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gbm15fzNQM
New contributor
New contributor
answered 18 secs ago
GentlePurpleRain
1013
1013
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
bgoodr is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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3
What about driving them through and then gripping at the bottom?
â bib
4 hours ago
might try heating the nail with a woodburner, which could loosen the "socket" they are stuck in
â dandavis
3 hours ago
Make a nail puller
â hello moto
1 hour ago