Let’s be honest: For 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 want 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 at the time but now realize that this was good training. It is important that as apprentices we learn to use tools proficiently, and that only comes from repetition.
The old-style cat’s paw I first used worked well enough, but I can distinctly remember the time that I nailed the rim joist onto a cantilever too low. It wasn’t flush with the joists, and I had to pull all the nails. Well, I missed the handle on the cat’s paw and hit my knee with my hammer. This was a 2-foot cantilever on a second floor, and I was new and scared of being on top of the walls. I hated my job and hated life at that moment!
One of the reasons I had trouble pulling nails was that I was taught not to use my hammer to pull the nail. We used wood-handled hammers (no Stiletto yet; this was early ’90s) 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. 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 three of them in one year. In all cases, the claw broke.
My co-worker tried out the Dalluge 12-inch bar from our local lumberyard. 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, and 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 more than three 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.
Watch the video below to see how I pull nails. Stay Safe!
