It's a nail and fence staple puller. I have been using one for many years. You use the handle as a slide hammer to force the beak into the wood to grab nails that are all the way in or below the surface. You can pull really long nails because the beak grabs the shank of the nail and can be moved down lower once you have pulled out as far the lever allows. You just have to grab more from the side. Claw hammers and crowbars rely on the nail's head. Once the head pops off you are screwed. Not a problem for the nail puller. I used it all the time on the ranch especially for fence work. And never pull with the handle all the way out, it can break.
I've had one of these for around 50 years. The handle does act as a slide hammer. The are good for pulling nails that have the head of the nail is buried below or flush with the surface of the wood. Spread the two jaws wider then the nail and slide the handle to force the jaws into the wood. That will force the jaws to close on the nail then lever it to pull the nail. Works on larger nails like an 8d or 16d nail.
That's what I thought it would do, but I wasnt sure, since I did 0 research on these LOL. Just out of curiosity, do you use it often, or is it only really useful for when you want to save the nails or wood?
I don't really use it that often But is the best tool for pulling buried nail heads or those with no head. Or toe nailed nails without tearing up the wood as much as other nail pullers.
That’s a fancy nail puller that has an interesting couple features. The handle technically isn’t extending, it’s a built in hammer so you can drive the tool into the wood to grab a nail that has been hammered flush or even a bit below the surface. They aren’t good for finishers but they were widely used by companies unpacking wooden crates for being able to reuse said crates. And that tool is gonna survive just fine as it sits without taking the rust off. That rust is older than you are and is doing more for protecting than harming at this stage. Just spray it with some WD or your oil of choice and it will make the rust into a more protective finish that will resist rusting more than anything else you can do.
Cool! Didn't know that was really an option with rust. I know they used to do rust bluing, but didn't know that it was better than modern methods (like paint or removing the rust altogether before oiling). I'll definitely wipe it down with some Ballistol.
You were almost there on your theory, just not the reason. They are nail pullers, the design is pre/early industrial and during this time nails were hand made and pricey and many times in rural areas were not quickly/easily obtainable beyond the fact of being pricey. You should find that if you use a bigger nail(think framing, building a dog house or wagon etc...) and using them like a slide hammer keeping as perpendicular as possible the nail should come out in a reusable condition state, if done right. This tool was made to be able to pull nails and leave them and they wood reusable to deal with the price and availability issues during those pre industrial days, as using a pry or claw not only can damage the wood but also usually bends the nail in a way unusable as nail again. This is a great tool allowing reuse of nails and better for reclaiming wood. Its a wonderful tool enjoy it.
It is! I wish I had more use for it. It's fun to use. Someday, I'll get to do a reno or something and maybe save some of the scraps, or just have fun LOL
It's a nail and fence staple puller. I have been using one for many years. You use the handle as a slide hammer to force the beak into the wood to grab nails that are all the way in or below the surface. You can pull really long nails because the beak grabs the shank of the nail and can be moved down lower once you have pulled out as far the lever allows. You just have to grab more from the side. Claw hammers and crowbars rely on the nail's head. Once the head pops off you are screwed. Not a problem for the nail puller. I used it all the time on the ranch especially for fence work. And never pull with the handle all the way out, it can break.
I've had one of these for around 50 years. The handle does act as a slide hammer. The are good for pulling nails that have the head of the nail is buried below or flush with the surface of the wood. Spread the two jaws wider then the nail and slide the handle to force the jaws into the wood. That will force the jaws to close on the nail then lever it to pull the nail. Works on larger nails like an 8d or 16d nail.
That's what I thought it would do, but I wasnt sure, since I did 0 research on these LOL.
Just out of curiosity, do you use it often, or is it only really useful for when you want to save the nails or wood?
I don't really use it that often But is the best tool for pulling buried nail heads or those with no head. Or toe nailed nails without tearing up the wood as much as other nail pullers.
That’s a fancy nail puller that has an interesting couple features. The handle technically isn’t extending, it’s a built in hammer so you can drive the tool into the wood to grab a nail that has been hammered flush or even a bit below the surface. They aren’t good for finishers but they were widely used by companies unpacking wooden crates for being able to reuse said crates. And that tool is gonna survive just fine as it sits without taking the rust off. That rust is older than you are and is doing more for protecting than harming at this stage. Just spray it with some WD or your oil of choice and it will make the rust into a more protective finish that will resist rusting more than anything else you can do.
Cool! Didn't know that was really an option with rust. I know they used to do rust bluing, but didn't know that it was better than modern methods (like paint or removing the rust altogether before oiling). I'll definitely wipe it down with some Ballistol.
One of these gave me a black eye I was pulling nails out of a deck once a long time ago😅 it is a super cool tool
You can't just leave us hanging like that! LOL How did you do that?
It's definitely a cool tool
You were almost there on your theory, just not the reason. They are nail pullers, the design is pre/early industrial and during this time nails were hand made and pricey and many times in rural areas were not quickly/easily obtainable beyond the fact of being pricey. You should find that if you use a bigger nail(think framing, building a dog house or wagon etc...) and using them like a slide hammer keeping as perpendicular as possible the nail should come out in a reusable condition state, if done right. This tool was made to be able to pull nails and leave them and they wood reusable to deal with the price and availability issues during those pre industrial days, as using a pry or claw not only can damage the wood but also usually bends the nail in a way unusable as nail again. This is a great tool allowing reuse of nails and better for reclaiming wood. Its a wonderful tool enjoy it.
Thanks! That makes sense. I rarely use nails, but this is definitely the tool I need for removing any I encounter!
Thats a cool tool
It is! I wish I had more use for it. It's fun to use.
Someday, I'll get to do a reno or something and maybe save some of the scraps, or just have fun LOL
Nail puller
You can still buy them today. Although not the same quality.
I didn't know that. The quality part makes perfect sense though
It's a nail puller
Probably better to do videos on tools you know how to use. Pulling nails from a deck would be an excellent video.