What do you use for flush pliers to pull nails?

[Mike Dowell]

I had a guy working with me who used farrier pliers to pull nails and such. These pliers had a completely flush mating of the teeth which enabled them to grab on to the smallest of broken off nails. sort of like these - https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-55-00-300-Farriers/dp/B005EXO4WI/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1479397650&sr=8-11&keywords=farrier+pliers
Although, I Can't tell if the biting edge of those are completely flush.

Am I making sense? What are you all using?

[George Bokros]

I use something similar to this. The one I have grips the nail tighter the harder you push down.

https://www.zoro.com/crescent-nail-pullers-nail-pulling-pliers-np11/i/G4990693/?gclid=CPfqotWSsNACFYw6gQod3RIDlA&gclsrc=aw.d


(https://www.zoro.com/crescent-nail-pullers-nail-pulling-pliers-np11/i/G4990693/?gclid=CPfqotWSsNACFYw6gQod3RIDlA&gclsrc=aw.d)

[Pat Barry]

Waterpump pliers or similar

[Bill Houghton]

Large (as in carpentry demo): Diamond Calk and Horseshoe end nippers, possibly originally farrier's end nippers but marketed years back by Diamond as more general-purpose pliers. I have a 12" long pair.
Small: Klein electrician's end nippers. Also small, but not pliers: tack lifters used by furniture (re)upholstery folks. Good tack lifters are dead flush in the "V" that gets under the tack/small nail head.

Side note: I keep a cheap putty knife around for those occasions on which I want to avoid damaging the wood around the nail hole. Use this as the fulcrum base for the pliers. Use a flexible one: a more rigid one can get broken in the process (you can imagine how I know this).

[lowell holmes]

Dikes with a paint stick under them to prevent marring of the wood works for me.

[David Eisenhauer]

A bazillion years ago when I worked as a carpenter, I was taught to use the first type you showed ("nippers") for pulling larger 6, 8 and 16 penny nails. I still have a pair on my old carpenter toolbox for occasional use. Smaller nails are easier to get with a "cats paw" type nail puller.

[Prashun Patel]

Not too fancy for me:

https://www.amazon.com/Channellock-426-8-Inch-Capacity-2-Inch/dp/B00004SBCS

The round head makes a good 'cam lever'. I always use a backer under the head to prevent denting.

[Adam Herman]

channellock for me too, a putty knife or a 4 in tile work well for a backer.

[Dan Hulbert]

I bought these from Lee Valley, they work great!

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=70622&cat=1,43456,43400&ap=1

[George Bokros]

I use something similar to this. The one I have grips the nail tighter the harder you push down.

https://www.zoro.com/crescent-nail-pullers-nail-pulling-pliers-np11/i/G4990693/?gclid=CPfqotWSsNACFYw6gQod3RIDlA&gclsrc=aw.d


(https://www.zoro.com/crescent-nail-pullers-nail-pulling-pliers-np11/i/G4990693/?gclid=CPfqotWSsNACFYw6gQod3RIDlA&gclsrc=aw.d)


Found exactly what I use. Works great even with finish nails. Better than Channel locks aka Water Pump pliers

http://www.rockler.com/the-extractor-nail-remover?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&sid=V9146&gclid=CI-39rOysNACFQOBaQodtJ0P9


(http://www.rockler.com/the-extractor-nail-remover?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&sid=V9146&gclid=CI-39rOysNACFQOBaQodtJ0P9)

[Steve Jenkins]

I took an old pair of dikes and ground down the back face flat

[Adam Herman]

Also, everyone should have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-56-Nail-Puller/dp/B00002N7SD

[Jim Koepke]

Also, everyone should have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-56-Nail-Puller/dp/B00002N7SD

Mine like that, though American made, was bought at an antique mall for $10. Have since seen them at yard sales for $5. I wasn't sure how to use it until watching an episode of Barn Wood Builders where they were pulling a lot of nails using these antique nail pullers. They work great once you get the hang of it. Though these are not the kind of thing to use if you are concerned about preserving the surface.

Other tools in my nail pulling arsenal include almost all of the above and a few others.

jtk

[Adam Herman]

mine is similarly from an auction, american made. though i paid 15 for it with a small pick axe that is perfect for gardening.

[Robert LaPlaca]

Found exactly what I use. Works great even with finish nails. Better than Channel locks aka Water Pump pliers

http://www.rockler.com/the-extractor-nail-remover?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&sid=V9146&gclid=CI-39rOysNACFQOBaQodtJ0P9


(http://www.rockler.com/the-extractor-nail-remover?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&sid=V9146&gclid=CI-39rOysNACFQOBaQodtJ0P9)

I have a pair of the Nail Extractors also, product works great, plus the leverage is much better than Channel Locks

[Lonnie Gallaher]

I have a pair of these that I have ground the face so that the cutters are flush with the face. They were used when I got them 35 years ago and are still going strong. I have pulled thousands of nails while doing remodels with them.

https://www.channellock.com/356-Cutting-Plier.aspx

[Bill Jobe]

I use a small pair of sidecutters. They have a natural curve one side. I just grab and rock, grab and rock til it comes out.
With just my trusty little side cutters in my back pocket there are times I think I can do most anything.

[bridger berdel]

I have a pair of these that I have ground the face so that the cutters are flush with the face. They were used when I got them 35 years ago and are still going strong. I have pulled thousands of nails while doing remodels with them.

https://www.channellock.com/356-Cutting-Plier.aspx

This is what I use most of the time. I have been known to use a flush-ground pair of dikes or even a pair of visegrips.

[Derek Cohen]

I have a couple of different sized pairs of these nail pliers ..

http://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.net/images/2/5/antique-carpenter-blacksmith-iron-pliers-pinchers-nippers-w-nail-puller-8-c41cf25654d1a7150e7a78f571b64b01.jpg (https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjjqJjAy7HQAhVDkpQKHeGkCjIQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.terapeak.com%2Fworth%2Fantiqu e-carpenter-blacksmith-iron-pliers-pinchers-nippers-w-nail-puller-8%2F191719787028%2F&psig=AFQjCNGFUdZ3UNRM7e3NuhxJ5TMIT6cd0w&ust=1479533878601363)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Morey St. Denis]

The modified tool I use looks very much like Farrier's Nips and what Derek has pictured, except that I prefer the durability of Carbide toothed flush end tips. This comes in the form of offset jaw Tile Nippers which are intended for manual trimming of glass or ceramic tiles to a curved line. These feature nearly flush mating of offset tips and a broad rounded head for mechanical advantage in levering out the nails. In the instance of use with tile, there are often integral stops which block the flush end tips just short of full contact closure, but you'd likely desire that for smaller nails and brads. With mine, those stops were raised cylindrical bosses formed into the forged handles that make contact before the carbide tips do. These often hold the compression spring that actively separates grips in ready-use position for the hand.

To modify those closure stops temporarily pop this spring out and file those stops down until the tips barely close. Toward that end this may best be accomplished with a thin double-sided file or an abrasive cut-off wheel on the Dremel tool die grinder. Without the advantage of brazed carbide end tips you'll find that Knipex Tools offers a number of suitable grippers also called "End Cutting Pliers". Going with inexpensive carbide flush toothed tile nips, believe I might also look for that offset "Parrot Head" style that appears it could work especially well...

347768347769

[Morey St. Denis]

Mine where generic "made in China", but good quality Dropped Forged with generous brazed Tungsten Carbide tips; found in the floor tiling isle of a big box store. As far as a brand name you might search for, this Brutus tool could potentially be adapted, otherwise typical makes include: Vitrex, QEP, Black Hawk & TBC Tools...

347772

At a somewhat higher price point, heavy duty, but without carbide teeth, I've also had good success in my ancient timber salvaging, reclaiming & repurposing endeavors using the Milwaukee Tool Torque Lock Vise Grips with MAXBITE feature... Ground hardened teeth to the pliers jaws provide a very good bite on rusted or broken nail shanks. These serve extra duty in the field where they also quickly extract wire staples, broken screws when there is a partial shank exposed and headed bolts.
347777

[Mike Dowell]

I bought these from Lee Valley, they work great!

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=70622&cat=1,43456,43400&ap=1

Those are sexy - as is most Lee Valley stuff.

[Mike Dowell]

Thank you al for the input - I truly appreciate it. Nice to know what you all are using for this purpose. I really can't turn down the lee valley ones for that price!

[george wilson]

Years ago when I was the musical instrument maker,connected to the cabinet shop,This Latvian guy came over to borrow some nippers. I was stringing a harpsichord at the time,and loaned him an expensive ($50.00 in the 70's) pair of piano wire nippers that were handy,laying on the bench. He brought them back with half the jaws broken off. I asked him "what were you doing with them?" "Pulling nails" he replied. I was always getting aggravated with him over one thing or another. I guess I should have asked him why he wanted the nippers. They were quite large,like a regular pair of Channel Lock nippers. I don't see how he managed to break them. I told him to just keep them as I didn't want to see the in that condition! That guy could tear up an anvil!!!

[Jim Koepke]

Years ago when I was the musical instrument maker,connected to the cabinet shop,This Latvian guy came over to borrow some nippers. I was stringing a harpsichord at the time,and loaned him an expensive ($50.00 in the 70's) pair of piano wire nippers that were handy,laying on the bench. He brought them back with half the jaws broken off. I asked him "what were you doing with them?" "Pulling nails" he replied. I was always getting aggravated with him over one thing or another. I guess I should have asked him why he wanted the nippers. They were quite large,like a regular pair of Channel Lock nippers. I don't see how he managed to break them. I told him to just keep them as I didn't want to see the in that condition! That guy could tear up an anvil!!!

This and experiences like it are why I am very careful about loaning tools. I have had them come back damaged by people who thought they were being clever at doing something like using a screwdriver as a crow bar.

jtk

[george wilson]

The LAST thing I would use for pulling nails would be any tool with CARBIDE JAWS! They are VERY brittle. Much more delicate than the steel piano wire nippers I mentioned above. If you use a carbide cutter in a lathe,and have to stop the lathe with the cutter engaged in a cut,they will break every time. They will also break in "Interrupted cuts",like turning down a steel shaft which has a slot for a key in it.

[phil harold]

As I am a Trim Carpenter I keep these in my pouch
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Channellock-7-1-2-in-Cross-Cutting-Pliers-with-End-Cutter-357/100049589
I have an 6" & 8" pair

[Patrick Chase]

The LAST thing I would use for pulling nails would be any tool with CARBIDE JAWS! They are VERY brittle. Much more delicate than the steel piano wire nippers I mentioned above. If you use a carbide cutter in a lathe,and have to stop the lathe with the cutter engaged in a cut,they will break every time. They will also break in "Interrupted cuts",like turning down a steel shaft which has a slot for a key in it.

This is dead on. Carbide is good for steady cutting under [very] controlled conditions, not yanking/levering/etc. As George says it isn't tough at all, and will shatter under any sort of impact (or otherwise impulsive) load.

[Robert McNaull]

Bull nose pliers, which I think is the generic term for what several people have shown they are using.

Bob

[Jim McCue]

I recently bought the harbor freight 'fence pliers' for a similar purpose and was quite happy with it. I could pull out nails where just a tip was above the surface. I used a backer to pry on when I cared about the surface.

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-inch-fence-pliers-stapler-puller-with-tpr-grip-99817.html

[Bruce Haugen]

Vise grips.