Nail puller

[Andy78]

I have a job coming up where the customer has exposed floorboards that need to be lifted. All very nicely sanded and stained, and possibly original to the Victorian house.
I'm thinking of getting a Bahco 36 nail puller to help minimise any damage. Bahco Nail Puller 8" BAH36 | eBay

Anyone had any experience of this or any other nail extractor ? Or any other general tips for a ham fisted rough arse ?

 

[Pete999]

Alright for ordinary flooring but the one used tended to make a bit of a mess of the floor surface, probably not much good for sanded floors where the appearance is important

 

[Pete999]

Could also be a prob if the original nails are cut nails

 

[2na]

Use a metal punch the same size at the nail head to knock them all the way into the joist. It will lift out damage free and then you can put them back and just bang the nails in at a slightly off angle. Done it loads of times, never had a complaint.

 

[Pete999]

Have you ever tried punching cut nails through?

 

[Andy78]

Cheers Pete. There are some cut nails that (hopefully) don't have to come up. Just some flat heads that are securing a previously cut section.

 

[Pete999]

Good luck Andy

 

[moospark]

There was a thread not so long ago about this problem, someone had a top tip.

 

[Geordie Spark]

I have a job coming up where the customer has exposed floorboards that need to be lifted. All very nicely sanded and stained, and possibly original to the Victorian house.
I'm thinking of getting a Bahco 36 nail puller to help minimise any damage. Bahco Nail Puller 8" BAH36 | eBay

Anyone had any experience of this or any other nail extractor ? Or any other general tips for a ham fisted rough arse ?

I used to use one when I was an apprentice - a loooonnng time ago - for opening packing cases.


It was a Bahco, but didn't look like that one and damaged the wood a bit, but as it was a packing case it didn't matter too much.

Having cast my engineer's eye over the one in the picture, I think it could do a tidy job if you protect the floorboard with a thin bit of ply or something where the fulcrum of the puller is going to be resting on the floor board.

Can you hire one to have a play with before you commit to buying one ?

 

[Kiers1970]

No matter how careful we are with floors, the chance of a reet mess is high, tell em to get a joiner or make sure they are aware of the possiblity of a board or two being marked. I speak from bitter experience!...

 

[telectrix]

here is a very efficient nail puller. also handy with pulling teeth, using a rubber hose and electrodes.

 

[Geordie Spark]

No matter how careful we are with floors, the chance of a reet mess is high, tell em to get a joiner or make sure they are aware of the possiblity of a board or two being marked. I speak from bitter experience!...

Good thinking !

It has the added bonus of giving the chippies no cause to complain about Sparks nicking their work !!

 

[Geordie Spark]

here is a very efficient nail puller. also handy with pulling teeth, using a rubber hose and electrodes.

View attachment 21529

That's Dan - Ve haff vays off making you post on MY forum effery week!! - innit??

 

[Andy78]

Cheers guys.
I will be protecting the board where the tool pivots, that a definite. I have found the promo vid for the tool now and it looks quite good, although it doesn't show what state it leaves the wood in.NEW Bahco Nail Puller - YouTube

I think I will buy it as it will come in handy and its only £30.

Plan A is to shimmy under the floor from the under stairs cupboard where a big hatch is anyway. If I cant squeeze my 14 stone past the gas and electric incomers, or the sleeper walls don't run in my favour, then its lifting the lovely floor up.

 

[1Justin]

Before this I didn't know they existed. Looks like a handy tool, I might even get one. (I've normally started old nails moving with a very sharp miniature jemmy, belting it in with a lump. - Doesn't always work).

I couldn't work out how your puller really worked before looking at the you tube video.

Bit of scrap wood under that "ankle" would be worth having, but there's still no way you'll keep that floor perfect. Banging them right through might still be cleaner. I hope your customer sees it that way.