What Is a Nail Puller?
A nail puller is a tool used for driving in nails. It is also called a “nail hammer,” “nail punch,” or “nail clamping punch.”
Another tool called a “pin punch” can also be used as a nail puller, but more precisely it is a tool for pulling out and inserting pins.
A similar tool is the “center punch,” but this is a marking tool to guide the drill blade. The tip is pointed to make an indentation in the material. Although they look similar, be careful not to mistake them for the nail puller, as they are difficult to use as a nail puller.
Uses of Nail Pullers
Nail pullers are used for nailing in places where a hammer cannot be used.
Hammering in corners (inside corners) and in hard-to-reach places will interfere with the hammer. With nail pullers, nails can be driven all the way through without interference.
Also, a hammer can only drive nails up to the top of the wood. With nail pullers, the nail head can be sunk into the wood. Putty can be applied to the sunken hole, or a cylindrical piece of wood can be inserted to clean up the surface.
Nailed flooring materials cannot be joined properly if the heads of nails are sticking out. This method is also useful for driving the nail heads completely into the wood that joins the flooring materials together.
It is also used when you do not want to damage the wood with a hammer. If the hammer is used up to a certain point and the nail pullers are used at the end, the nailing can be done without damaging the wood.
It can also be used when the nail is too long or the nail is driven in the wrong direction and the tip of the nail sticks out on the backside. When using a hammer to drive a nail back in, the nail may be bent. However, using nail pullers makes it easier to drive it straight back in.
Principle of Nail Pullers
The nail pullers have hollowed tips to catch round-headed nails easily.
Some nailers are flattened without indentation to specialize in flat-headed nails.
Since nails are used for hammering, many products are hardened to give them strength.
How to Use Nail Pullers
The nail pullers are used by placing the tip of the nail against the head of the nail and striking it from behind with a hammer.
The tip should be firmly placed in the center of the nail, and care should be taken not to shift the nail when striking it with the hammer. The key is to ensure a straight line when striking the nail with nail pullers and a hammer, being mindful that the nail, nail pullers, and hammer align in a straight line.
Especially when using nail pullers to avoid damaging the wood with the hammer, be careful that the nail pullers do not come off the nail as it may damage the wood more than the hammer.
If the nail pullers are held tightly, there is a risk of injuring the hand due to the direct impact of hammering. Hold the nail pullers by the fingertips to release the impact.
How to Choose Nail Pullers
There are the points to consider when choosing a nail puller:
- Tip size
- Resin finish of the grip
- Magnet type
1. Tip Size
Nail pullers are available in various tip sizes. Select a tip that is smaller than the nail head. If the tip is larger than the nail head, the nail cannot be driven in deeply. If you do not need to drive the nail deeply, you can use a nailer with a larger tip.
2. Two Types of Nail Pullers
In addition to basic nail pullers, there are multi-functional nail pullers.
The “hammer nail pullers” have a hammer shape that can be used as a hammer. The head side is short nail pullers and the handle side is long nail pullers. The short nail pullers are easy to aim and speed up the work. The long nail pullers are used in places where it is difficult to work, such as deep in the ground.
There are also nail pullers known as “tack nail pullers,” which are short nail pullers functioning as both a nail puller and a hammer in a single tool.
3. Resin Grip Processing
Most nail pullers are made of simple metal, but some have a resin-treated grip. The feature is that they are not slippery and do not feel cold even in winter.
4. Magnetic Type
Some nail pullers are magnetic.
Normal nail pullers can only be used after the nail has been hammered to some extent. Magnetic-type nail pullers can be used from the beginning because a nail can be attached to the nail pullers.
This is useful when you want to drive a nail into a place where a hammer cannot go in at all.