56
votes
How to remove nails with heads cut off?
Once we bought an old pallet factory, so I really got to "see how the sausage is made".
Pallets are made in extremely, extremely high production because the typical corporate customer orders ...
43
votes
Accepted
How to remove nails with heads cut off?
I use a device called a nail jack. It will work with or without a nail head. It has a beak that you center on the nail then a slide that you smack down on and it bites the nail. After it has a grip 1 ...
- 98.1k
37
votes
Is this a tool? Or a nail?
From the Harbor Freight Hook Assortment (item #67587), it's a straight line "hanging hook."
Photo below from the above mentioned web site:
- 9,391
32
votes
Accepted
Why did they hammer nails in half way and bent them over to secure supports?
The nail heads aren't big enough for the holes. At that time carpenters didn't enjoy the vast array of fasteners and installation tools that we do today, so they may have used what was available at ...
- 106k
29
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to remove old rusty nails from a wooden beam?
Nails can be removed, even lots of them.
Why?
Wood fiber
Driving a nail into lumber is different from drilling holes of the same diameter: a nail will "squeeze" in, pushing the wood fibers ...
- 10.3k
21
votes
Accepted
How can I remove 16GA finish nails from hardwood boards (to reuse the boards)?
Pull them out from the back by prying with a locking pliers, channel-lock pliers, etc. Roll the rounded jaw along the length of the board for maximum leverage.
Nails that break off can often be left ...
- 106k
19
votes
Why do many construction projects leave so many nails behind?
Yes it is typical, but a conscientious contractor will pick them up with a magnet or not let them drop to begin with. Sadly, from my experience, not many workers do. Cost of the nails versus the time ...
- 31.3k
17
votes
Is it safe to remove old rusty nails from a wooden beam?
It's the first thing I do when I buy a new place--remove the zillions of nails, screws, hooks, picture wire, and other random crap that the previous owner stuck everywhere throughout the garage and ...
- 106k
16
votes
Accepted
Why do many construction projects leave so many nails behind?
There are a bunch of different ways that nails wind up on the ground, and none of them are really avoidable. They fall out of nail pouches, they'll kick out and go flying if you hit them wrong with a ...
- 6,825
16
votes
How to remove nails with heads cut off?
I'd take a different approach. I'd simply drive them in with a nail set so they effectively disappear. In cases where you need to make cuts, shift things to avoid the nail locations.
- 106k
15
votes
Why are there nails only half way in, in my garage?
People were using them to secure things or hang things on. They serve no purpose. I would just pull them out since hammering them in probably will not be that easy. You might want to get a small ...
- 46.2k
13
votes
How to choose a weekend warrior's finishing nail gun?
I don't know Brad
There are no "brad nailers" in my lexicon as a former pro and perpetual home improver*. There are only finish/trim nailers that accept either 18ga. or 16ga. nails. Which ...
- 106k
13
votes
How to choose a weekend warrior's finishing nail gun?
I know Brad
Also you need to get to know brad really well since that is the exact type of nail to use for shoe molding.
What is the difference between a Finishing nail and a Brad nail
Well the nails ...
- 46.2k
12
votes
Accepted
Nail gun and curled nails
Even on a good day, brad nails can curl on you. Through your fingers, if you aren't careful.
However, if you look closely at the pointy end of a strip of nails, you'll see that they're cut at an ...
- 15.9k
11
votes
Why do many construction projects leave so many nails behind?
It's fairly typical. Nails get dropped, nails are struck poorly and go flying.
Nails are not hugely expensive (modern era - supposedly in the era that they were hand-made one at a time, folks would ...
- 137k
11
votes
How can I remove 16GA finish nails from hardwood boards (to reuse the boards)?
With finish nails sometimes it is possible to use a nail punch and drive the nails though the wood from the nailing side.
Have the wood supported so only the nails are in the air and drive them though ...
- 6,752
9
votes
Want to cover up nail points in attic ceiling
Leave a hardhat or bump helmet (lighter version of a hardhat) by the attic hatch. Put it on when you enter; take it off when you leave.
- 15.9k
9
votes
How to remove nails with heads cut off?
I know this may not apply to every situation, but as an electrician I use a pair of side cutters and leverage it out of a hole. Lineman's pliers work too if there is enough space and you can get ...
9
votes
How to remove nails with heads cut off?
You might be able to use a pneumatic denailer.
It punches the nails through the wood to drive them out, and seems to work from either end of the nail, so would not require the nail to have a head.
...
- 241
9
votes
How to get a flat-head nail out of a piece of wood?
This style of nail puller does a good job of pulling out nails that are flush or deeper.
It won't leave the original surface completely untouched, as it needs a tiny bit of clearance to get a grip on ...
- 634
9
votes
Why are there nails only half way in, in my garage?
They look like nails used as simple hangers. The ones in the corners are clearly driven into studs.
These can be removed without issue.
- 20k
9
votes
Is this a tool? Or a nail?
It's a scriber used for marking wood, metal, etc. for cutting or drilling.
- 55.2k
9
votes
Accepted
Floor supported by nails, is it structurally sound?
imho I would be adding joist hangers to those joists. The nails may had luckily done the job so far - perhaps due to not many people being in the room at once or it's lightly used.
Something like this,...
- 21.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Hurricane ties installed using joist hanger nails top AND bottom. Should I yank them out?
Nah - most of the strength is in shear, and joist hanger nails are nice and fat so they have good shear strength.
also, yanking them is likely to be harder than you think.
The actual nailing ...
- 137k
8
votes
Why did they hammer nails in half way and bent them over to secure supports?
Because it is easy to remove the nails if required to move the post.
The nails mostly hold the post in position until the overall weight of the building bears down a lot of pressure on the post. At ...
- 61.5k
7
votes
Nail through ceiling
Looks to me like a drywall screw or nail has "bubbled out". It happens sometimes due to wall movement, especially with weather swings (like a real wet winter or a long drought). It also happens when ...
- 33.5k
7
votes
Accepted
How do I properly nail two 2x4's at a 90 degree angle?
Nails are generally put in at 90 degrees to the wood (i.e. straight in), unless you are "toe-nailing". (see picture)
It all really depends on the application. As opposed to just nailing straight in, ...
- 2,693
7
votes
Brand New Nail Gun Makes a Dent but No Nails Come Out
Check the pressure
Check the recommended pressure range listed on the gun, and make sure the compressor is putting out a pressure within that range. I've seen similar symptoms when the pressure was ...
- 128k
7
votes
Accepted
What nails to use for PT wood?
In general, the codes require fasteners to be of hot-dipped, zinc-coated galvanized steel in accordance with ASTM A153, type 304 or 316 stainless steel, silicon bronze or copper. [source]
FWIW, ...
- 689
7
votes
How to choose a weekend warrior's finishing nail gun?
"I am not planning to use it with any regularity"
So, small hammer, nailset, perhaps a pair of nail-holding pliers. Perhaps a toolbelt to hold those and a supply of finish nails.
If you don'...
- 137k
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