The Nail Jack Family of Nail Pulling Tools

The Nail Jack Family of Nail Pulling Tools: The National Hardware Show and Nail Jack Tools

2010-03-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

The Nail Jack Family of Nail Pulling Tools: The National Hardware Show and Nail Jack Tools

The National Hardware Show and Nail Jack Tools

2010-03-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

Well, it is that time, isn't it? Time to start planning for the most exciting event of the year for the "tool folks". As far as I know so far, it is the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas on May 4-6. Finally, we can show people the new models that are coming out, and explain the new improved additions as well!

It is tough out there, as most everyone knows. It is not only a time of belt tightening, but it also a time for innovation! New and better things get attention, and that is what I am hoping to create with the introduction of the new Staple Jack by Nail Jack Tools. This tool is slightly yet materially different from the beloved Nail Hunter because it is designed to basically pull staples. The Nail Hunter pulls medium nails and brads and is a bit of a "harder worker" than the humble Staple Jack, but I think more people will understand this new design "at a glance".

What we try to do here is apply pragmatism to our designs in order to increase the simplicity as we also increase the effectiveness! What all of that fancy verbiage means is that it is my philosophy to throw away the notion of "evolutionary" design; that is, I don't slightly change what is already out there, I try to design with a relatively "blank slate". If you look at the various designs of our tools, you will see very quickly that it is "no tech", which is way below low tech of course. We start out by insisting that our tool use no batteries or electricity or air compression to drive them, and we are getting closer to our goal of having "human power" be the more than sufficient means necessary to operate our tools. We are also evolving into demolition versions of our nail pullers, and we are only held back so far with introducing more models by our budget, which is always quite meager.

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With all that being said, we continue to make significant progress in our attempt to get more protection through our patent portfolio, and have just been informed that our third set of claims is publishing! This is why we can really start to show the world our "pretty nifty" solutions for fastener removal and demolition. Tell me if our designs make sense! Who hasn't wondered why there's not a better faster staple puller?

Telling the World...

2009-12-28T15:21:00.000-08:00

There is a Great New Staple Puller...one person at a time!

Wow! Thank God for the internet, or how would a new invention ever get noticed?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQfcMXpEcEA

Nail Hunter not just for Nails!

2009-12-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

This is one of the top ten gifts for Christmas! Here's why...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQfcMXpEcEA

The Nail Hunter the World's Best Staple Puller...

2009-11-28T05:23:00.000-08:00

It appears that folks are really starting to become aware of the unusual capabilities of the Nail Hunter by Nail Jack Tools! While the Nail Jack has been honored nationally with some prestigious awards, the Nail Hunter had been lost in the shadow of its "big brother", that is, it appears, until now. The Nail Hunter is often mistaken for being a smaller version of the Nail Jack, but there are BIG differences. Watch this quick video and tell me if you think they are the same! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q37ja29KFP0

Buyers on Amazon.com are certainly having some fun with it! If you want to pull staples, it is becoming clear that with a quick few minutes of getting comfortable with a truly new hand tool design, the Nail Hunter is the best choice for removing staples! It should be noted that the Nail Hunter also easily removes nails too! Watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG0XU7uJQSI

5.0 out of 5 stars Best tool I've found for staple removal, November 25, 2009
By
M. ANNE (california) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) After spending hours trying to remove staples from chair bottoms to reupholster I finally gave up & found this tool online at Amazon. It arrived an hour ago and I have already removed many more staples than I had in the last 8 hours-- in about 15 minutes. It isn't perfect; there is a bit of a knack i finding the right angle but it does a very good job indeed. The staples on these chairs are set flush, and no tool got under them at all, even the ones in the cloth except with lots of struggle and very slow progress. I had finally resorted to using a screwdriver, inserting carefully, twisting and getting an edge up. Then I had to get pliers to finish removing the staple. The Nail Hunter gets the staple up and removed in one motion. I have to say I cant get every staple out, but the ones left in the chair do no harm and I can work around them. A great, small tool which will live in my toolbox forever. Thanks Nail Hunter. I am sure that if I were working with NAILS they would all come out.

What fun! Thanks guys!

Nail Jack Named 2009 HANDY Innovation Award Winner - Free-Press-Release.com

2009-11-10T15:47:00.000-08:00

Nail Jack Named 2009 HANDY Innovation Award Winner - Free-Press-Release.com

Amazon.com For the Little Guy!

2009-10-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com is really helping small vendors, because they allow a unique product to be treated the same as a giant well known product that is already sold around the world. The Nail Jack and Nail Hunter nail pullers can easily be found there, and are delivered by Amazon Fulfilment. What more can a little guy expect? To the right of my page, you can see the small hot buttons that they allow the small vendor to put on their website, thereby allowing the consumer to easily fid you! I you have a good product, Amazon.com is a real help.

The Nail Jack Family of Nail Pulling Tools: Pull Nails, Save Trees, ReUse! It's Easier Now.

2009-10-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

The Nail Jack Family of Nail Pulling Tools: Pull Nails, Save Trees, ReUse! It's Easier Now.

Pull Nails, Save Trees, ReUse! It's Easier Now.

2009-10-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

Yes it is !!!

Sometimes you don't want to mar, dent or damage the wood you're working. That's why the "spoon like" design of the fulcrums built into the Nail Hunter and Nail Jack make them your preferred nail pulling tool. Gone are the days when you cannot GRIP the fasteners or open the spring loaded jaws to reset your grip further down on the shaft of the nail! Open the pliers like design and get the fulcrum as close to the nail as possible.

4) Brute Force - the Hammer
Whether you're setting your pry bar, Nail Jack or hitting a center punch the trusty hammer is a vital nail removal tool. We don't recommend using the hammer's claw for nail removal though - it's clumsy and makes you work too hard because of the location of its fulcrum. You can't get the "fixed V" design to close on those nails can you? Plus, I hope that the nail is sticking out, but you know that it rarely is. How can you DIG? Use the Nail Jack! Further, if you really plan to reuse the wood you are likely to damage it by using the hammer claw for nail pulling.

5) Metal Detection - the Lumber Wizard
Metal detectors are vital for detecting nails, screws and other bits of metal that may have found their way into your wood. ESPECIALLY if you plan to cut, plane or joint your salvaged wood any more. Once you've made your first pass through the pile and removed the obvious metal make a pass over it with your metal detector. When you find metal, mark it with chalk and then deal with it appropriately. The Lumber Wizard is a great tool, loved for years, and now you can pull any nail, staple or headless brad you can find with the newfound ability to dig, grab and pull with the Nail Jack Tools family of fastener removal tools!
Lumber Wizard
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001593.php

6) Push Nails Out - the Center Punch is obsolete!
It's often easiest on you and the lumber if you push the nail out in the same direction it was originally driven. This is especially easy for finish nails and brads. Folks used to use a center punch, but now they can grab those brads and quickly pull them through the back! The grabbing without cutting is the secret, and it is about time a hand tool was designed from the ground up for this exact capability!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS2ZyrpVEgY
7) Keep it Clean - Nail Pick Up
If your deconstruction project included carpet removal then spread some of it beneath your work space. Carpet keeps nails from bouncing and rolling around your work space. Astro-turf material would work well too. At the end of the project you'll have your nails fairly well contained. If you have trouble seeing the nails or just don't want to bend down to pick them up consider purchasing a magnet - they even make roller magnets that you can push across your workspace like a lawn mower.
Rolling Magnetic Sweeper Nail Metal Pick Up Magnet Tool
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CKWOJC

8) Protect Your Hands - Gloves
Nothing slows a project down like an injury. Protect your hands from your nail removal tools and potential splinters with a nice pair of work gloves. They will help at all stages of handling your wood, from deconstruction right on down to stacking your salvaged wood for storage.
www.ironclad.com
9) Crud Removal - Scrapers, Wire Brushes and Brooms
Sometimes wood acquires a layer or two of dirt, wall paper, lacquer or even guano. Before you get your other tools near it you will need to clean this wood off well using metal scrapers, wire brushes and sometimes just plain old brooms. Remember that if your wood is especially dusty and dirty you should probably be using a face mask or other type of respirator.

10) Screw Removal - Drill
Some folks prefer a screwdriver. There's no reason to make screw removal hard on yourself. Charge up your drill and back any screws out. Be sure to save them for your next construction project.

11) Getting Salvaged Wood Square - Jointers and Planers
If you're salvaging especially old wood you may want to resize in a way that makes it suitable for actual woodworking. Planers and jointers can be very expensive tools so if your wood salvage project is a one-time thing you may want to find a woodworking friend to help you. Your friend will be glad to know you used a metal detector on your salvaged wood - nails and other metal can damage the blades on these tools.

12) Extreme Nail Removal - Reciprocating Saws
In some cases you'll find it's easier to actually cut around the nails to save the wood. Sometimes it's easier to cut the nails off themselves. Either way your reciprocating saw is the right tool for the job. Remember to use a metal cutting blade for those nails though, otherwise you'll dull your blade quickly. If you'd rather not spend the money on a reciprocating saw then you might find a hack saw more in your budget.

13) Staples! Misery until the birth of the Nail Hunter

There is nothing quite so tedious as removing hundreds of staples. Make it easy on yourself with a tool that always gets the whole staple in one pull.

www.thisoldhouse.com

Lumber Salvage Pro Tips:
>> Any paint on salvaged wood from before 1978 contains lead.
>> Always use your head. It's your most dangerous power tool.
>> If you're forcing it you have the wrong tool - and you're endangering yourself and your tools.
>> Always ask before salvaging wood from a dumpster.
>> Wood from pallets used for chemical storage contain those chemicals - know the wood's history.
>> Reclaimed lumber may not be suitable for construction - have it regraded and use with caution.

We're glad you're interested in salvaging lumber. Recycled wood adds character and history to your woodworking projects like nothing else. If you have any suggestions for other lumber salvage tools we'd love to hear from you!

More Lumber Salvage Resources:
The Nail Jack Nail Pulling Tool
http://www.NailJack.com
What to Expect With Reclaimed Wood
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1606344,00.html
How to Salvage Old Barn Wood
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Salvage-Old-Barn-Wood/
Nail Removal Tricks (video)
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/video/nail-removal-tricks.aspx
Tips for removing nails with ease
http://www.helium.com/items/434007-tips-for-removing-nails-with-ease
Hardwood Softwood Lumber Grades & Ways They Are Sold & Priced
http://www.morlanwoodgifts.com/MM011.ASP?pageno=110
Using Recycled Wood (an inspirational story)
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/RedHeadedMerganser/blog/87

Testing, Testing...Ah, it gets lonely out there!

2009-07-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Spent more hours over the last few days field testing the new drop forged Nail Jack Pro. Everything will be in the "tips" folks. The new version is the most industrial yet, and won't hit stores for 90 days, so here we go again with the "hurry up and wait"! I will just show you some pretty pictures while we all sit here...and a video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfwePM0wrQ0

Ah, it starts young when we have to feed the family, no?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j82IQr9O44&feature=related

Wow, that guy's old! And out of shape! Hope he sells some of these soon!

New Industrial Version: Nail Jack Pro

2009-07-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone who reads my blog knows that I am obsessive about two things: Reuse of wood and pulling nails! The two go "hand in hand" naturally because in this wonderful new paradigm people are getting very aggressive about doing just that! It is one of the few no-brainers of this part of the 21st Century that it is mindnumbing to bulldoze wood into the landfill when we know that through responsible deconstruction most of this wood could easily find new purpose in a completely new project. Fortunately, we are seeing more and more programs across the country to repurpose and reuse perfectly good wood.

I know that it has been difficult for decades to get the fasteners out of wood, and that it has been shown in numerous studies that "clearing" the wood of nails, staples, brads and other fasteners costs up to forty percent of the time (and therefore the budget) of these processes. Many new battery powered and air powered tools have been introduced that help, and now I can announce that Nail Jack Tools has entered the fray with its new drop forged "Nail Jack Pro". This tool is for the professionals and the great news is, no batteries and no air compressors needed. We will be available in stores and on the web with this model by the Fall of this year. Check the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j82IQr9O44

This is a tool that withstands one of the ultimate tests in the field, and that it for dismantling pallets!

Stay tuned, we are really excited. Now, I have been asked by many of my friends (and family members) "what's the big deal?" I am happy to explain. Nail pulling has had quite a big gap in it for many years. The glaring omission to this issue of how to pull a nail is "How do we pull one that is "at" or "below" the surface of the wood? The answer is using a pliers-like design with the ability to DIG by tapping the pliers near the head to drive the tips of the tool into the wood. "But Mike, a cat's paw does that!" Aah, but can you a. GRIP or GRAB the nail, especially if it's headless? (No) b. Can you bring the tips close together to damage less wood at the entry point? (No, the widest point of a cat's paw because of its "static" design is at the tips, so that it has to damage the wood the most to get down to where the "V" will grip (?) the nail.

This is why I began an almost eight year odyssey to patent and design the Nail Jack family of nail pullers! We will not stop our quest to get better and better, but folks, I think the Nail Jack Pro rocks! I can't wait to send this industrial version "into the field" for further critique! Just think of the speed and efficiency of demolition with a 20-inch version of this tool!

Nail Jack! Coming to a catalog near you!

2009-07-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

After the 2009 National Hardware Show, we were blessed enough to have a few very highly respected people make some orders for their catalogs. Nail Jack Tools is constantly seeking to raise our quality, and to introduce improved versions of our tools.

We base the improvement of our tool designs on the basic premise that we are the only pliers-like hand actuated (no batteries or compressors) tools that can DIG, grip and pull fasteners. We have some great new designs coming out, and I think that there will certainly be a design that most folks all the way from the consumer to the professional will like for the tools very unique capabilities! The unusual uses for the Nail Hunter continue to astound us here! Recent uses communicated to us for the Nail Hunter nail/staple puller are:

1. Using the Nail Hunter for grabbing, twisting and quickly snapping those annoying "ties" or "zip-ties" behind the packaging for toys!

2. Pulling out automotive fuses quickly and precisely!

3. We had a satisfied customer tell us she can pick up dead wasps with ease and get them into the trash safely and quickly! (What can we say? It's true)

4. Pulling tiny staples.

5. Easily pulling cotter pins.

6. Holding a nail for driving it in without hurting your thumb!

There are so many uses for the Nail Hunter we haven't come close to discovering them all! Please don't hesitate to share your ideas!

Our crew hard at work!

2009-06-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

Sure is a "bright" idea!

For the Folks Who wanted to see my Log Cabin

2009-06-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Ever since I began chronicling the birth of the Nail Jack and of course the Nail Hunter nail pullers, long before our tools began to sell at the wonderful Amazon.com and (finally) find their way into people's homes, I talked quite a bit about the little log cabin we call home in Idaho. Today, I thought I would share a few pictures of this truly "one of a kind" place we call home.
First, a few outside pics...

Now for some inside photos of a log cabin built by hand by one guy who employed the help of a few friends from time to time to "lift the other end" but who primarily gutted this project out himself for about three years (as I've disclosed before, his name was Tom Cooper)

There is now NO reason to throw away wood!

2009-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

There are so many wonderful people out there fighting hard to get reuse to the top of thousands of municipalities' agenda. There are programs getting powerful support every single day across this country to find a place for wonderful perfectly good building parts that used to be bulldozed and plowed back into the earth in the interest of TIME and MONEY! There actually can be very positive things that come out of economic downturns and recessions.

Some cities, counties and even states are now requiring a well thought out plan for the responsible deconstruction of our nation's former wasteful view of any structure that is no longer "needed" for one reason or another. Many companies are shifting their main objective to a very aggressive environmentally responsible reuse. There is a 90+% potential for the recycling of a structure's refuse! Jobs can be created to the tune of 250,000 while actually taking this process from a waste causing landfill clogging process to a cash creating process! Check out http://www.ilsr.org/recycling/decon/index.html

Thank you to the great Editors at Popular Mechanics!

2009-05-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

We loved showing the world the Nail Jack and Nail Hunter nail pullers at the 2009 National Hardware Show! Boy were we shocked when we were awarded the Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award!

Here's our press release. (Did you hear that? A press release? Yeah!)

Nail Jack Tools wins Popular Mechanics Editors Choice Award

May 11, 2009 – Nail Jack Tools unveiled their first two nail pulling pliers – the Nail Jack® and Nail Hunter® at the 2009 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas this week and were informed that the Nail Jack has captured Popular Mechanics’ prestigious Editor’s Choice Award.

The publication does not accept submissions for their award, but instead chooses winners from thousands of products based on originality, ingenuity and design. The award recognized Nail Jack Tools for its innovative design in the Nail Jack nail puller – the first hand tool designed as a pliers like device to dig, grab and pull nails, staples and brads. Popular Mechanics called the Nail Jack nail puller a "fresh new hand tool" in a product category that "rarely sees true innovation."

“We are honored to be recognized by this esteemed group of editors for the 2009 Editor’s Choice Award from Popular Mechanics,” says Nail Jack CEO Mike Foley. “The show has been a great opportunity to showcase our tools, and winning an award like this really confirms the need for a new line of tools designed specifically from the ground up to pull nails and fasteners without damaging costly wood products.”

The patented and patent-pending designs of the Nail Jack and Nail Hunter fill a large gap in the retail market and construction industry. Designed like pliers, these unique tools do most of their work with “one hand”, or can be struck with a hammer to dig out a nail, grab a headless brad or nail with their jaws while utilizing a built in fulcrum. The family of tools is specifically designed to pull nails, staples and fasteners with efficiency – saving time and money.

The Idaho-based company founded in 2006 unveiled the Nail Jack tool line at this year’s National Hardware Show. For more information, please visit the company’s website at HYPERLINK "http://www.nailjack.com" www.nailjack.com or call the company at 1-877-PULL-NAIL (or at +1-208-928-6426).

A review by the great guys at Tool Snob

2009-04-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

We consider nail pulling to be one of the deepest hells of construction, and that's why we're pretty interested when a new tool comes along that might make the process a little easier. Enter the Nail Jack and the Nail Hunter, both from Nail Jack Tools. Can these funky looking pliers give a little relief in the nail removal department? We tested them pretty extensively in order to find out.

The two tools are identical except for size, so while we used them both out quite a bit, for the purpose of the review, we're just going to clump them together under the term "Nail Jack." In reality, the Nail Jack is the larger of the two, measuring 11" while the Nail Hunter is 8-1/2".

As far as looks go, it's a hybrid between a set of end cutting pliers, and a cat's paw. But there are a number of smart design choices that make this tool particularly useful. First off, the handle is offset from the business end of the tool. This, combined with the rounded heel of the pliers, makes for a very easy prying motion once a nail is clamped in the jaws. The inside of the jaws are also concave so you can easily catch the head of a nail. In addition, the tips of the pliers come to a sharp point and the rear of the head is made to take a hammer hit so you can dig the pointed end around a flush nailhead.

Nail pulling usually requires a different tool for whatever circumstance you're facing. If you're pulling finish nails out of the back of a piece of casing, you'll grab the end-cutting pliers; if you're taking apart some framing, you might opt for the old-fashioned cat's paw; but if you're removing clapboards, you might reach for the old-old fashioned nail pullers with the sliding shaft (they work great by the way, if you were wondering). From what we can tell, the Nail Jack is the only nail pulling tool that is successful in all of these situations and more actually.

We did a massive de-nailing of the garage and the Nail Jack worked great across the board. The tip of the tool is precise enough not to mar a finished surface too badly and it was also rugged enough to handle gun-fired framing nails. And we haven't even mentioned staples yet. This tool is a very, very good at removing staples. We took up a rug and had to deal with the stapled down pad and this tool paid its way with just that one project.

But there are some drawbacks to consider. First, the handle is a little awkward. Particularly after repetitive use, we found that we would end up hunched over the thing working some heavy carpal-tunnel action. It's sort of funny that the handle offset, which is one of the great things about the tool, is also one of the things that didn't work for us. Along the same lines, the handles are spring loaded, which is great when we were working the field of carpet staples, but it prohibited us from putting the Nail Jack in our tool belt.

Overall, though, we have to say that the Nail Jack is probably the most successful multi-purpose nail puller that we've used. So there's not only the feel-good storyof Nail Jack buying the Irwin factory, but the tools actually work too.

We think that most people could get by with the smaller of the two models, the Nail Hunter, but if you think you're going to be using it on framing a lot, you might want to consider the 11" Nail Jack.

The Nail Hunter goes for about $25 and the larger Nail Jack costs around $30. It's pricey for sure, but we think it's well worth it.

8.5" Nail Hunter at Amazon
11" Nail Jack at Amazon

Read More in: All Reviews | Demolition Tools | Hand Tools

A recent posting by the very special Reuse group, Buffalo Reuse

2009-04-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

You Go Back…Jack…Do it Again

by Ian MacDonald :: March 8, 2009 at 11:07 pm :: Deconstruction, How-To, Salvage, Store, Tool BARn

Recently the ReUse was contacted by Nail Jack Tools LLC to alert woodworkers, especially reclaimed wood workers, about their new nail pulling tools, the “Nail Hunter” and “Nail Jack”. Nail Jack Tools very kindly sent us a set of these tools to evaluate and since the weather was pleasant yesterday I decided to take the Nail Jack out into the yard to de-nail a pile of lumber from a recent deconstruction job.

Image Courtesy of Nail Jack Tools LLC

The Nail Jack and the Nail Hunter are functionally identical tools, except that the Nail Jack is Larger. Since building deconstruction literally produces tons of lumber studded with nails ranging from 10 inch long spikes to carpet tacks, I decided to use the larger Nail Jack, figuring that it could pull the largest nails but could probably extract any smaller nails as well.

The pile of lumber I de-nailed is a daunting opponent for any nail pulling tool as it consists of a

stack of, mostly 8×8 oak timbers recovered from a 100-year old barn. Typical to old barns, overly large nails were used in its construction, many 8 gauge or larger. Additionally many of the beams bristled with an assortment of smaller nails, cut nails, tacks, and staples used for cross beams, wiring, siding etc… Many of the smaller nails were heavily rusted, bent and embedded into the wood.

Before detailing my reasons I’ll get right to the ending – I think the Nail Jack is a really great and useful tool. It is innovative, seems well built, hardy, and very reasonably priced for contractors and do-it-yourselfers, at about $25 a tool (nippers, $15-$40 depending on quality).

An initial reaction by my colleagues was a “So what, it’s a glorified pair of wire cutters or nippers”. But it isn’t, and only after you start using it does its thoughtful design and utility become apparent.

First, there are the two sets of jaws, beaked jaws in the front and the grooved jaws in the rear that can grab onto nails at any point along the shaft. The narrow internal width of the beaked jaws allows the user to clinch the nail with significant force. Thus the nails do not need an intact head to extract them, just a small exposed piece to affix the jaws onto. The rear jaws are wider and primarily grasp exposed nails, especially large ones, between a set of three teeth so that substantial pulling force can be generated. What sets the Nail Jack apart from a pair of nail nippers is the banana shaped head that allows the user to leverage nails from almost any angle; backward, rolling side to side, or pushing forward when the rear jaws are used. The rear jaws also double a strike plate to hit with a hammer to bring extra force to the nail. I must confess I didnot need this as its pulling ability was more than sufficient for the nails I encountered.

The tool’s features clearly sped the work because I could quickly re-adjust the tool back to the starting position to keep maximum force on the nail without having to use wood blocks to increase leverage or switch to tools for different nails or difficult situations. I should also mention that I alternatively used the nail jack with one or two hands and pulled or pushed depending on the situation.

An additional advantage I noticed while de-nailing timbers (as opposed to narrower boards) is that the range of motion of pulling is so wide that I could pull nails relatively easily on the top and sides of the timbers. This necessitated less moving or rolling of the lumber over, making the job easier and faster.

Since you can grip the nail at any place along its length and quickly re-adjust the tool back to where it has maximum leverage, each extraction consists of a sequence of small pulls rather than one long pull. Thus the tool spends more time flat against the wood, spreading the pulling force more widely and causing less damage to the wood. I generally noticed that even gnarly and crooked nails left with holes not much larger than the width of the nail.

In the approximately two hours I spent pulling a few pounds of nails with the Nail Jack I only resorted twice to using a pry bar and the nippers. I required the leverage of the nippers to pull a particularly long (~8 inches, upper right corner of photo) and crooked nail. To be fair this nail barely fit in the jaws.

The one downside I encountered with the Nail Jack is that there is a spring that pops the tool open as the default state. This spring, located in the rear jaws seems somewhat vulnerable to damage. In fact the spring in our tool developed a kink (last photo) after I used the rear jaws to push out an 8 gauge nail. I believethe force of the nail head pressed against the spring damaged it (it got the nail out though).Despite the kink the spring is still functioning but I believe it will succumb to metal fatigue relatively soon. We have contacted Nail JackTools and it appears that the spring can be easily replaced or used without it. I personally liked the spring loaded action as it readied the tool quickly for the next pull.

So in conclusion I highly recommend the Nail Jack. I believe that home renovators or re-used material carpenters will find this tool very useful. I also believe that the spring may not be a big issue for lighter duty jobs. The Buffalo ReUse is particularly hard on tools and, all in all, I thought this tool did an excellent job and fared well under tough conditions.

Nail pullers for nail pulling.

2009-03-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm a little crazed right now. I recently finished reading a fascinating story on James Dyson, the rich and successful inventor (or as most of us know him "that vacuum guy"). He warned inventors about a lot of the crushing realities of bringing something to market. There were some very hopeful tidbits extracted, and those are the things I recall on the good days. Then there are the days when I vividly recall the harsher truths, like "expect it to take 10 years". I make various models of what I consider to be the best new, most pragmatically effective nail pullers. The first one is called the Nail Jack, and it is the first of the only family of nail pullers on earth that dig the nail (by tapping on the "hammer tap" at the back of the tool's head) GRIP the nail, and pull the fastener using the built on fulcrum. You dig, grab, push down the curved handles, and up comes the nail! Spring loaded jaws open and you rest the jaws again down to the based of the now fully exposed body of the fastener and crank down again and voila! The only nail puller design that truly works efficiently with the least damage to the wood! Inventing is probably like trying to be a famous actor: you have to survive long enough while staying focused long enough to keep paying the rent and feeding yourself (and your family). I am sure that the best things don't always become the standard (Beta versus VHS), but it ends up being about marketing and business. I have found, when googling nail pullers, that there are these "mystery blogs" that post about nail pullers every day! It seems like it's done by a robot or something. If anyone knows how these work, tell me! I have not seen a great way to sell my tools online yet, but I am working toward it. Amazon gets no sales, ebay is one tool a month, and google adwords tends to take all of your profit, so I guess it's on to the catalogs next! Stay tuned!

I sure would welcome suggestions for how to get the most effective and cost efficient method of getting the word out! I wanted to let Hammacher Schlemmer know that I had the best new tool in decades but the Everyday Edison folks turned it into a contest, which is great, but would probably require me to license my tools to them when I am already manufacturing them. President Obama, we are going to get through these dramatic times. Just make sure you bet on the great American worker!

Responsible Deconstruction

2009-02-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

Now you can. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Does anyone have ANY idea how many board feet of perfectly good wood we throw away every day in this country? Perhaps the horrible economy we're in now will have at least a tiny silver lining--this country can stop putting up row after row of 4000 square foot houses and pay a little more attention to the material gathered at the front of the bulldozer's blade. Yes, I guess everything comes down to economics. Well, we're finally in a sad enough state of affairs that people are going to pay more attention to the incredible waste of wood that would put a pretty decent roof over most anyone's head, especially in a different country. Unlike the solar, wind and electric powered car projects that get bulldozed under every time crude oil mysterious goes back under $50 bucks a barrel, trees just aren't going to last forever. We can easily implement programs can turn a profit on redistributed wood and responsible deconstruction and President Obama, we need to start now.

2009...The Year of the Nail Jack?

2009-01-04T05:19:00.000-08:00

Pulling nails. It seems so tedious. The idea of pulling a nail carries with it many negative connotations. If you're pulling a nail, a staple or a brad, you are probably not looking forward to it. I know why. It is because there has never been a family of tools solely designed for this miserable (but rewarding!) process, and so it has been for decades a very painful process. Enter the Nail Jack, Nail Hunter, and finally the new Staple Jack! Folks, 2009 is when you'll hopefully be personally introduced to the new solutions for all those nails!

www.nailjacktools.com
www.nailjack.com

Nail Jack Tools to be Made in the USA!!

2008-11-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

Friends, when I tell you that it is hard to start a tool company in the United States, please believe it. I will tell you that there are some super companies that have been doing it successfully for decades, but starting up just isn't easy. That is, unless you get a chance to buy one of the most historically important manufacturing facilities in America! We've been told over and over again by our Wall Street counterparts that it is "NEVER a good idea to go into manufacturing", that you could just "be a customer" and make your overseas order, pay then extra for shipping and customs duties, and merely pick 'em up at the dock and mark 'em up and send 'em out! But America simply wasn't built that way gents!

Since the 1990's, when banks first started making more trading paper than investing in manufacturing, there has been a significant move offshore by every manner of US company. Taxes, labor and other real costs were easy to compare, and for quite awhile, America couldn't compete. Folks, times, they are a changin'! We think the shift is moving the other way, and we intend to take quite a bit of risk to be part of that change.

Yes it is !!!

2008-11-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

Nail Jack's Guide to the 12 Top Tools for DIY Lumber Salvage

The EPA estimates that a full third of landfill waste comes from demolition. If you learn to salvage lumber instead of letting it go to a landfill you can do your part towards reversing this trend... and you just might save some money too! This article picks up where our Guide to Green Deconstruction leaves off, and provides detailed information on how to reuse wood from your next demolition project - or from that construction site dumpster down the street ;)

As in any project, the only tools you need are the right tools for the job... Here is a list of the top tools that may be right for your particular lumber salvage project... and remember, the Nail Jack makes pulling nails, staples or brads easy and prevents damage to the wood.

1) a Safe, Stable Workspace - Sawhorses
Creating a stable work surface for removing the nails and screws in your lumber is vital to a successful lumber salvage project. Find - or make - yourself a good pair of sawhorses that you can bring right next to your salvaged pile of lumber, that way you don't have to move that pile of wood again!

2) A Nail Removal Tool - the Nail Jack or Nail Hunter
The claw of a hammer isn't going to cut it - you need a tool designed specifically for nail removal. The Nail Jack and Nail Hunter deliver effective, efficient nail pulling power through the spoon fulcrum and aggressively angled handle. The Nail Jack or Nail Hunter will be your new go-to tool for precise, no-strain nail pulling. The Nail Jack is also a suitable cat's paw replacement because of the unique shape of its head.
http://www.nailjack.com

3) Wood Protection - Scrap Wood and Putty Knives
Sometimes you don't want to mar, dent or damage the wood you're working. A thin scrap of wood is useful and can provide a bit of extra leverage if you place it between your salvage wood and your nail pulling tool. Putty knives are nice because they have a convenient handle and can fit into tighter spaces. A flat bar or the flat side of a pry bar works well too. For extra leverage on long nails use a larger piece of scrap wood and get the fulcrum as close to the nail as possible.

4) Brute Force - the Hammer
Whether you're setting your pry bar, Nail Jack or hitting a center punch the trusty hammer is a vital nail removal tool. We don't recommend using the hammer's claw for nail removal though - it's clumsy and makes you work too hard because of the location of its fulcrum. Further, if you really plan to reuse the wood you are likely to damage it by using the hammer claw for nail pulling.

5) Metal Detection - the Lumber Wizard
Metal detectors are vital for detecting nails, screws and other bits of metal that may have found their way into your wood. ESPECIALLY if you plan to cut, plane or joint your salvaged wood any more. Once you've made your first pass through your pile and removed the obvious metal make a pass over it with your metal detector. When you find metal, mark it with chalk and then deal with it appropriately.
Lumber Wizard
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001593.php

6) Push Nails Out - the Center Punch
It's often easiest on you and the lumber if you push the nail out in the same direction it was originally driven. This is especially easy for finish nails and brads. A center punch can help you to push the nail out the other side of the lumber for easy removal with your Nail Jack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WalyD8Kvong
7) Keep it Clean - Nail Pick Up
If your deconstruction project included carpet removal then spread some of it beneath your work space. Carpet keeps nails from bouncing and rolling around your work space. Astro-turf material would work well too. At the end of the project you'll have your nails fairly well contained. If you have trouble seeing the nails or just don't want to bend down to pick them up consider purchasing a magnet - they even make roller magnets that you can push across your workspace like a lawn mower.
Rolling Magnetic Sweeper Nail Metal Pick Up Magnet Tool
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CKWOJC

8) Protect Your Hands - Gloves
Nothing slows a project down like an injury. Protect your hands from your nail removal tools and potential splinters with a nice pair of work gloves. They will help at all stages of handling your wood, from deconstruction right on down to stacking your salvaged wood for storage.

9) Crud Removal - Scrapers, Wire Brushes and Brooms
Sometimes wood acquires a layer or two of dirt, wall paper, lacquer or even guano. Before you get your other tools near it you will need to clean this wood off well using metal scrapers, wire brushes and sometimes just plain old brooms. Remember that if your wood is especially dusty and dirty you should probably be using a face mask or other type of respirator.

10) Screw Removal - Drill
Some folks prefer a screwdriver. There's no reason to make screw removal hard on yourself. Charge up your drill and back any screws out. Be sure to save them for your next construction project.

11) Getting Salvaged Wood Square - Jointers and Planers
If you're salvaging especially old wood you may want to resize in a way that makes it suitable for actual woodworking. Planers and jointers can be very expensive tools so if your wood salvage project is a one-time thing you may want to find a woodworking friend to help you. Your friend will be glad to know you used a metal detector on your salvaged wood - nails and other metal can damage the blades on these tools.

12) Extreme Nail Removal - Reciprocating Saws
In some cases you'll find it's easier to actually cut around the nails to save the wood. Sometimes it's easier to cut the nails off themselves. Either way your reciprocating saw is the right tool for the job. Remember to use a metal cutting blade for those nails though, otherwise you'll dull your blade quickly. If you'd rather not spend the money on a reciprocating saw then you might find a hack saw more in your budget.

Lumber Salvage Pro Tips:
>> Any paint on salvaged wood from before 1978 contains lead.
>> Always use your head. It's your most dangerous power tool.
>> If you're forcing it you have the wrong tool - and you're endangering yourself and your tools.
>> Always ask before salvaging wood from a dumpster.
>> Wood from pallets used for chemical storage contain those chemicals - know the wood's history.
>> Reclaimed lumber may not be suitable for construction - have it regraded and use with caution.

We're glad you're interested in salvaging lumber. Recycled wood adds character and history to your woodworking projects like nothing else. If you have any suggestions for other lumber salvage tools we'd love to hear from you!

More Lumber Salvage Resources:
The Nail Jack Nail Pulling Tool
http://www.NailJack.com
What to Expect With Reclaimed Wood
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1606344,00.html
How to Salvage Old Barn Wood
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Salvage-Old-Barn-Wood/
Nail Removal Tricks (video)
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/video/nail-removal-tricks.aspx
Tips for removing nails with ease
http://www.helium.com/items/434007-tips-for-removing-nails-with-ease
Hardwood Softwood Lumber Grades & Ways They Are Sold & Priced
http://www.morlanwoodgifts.com/MM011.ASP?pageno=110
Using Recycled Wood (an inspirational story)
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/RedHeadedMerganser/blog/87

2008-11-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Nail Jack's Guide to Green DIY Deconstruction

Demolition is the wasteful process of destroying a building and hauling off the debris to a land fill. Deconstruction on the other hand is the green process of "unbuilding" in the interest of reusing, recycling and even selling as much of the materials removed as possible. Considering the EPA's estimates that nearly one-third of all solid waste in land fills comes from renovation and demolition, it's simple to see which choice most helps the planet.

This article outlines a green deconstruction process - at the DIY level - for folks who'd like to have a greener approach to their next renovation and remodeling project. Planning, preparation and research are essential to a successful green deconstruction process - and so are the right tools! Before you start your DIY deconstruction project be sure to get yourself a Nail Jack and Nail Hunter for all your nail pulling jobs - they make lumber salvage fast and effective!
www.nailjack.com

And now, read on and make your next remodeling demolition a green deconstruction!

1) Document All the Salvageable Materials in Your Deconstruction Project
2) Identify What You Want to Keep and How You Will Use It
3) Find Takers for Everything Else
4) Preparing to Sort, Store and Transport Your Reclaimed Material
5) Gather the Basic Tools of DIY Deconstruction
6) A Note on Safety and Knowing Your Limits
7) Getting Started: Last On, First Off
8) Don't Let Materials Pile Up - Treat As You Go
9) Commonly Salvaged and Recycled Materials in Green Deconstruction
10) More Green Deconstruction Resources

1) Document All the Salvageable Materials in Your Deconstruction Project
With clipboard and pen make a quality and quantity estimate of all the material you'll be pulling out on your deconstruction project. When possible make note of amounts (how many board feet, how many square feet, etcetera). Are there any electric or plumbing fixtures that could prove reusable? How about the hinges on the cabinets you're removing? Will there be pipes, wires or ductwork coming out of this project?

Remember that - for the most part - the only non-reusable materials in a demolition project are painted drywall and plaster, asphalt shingles and any toxic materials.

2) Identify What You Want to Keep and How You Will Use It
Most often in green deconstruction projects the materials go right back into the house, so now's the time to get out your list of upcoming projects. Doors, windows, flooring, outlets, tile, sinks, crushed concrete - how can you use these in your upcoming remodeling projects? Think beyond remodeling too - can those 2x4s become the core of that new workbench you've been meaning to build for yourself once you use the Nail Jack to pull the nails? Could you turn that cedar siding into bird houses for holiday gifts? Let your list of soon-to-be-reclaimed materials "speak to you..." You might be surprised at how you end up using pieces of your own home.

3) Find Takers for Everything Else
Once you've cherry picked the materials you'd like to use in upcoming projects it's time to find takers for everything else. Whether you're selling or donating the extra materials it's time for you to put on your research cap and find out who can use what's on your list. Begin by researching all the remaining materials and figure out how they could potentially be reused and by whom. As your reuse research progresses you may even find that your "keep" list gets longer.

A note on selling - it's not likely that you'll be pulling out quantities of anything that will be of interest to industrial buyers. Concentrate on selling your metals for scrap and looking for small time buyers on Craigslist. You won't make much money this way, but remember that the cool $20 you just folded into your wallet goes ON TOP of your savings for transporting and dumping... AND you did your part to reduce landfill waste.

Habitat Restores are your best bet for salvaged donations.
http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx

4) Preparing to Sort, Store and Transport Your Reclaimed Material
Now that you have your list of materials you'd like to keep for yourself you need to find a safe, weather-proofed place to store them. Improperly storing those studs in your backyard could mean a trip to the dump after all... Prepare and clear the storage space ahead of time and gather any tubs, buckets, garbage cans and bags you'll need to keep the materials in good working condition. For the materials you plan to sell or donate have a good supply of cardboard boxes and heavy-duty plastic bags available. Make your life easier by labeling these materials for quick identification in the future - you can even organize these containers by their end-location. You may need to borrow or rent a truck for hauling away your salvage.

This level of preparation may sound obsessive but it will make your green deconstruction a satisfying and successful experience.

5) Gather the Basic Tools of DIY Deconstruction
The basic tools of demolition and green deconstruction don't differ that much, though typically you'll have more hand tools and fewer power tools on a deconstruction job. Further, since this is a DIY list we're not mentioning tools and equipment that could put you in over your head such as scaffolding, debris chutes, fork lifts and jack hammers. Here are a few of the tools you may need depending on what you're deconstructing:

• Nail Jack and Nail Hunter for nail, staples or brad pulling - they save wood AND your time!
• Axe (small and large), Pick axe
• Cats paw
• Crow bars short and long (prefer "Gorilla Bar" type crow bar)
• Drill, cordless with batteries, and battery charger
• Hammers
• Measuring tape
• Nail removing tools
• Pliers
• Saws: bow saw, hand saw, hack saw rotary saw, Skil saw with grinder and wood cutting blades
• Sawz-alls with bi-metal blades
• Screw drivers regular and phillips head
• Shovels: regular and specialty Snow shovels Roofing shovels
• Sledgehammers (small and large)
• Pry bars
• Rakes and Brooms
• Tamping bar or "Grizzly Bar"
• Tin snips
• Vise grips
• Wheelbarrows
• Wire and bolt cutters
• Wrenches adjustable

(This list "repurposed" from the Deconstruction Institute)

6) A Note on Safety and Knowing Your Limits
Bumps, bruises and scrapes are part of any deconstruction project. Falls, punctures and heavy blows from falling walls should not be. Stay safe, especially when using power tools. Know where your co-workers are at all times. Turn off electricity and water in the areas where you're working. Most importantly know the limits of your DIY capabilities and be ready to call in a professional for assistance. Here are a few general safety guidelines and "limit" identifiers:

• If you don't know how to identify a load bearing wall then don't take out ANY walls.
• If you don't know how to shut off water or electricity to areas of your home then don't attempt to deconstruct these systems.
• Keep first aid kits on hand.
• ALWAYS use a dust mask or respirator when deconstructing.
• If you're using excessive force you have the wrong tool - let the tool do the work and take it easy.

7) Getting Started: Last On, First Off
In any deconstruction project you begin by removing the last material applied. In most rooms of your house you'd start with the trim, fixtures, lights and outlets. If you're deconstructing an entire house you typically start by removing the shingles. It's important that you synch up your deconstruction sequence with all those preparations you made for storing and transporting your salvaged materials... It's likely that you'll discover materials you hadn't anticipated when you began your planning and research so make sure you schedule plenty of time for your work.

8) Don't Let Materials Pile Up - Treat As You Go
Once you get started tearing out a wall it can become intoxicating - or at least highly absorbing. Resist the urge to work a given task to completion while letting an unmanageable material pile build up. If you're stacking pallets with cleaned bricks then knock off your removal efforts once you've removed a pallet's worth. If you're saving your flooring for another room in the house then stop when you have enough material to make a manageable pile. Remove the nails with your Nail Jack, clean it, stack it and THEN take more up. Make sure that your work area remains workable - this reduces shin-splitting clutter and that "out of control" feeling that big piles produce.

9) Commonly Salvaged and Recycled Materials in Green Deconstruction
Lumber, metal and fixtures are the most commonly reused items from a deconstruction project. Below you'll find the most commonly salvaged and recycled materials found in many remodeling project demolitions.

>>Wooden Flooring
Remove nails, assess reusing as is or source possible remilling provider.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbYXqigo5hA

>>Tongue and Groove Wall and Ceiling Fnish
Before plywood became prevalent builders used tongue and groove jointed wood for sheathing. Remove nails and consider refinishing options.

>>Rafters and Wall Studs
Rafters and wall studs have construction grades. If your wood is labeled you can easily determine how and where you could use it for future projects. If it's not graded you may have to bring in an expert or use it in ways other than light construction. Be careful of wood painted before 1978 - it's liable to have lead in it.

>>Brick, Stone, Concrete, Masonry
Clean and stack brick, stone and tiles for reuse or sale. Concrete and masonry waste can be crushed for fill and for use as aggregate.
http://greenbuildings.santa-monica.org/construction/reusewaste.html

>>Windows, Doors, Trim, Fixtures and Kitchen Cabinets
Note conditions of non-exterior faces. Are these materials suitable for reuse in your project? If not they are often accepted as donations or even purchased if they are old enough and still workable.

Remember - watch for opportunities to reuse materials in the actual deconstruction process. For example you can use sections of lathe as spacers for stacking lumber and use carpet sections as floor protection and even nail-catchers.

10) More Green Deconstruction Resources
We used a number of primary resources in writing this article and drew inspiration from many more. Below you'll find links to all the resources that influenced and inspired this article.

Primary Resources in this Article:
The Deconstruction Institute
http://www.deconstructioninstitute.com/
A Guide to Deconstruction - from the Deconstruction Institute (PDF)
http://www.deconstructioninstitute.com/files/learn_center/45762865_guidebook.pdf
DIY Demolition - from the DIY Network
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/hk_remodeling/article/0,,DIY_13945_5588031,00.html
Your House, Only Better
http://www.sciencefriday.com/newsbriefs/read/170

Other Green Deconstruction Inspirations:
Building Products From Recycled Wood Waste (PDF)
www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1993/falk93a.pdf
Construction and Demolition Recycling Trade Publication
http://www.cdrecycler.com/
Processing and marketing reclaimed lumber.
http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Recycled_barn_wood.html
Home Refurbers - a Remodeling Community
http://www.homerefurbers.com/
Green Demolition Certification
http://www.deconstructioninstitute.com/files/learn_center/74145578_GreenDemoCert09-16.pdf
Habitat Restore
http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx
How to Choose and Use Demolition Tools (This Old House)
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20151920,00.html
Managing Construction and Demolition Debris: A Guide for Builders, Developers, and Contractors
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ag473_19.html
"Recycling Construction and Demolition Wastes: A Guide for Architects and Contractors" (PDF)
http://www.wastemiser.com/CDRecyclingGuide.pdf
Deconstruction - from the DailyGreen
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/definitions/deconstruction
Green Deconstruction - Deconstruction as a Business from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/forbes/2008/0630/074.html
10 Questions for . . . Steve Feldman, President of Green Demolitions
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2008/06/green-demo.html

Some pictures of the Nail Jack!

2008-10-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

These pictures will help visually explain how the Nail Jack works. Elegant in its simplicity. Now you can see how you simply utilize the pliers-like "grab" and lift the nail out by pushing down on the handles, while the patented "spoon fulcrum" shifts and lifts, then you open the jaws and reset at the base of the nail's shaft and "voila!". Another great choice is to reverse the tool's approach and grab big nails from the back (The NailBiter) and lift up. This aggressively removes the easiest "exposed" nails, before you start to "dig" by hammering the sharp tips into wood to displace those almost impossible to reach nails. Since the Nail Jack can open and close its jaws unlike a cat's paw, you can grip and grab even headless nails and brads from the front or the back of the wood!