*Using Hand Tools*
Tips ‘N Tricks
By: Jaden
16 May 2005

The tools below have many different uses. I can’t begin to cover them all here. Be inventive. Wrecking bars and flat bars are made for prying. Get into a situation where something needs prying, refer to these. Hammers mainly exist for pounding. Tools exist to do certain forms of work.

I’m rebuilding a ¾’s rotted deck at work for the boss. So I’ll use it for some of the "destruction" demonstrations.

There are different sizes, styles and types of hammers. The most common is the claw hammer. It’s used for driving and pulling nails. Hold the hammer near the end of the handle not up near the head. By holding near the head, the downward force is drastically reduced when swinging.

Sometimes nails are too large or too difficult to pull with a hammer. A hammer’s pulling leverage isn’t very good. To remedy that there are a couple of more tools. BTW, you’ll see leverage mentioned several times in this article. Leverage is everything.

Many people have the misunderstanding that this is a crowbar. This is a wrecking bar. It can be used for prying or for pulling harder nails. There are different styles. Some have a "flat bar" claw on the end, while others just have flat wedge. Will get into that in a bit.

Wrecking Bar

The wrecking bar in action---

The nail’s head will need to be pulled about ¼" or more out of the wood in order to use the wrecking bar. It just needs to be out enough so the claw will slide under the head. A hammer can be used to drive the claw too. Slide the curved end’s claw under the nail’s head and hold the bar near the opposite end (it’s all about leverage). Then pry the nail up. 8 times out of 10 this will work. Sometimes it won’t. Be careful when pulling on the wrecking bar. If the claw slips, you’re apt to smash your knuckles.

 

Ready to pull Pulled

Let’s say the nail is being a real PITA. You’re not defeated yet. This is where a flat bar comes in

I said above that some wrecking bars have a flat bar claw on the straight end. The one at work does. Mine doesn’t.

 

Flat bar claw Flat bar

Look close at the left pic. You see a teardrop shape in the middle. You’ll also see V shaped notch above it. The V notch can be used to help left nail heads so that a wrecking bar can be used or so that the teardrop can be used. I need to yank a nail that somebody had in the end of this plank. Look how the nail is in the teardrop. Now simply lift up. It will pull the nail.

 

There are many different situations in which a flat bar can be used. Stripping shingles, prying boards apart and such.

Yea ok I know what you’re thinking. How do you get the nails out of the wood so that they can be pulled out? Here’s an invaluable tool.

The cat’s paw is designed to slide in under a recessed nail’s head and then pry it up far enough so that a different tool can be used.

 

Cat’s Paw Paw’s claw

Ok, here is a nail that is flush with a piece of wood.

Now, let’s take it out…

Place the V notch at the edge of the nail’s head and at this approximate angle. (left pic) Then use a hammer and pound it while gradually standing the cat’s paw vertical. This will cause the claw to slip under the head.

 

 

Under the head Prying

Once the claw is under the head, pry back and the nail should lift. Be careful…if it slips and you don’t catch yourself, it’s knuckle bustin’ time. Once the nail is up a tad bit, then a hammer, flat bar, or wrecking bar can be used.

Well the file size is getting pretty big so I guess I’d better close down. I’ll continue with more hand tools in another article.
Jaden



www.alpharubicon.com
All materials at this site not otherwise credited are Copyright © 1996 - 2005 Trip Williams. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for personal use only. Use of any material contained herein is subject to stated terms or written permission.