The Best Nail Puller
- Bates Nail Puller - Best Overall
- Crescent 11" Nail Puller - Runner Up
- Estwing Pro Claw Nail Puller - Honorable Mention
- Spec Ops Nail Puller - Also Consider
- Gunpla Carpenters Nail Puller - Another Great Option
Nail pullers are amongst the most useful and functional tools to have in your toolbox. It is a very simple product that does not have a lot of fancy features and yet it is extremely useful and practical. If you’re a professional that is engaged in carpentry, masonry, or woodwork, you will definitely come across the need to pull nails out. Even if you’re not a professional and you’re just working on a DIY project, there’s a decent chance that you will find yourself in a situation where you’ll need to pull nails out. This is why it is very important to have a nail pulling device in your toolbox because you never know when you’re going to need it. People use different make-shift solutions to pull nails out, which is a very impractical and inefficient way to do so. Oftentimes, people will end up damaging other equipment or worse, will end up getting injured while trying to use make-shift solutions for nail removal. Consequently, you should definitely have a nail pulling device in your toolbox and you can check out the top nail pullers in 2024.
Best Nail Puller of 2024 Reviewed in Detail
Bates Nail Puller
– Best OverallThe nail pulling tool by Bates is currently one of the best options that you can opt for in this category. It is a 7” nail removing tool that comes with a plier/jaw design, making it a very convenient option. This product is made of high quality carbon steel, which will protect it against rust and will make sure that it lasts long. In order to make sure that it is comfortable to use and you’re protected against electrical currents, the handles are coated in plastic. It is the perfect tool for carpentry, construction, woodwork, etc.
- Made of high carbon steel for maximum durability
- Soft plastic coating on handles
- The mouth of this plier isn’t sharp enough for some tasks
Crescent 11″ Nail Puller
– Runner UpIf you’re looking for a reliable plier for nail removal and possible other things, you cannot go wrong with the nail puller by the Crescent. The product comes with a very convenient and practical plier design and can be used by just about everyone. The design and flexibility of this product makes sure that you can use it to remove nails from just about everywhere, regardless of the size and condition of a nail. It is made of forged steel for maximum durability and the handles are covered in rubber, making it comfortable to use.
- Made of forged steel for maximum durability
- Rubber coating on handles
- Might not be ideal for smaller nails
Estwing Pro Claw Nail Puller
– Honorable MentionThe Estwing pro claw nail puller is one of our top picks because of how convenient and practical this product is. The design of this product is different compared to the ones that we’ve already seen, which is why you should definitely check it out. This entire tool is forged in one piece, making it a very durable product. The design of the head and length of the handle makes sure that you can get maximum torque and leverage. Moreover, this tool is also suitable for tight spaces and smaller nails.
- Tempered, forged, and polished
- Vinyl grip on handles
- The leverage might not be enough for some jobs
Spec Ops Nail Puller
– Also ConsiderThe spec ops nail puller is one of the best options that you can go for right now and it’s a product that will certainly make it easier to remove all sorts of nails. This tool is made of carbon-steel and is 20% lighter compared to traditional designs. It comes with special precision-honed claws that can be used to remove even headless nails, without damaging the surface. Apart from that, this nail remover is also highly durable and it has been rigorously tested for it.
- Compatible with SRS Retention Lanyards compatibility for maximum safety
- Up to 20% lighter compared to traditional models
- Not highly suitable for heavy duty jobs
Gunpla Carpenters Nail Puller
– Another Great OptionGunpla carpenters’ nail puller is amongst the best tools that are available out there. It’s made with premium high-carbon steel with a polished finish for maximum durability. The vinyl coated handles provide exceptional comfort and leverage, making sure that you can use them for as long as you want. The jaws of this plier are specially designed to grip even the smallest and distorted nails, making it a very effective tool. Moreover, you can also use this tool for other purposes such as wire cutting etc.
- Versatile and practical tool
- Ergonomic handle grip
- Gripping power is not very strong
Best Nail Pullers Buying Guide
By the looks of it, a nail pulling device is a rather simple tool and you’d think that you do not need to put in a lot of effort in order to select the best one. Tools such as these are going to become an integral part of your toolbox and these tools usually last very long, which is why you need to choose the best one. Even for a simple tool such as the nail pulling device, there are a lot of variations that you can opt for. Understandably, not everyone is knowledgeable enough to be able to choose the best tool, which is why we’ve prepared this comprehensive guide to help you take an informed decision.
Although it is fairly simple to use a nail puller, there are still some people who struggle while pulling nails properly. Check the video from ‘Vancouver Carpenter’ for some tips when using a nail puller.
Types of Nail Pullers
While a nail remover is a simple tool in itself, you’d be surprised to see how innovative manufacturers have gotten with it. You can find multiple types of nail removers that operate in different ways and yet all of them do the same job. Of course, each of those types has its own pros and cons. We’ll take a look at the most commonly used nail removers that you can get right now.
Claw-based
One of the most commonly used types of pullers is the claw-based puller. As suggested by the name, the head of this tool resembles a couple of parallel teeth or claws, installed at a slight angle, which can be used to grip the nail and pull it out. The design of this tool ensures that the nail is gripped properly and all you need to do is apply the required force, in order to get the nail out. It’s a very popular tool, mainly due to the fact that the design of this tool is very simple and you do not need to learn how to operate it. It can be easily found at just about every hardware store. Moreover, because of the evidently simple design, these tools are inexpensive and easy to carry around in your toolbag/toolbox. On the other hand, you might find this design unsuitable for some jobs/tasks, as it requires some space to work with. If you’re working in a tight space, you might not be able to position this tool as required, which is when you’ll have to depend on the other type of puller. Moreover, this type of remover also requires more strength and you’ll usually need both your hands to operate it.
A claw hammer nail puller is a tool used by commercial woodworkers for extracting hard-to-remove nails. An ergonomic, rubber handle with textured and secure grip makes claw hammer a favorite tool among many.
Jaws-based
The other type of nail remover is the jaws-based nail plier. As the term suggests, this type of nail remover has a couple of parallel jaws that can open and shut using the handles. All you need to do is open the puller plier, grip the nail before pulling it out. Make sure that you position the jaw on either side of the nail head. This type of puller is also very simple to use and operate and offers some benefits over the traditional design. This design requires less strength and you can also use just one of your hands to operate this tool. Moreover, it is also more suitable to be used in tight spaces with limited clearance.
You can even consider air punch/removal tools that punch or remove nails from wooden pallets and cases that are meant for recycling.
Why Consider Compactness Before Buying a Nail Puller?
A nail pulling tool is something that you’ll have to carry around for jobs, tasks, and almost every type of woodworking project. Such tools should always be in your tool bag or toolbox, which is why it is important that the tool that you opt for isn’t too bulky or too heavy.
Why Is It Important To Consider the Handle Before Buying a Nail Remover?
The handle of a nail remover is one of the most important considerations before purchasing a tool for pulling nails. The handle determines the strength that you’ll be able to exercise and the level of comfort with which you’ll be able to perform. While the handle should certainly be strong and durable, it should also ideally be the right size and have insulation/coating in order to make it comfortable and make sure that you’re protected against electrical currents.
PEOPLE ALSO ASKED
Longer handles can provide you with more leverage; however, it would also make the tool less portable. You should go for the tool that suits your requirements.
Ideally, a nail remover should not damage the surface to a large extent, unless the nail is distorted or stuck into the surface.
A nail remover with plier design can also be used to cut, bend or unbend wires.