Removing old tacks

[Louis Michaud]

Maybe I'm the last one to find out about this tip...
Removing old tacks without damaging the surrounding wood, plank or rib, gets a lot easier when the wood is wetted out with warm water. The varnish has been stripped beforehand. The brittle wood becomes very supple and elastic. I've seen it absorb a lot of deformation with the withdrawal of a twisted tack and come right back. A lot less broken splinters, chips and craters. To my glass eye, the amount of damage seems to reduced by 80%...

Best,

Louis Michaud

 

[dboles]

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Dave Lanthier at his shop im Kamloops.The topic of tack removal came up.Thought I would show off my technique and prowess at tack removal with side cutters.On a hull that had to have a rib removed I reached out with the cutters and struggled with a tack.Dave had his favourite tool in his hand by then and said Like this and out whipped a tack.I said no like this and struggled with another Oh you mean like this and out came another and another. Amazing ...gotta get me one of those tools. A smallish straight sided nail puller

 

[Louis Michaud]

"smallish straight sided nail puller"

Picture ?

A small cat's paw works for me:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32014&cat=1,43456,43399

I have filed a small "V" notch in the wide flat end so it can be used as a tack puller. The wide area prevents crushing the wood when prying the tack out. The thin edge allows it to get under the tack head easily.

Best,

Louis Michaud

 

[davelanthier]

Bingo

My secret is out. I have sharpened the claws on mine.