VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 removing nails from old wood frame

I am wanting to remove the metal from the wood frame of my 1931 truck body. Where the wood is weak the nails obviously come out easily. Where the wood is solid the nails present more of a challenge. What is the best way to pull the nails (separate the metal from the wood) without damaging the metal or accidentally increasing the hole size.

I was able to remove most of the nails from the wood in my 35 chev roadster by using a small screw driver type that has a V end on it like a claw hammer , that i purchased at local store. It has a name but forget.

I also have a tool called a **cats paw** that is similar but more heavy duty. On some of them I also used a small claw hammer.

Its important to maybe have to place a piece of 1/16 th or 1/8 " metal under the cats or hammer head so you do not make dents in the metal if you find a stubborn one or more.

take your time , be careful
mike

I used the same procedure that Mike described with a small screwdriver that had a "V" on the end. Worked really well.

By the way, for a better response regarding your 1931 truck, you might want to post your questions either in the Chevy Truck forum or in the 1929-32 forum instead of here in the 1933-36 forum.

Good luck with your project!

Thanks for the help. I am familiar with most nail removal tools because I work in the lumber industry but auto restoration is a new frontier for me. I was looking for ideas from that perspective. I started to list it under trucks but figured wooden frames and nails probably weren't limited to trucks. I am trying to save the wood to use as a pattern as well as the metal. Sounds like I am on the right track but might have to create the right tool to fit the need. Thanks again.

Webfoot,

I used the same method as listed in the other posts. One thing I found that helped was where you have the metal tabs over the wood, to use a thin screw driver and wedge it under the metal - between the wood and metal - and start working the metal up a little bit at a time. This helps to get the nail head up just enough to grab with a tool to pull it out. I also used a pair of pliers to grab the head of the nail to work it out. You may have to bend the metal a little to get the wood out. Like on doors where the wood was made first and then the metal is fitted around the wood. Actually the whole body is done this way. I was able to get all the nails out without further damaging the wood in my car, which was in very poor condition to start with, using this method.
Good luck.
Einar

Yes I too did what Einer did, but used the V tip under the metal to force the nail head up , then got it from the top with V tip tool.

mike

I bought a "brad puller" today for $3.29. Cheapest tool on the shelf. I figured for the price it was worth a try. After lifting the metal a little bit so Icould get the tool started I was able to get a bite with the puller and was able to get most of the nails out. The ones it didn't take out it broke the heads off enough for them to slide though the holes fairly easily. Thanks for the idea.

If you can't get them out using a tack puller take a small hand grinder and carefully grind the heads off. Better than damaging metal and wood.

Webfoot,

This is my nail pulling kit.