Nail Jack's Guide to the 12 Top Tools for DIY Lumber SalvageThe 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 and the Nail Hunter make pulling nails, staples or brads easy and prevents damage to the wood, all while making it quicker and easier to reuse your wood and trim!
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! Depending on the size of your wood, clamp it down or don't!
2) A Nail Removal Tool - the Nail Jack or Nail Hunter
The claw of a hammer isn't going to cut it - what do you do with nails that are driven in at or below the surface? How about nails that you can GRAB and pull through the back? 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. Both the Nail Jack (
www.nailjack.com) and Nail Hunter (
www.thenailhunter.com) can be hit with a hammer to drive the tips under the nail!
http://www.nailjack.com3) Wood Protection - The design of the Nail Jack's fulcrum spreads out the energy, leaving little or no mark!
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.php6) 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=AS2ZyrpVEgY7) 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/B001CKWOJC8) 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.com9) 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.comLumber 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.comWhat to Expect With Reclaimed Wood
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1606344,00.htmlHow 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.aspxTips for removing nails with ease
http://www.helium.com/items/434007-tips-for-removing-nails-with-easeHardwood Softwood Lumber Grades & Ways They Are Sold & Priced
http://www.morlanwoodgifts.com/MM011.ASP?pageno=110Using Recycled Wood (an inspirational story)
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/RedHeadedMerganser/blog/87 
