Salvaging corrugated tin

[alchemysa]

Until this thread I'd never heard of lead head nails. I had to google it to see what they are. They are unknown in my part of the world. Anyway, could you use a metal cutting disc in an angle grinder to take the head off? To protect the corru perhaps you could cut a slot in a piece of tin that you could slide under the head.

 

[harwill]

Good idea from Down Under! I've got a 4 1/2" angle grinder that would do it quickly with a cut-off wheel. Just weakening the head would allow it to pop off the stem. Actually, the lead head nails are really like regular roofing nails with a lead washer that wraps back over part of the head. About a 1/16" gash across the center of the head ought to do it! Thanks for the idea, mate.

 

[Duffster]

I just use a blue bar.

 

[jinman]

If you can use a flat piece of bar stock (3/16 would work) under the nail bar or hammer, you can spread the pressure over a much larger area of the corrugations and not crush them in a single place. I like the slide hammer puller, but I would try the flat metal first if I had it available to see how it works. A lot of older barns with lead-heads have dry wood that lets you pull the nails out pretty easily. Getting under the heads of the lead-heads without bending the ridge is probably the hardest part of getting the nail out. If you can catch the lead with the claws of a puller or with pliers and get it off the nail head, sometimes that leaves some extra clearance so you can get your clawhammer or puller under there.

 

[rebelmedic]

I use a piece of two by four long enough to cover two runner widths, and a regular claw hammer. Place the two by four along side of the rib,the board not only keeps you from damaging the rib but the height also gives a little more leverage in pulling the nails.

 

[rambler]

Buy a couple of good pinchers. It's way, way, way easier to just pinch the top of the nails off with a pincher. I've done lots, and this is what works.

Some scraps of plywood - small scaps - and a regular nail pulling pry bar will gat a few that need to be pulled.

The sliding hammer will work, but is a lot of work, and you need the right type - not the pincher claw that digs into wood, but the typew that clamps the nail & hammers up. The head tends to fold up & slip off. It works but a lot of work resetting...

Some of these nails are spiraled or ring shanked. Buy the pincher!

--->Paul

 

[harwill]

Thanks guys, Off to the project in East Texas to try some of these suggestions! I'll report back on who had the best solution...http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif
But then if you want to test it yourself, feel free to sign on.

 

[schmism]

The slide hammer type work very well, there called nail pullers.

this kind?

cause if thats the one, i have one. you use the slide hammer to drive the jaws just under the surface of the wood. then rock the handle to the side (against the little lever arm) to pull the nail up.

ie wont work for his application IMHO

 

[2manyrocks]

Agree with schmisn. Slide hammer is made to knock the wood in around nails enough for the pincers to grab the nail and then pry it out. Probably knock holes around the nail head, bend the ridge, and put dents in the tin. But it is great for pulling nails out of 2x lumber.

 

[rambler]

I've got one of those sliding nail pullers too. It won't work for this.

You need a type with a different grip on it, and designed for pounding _outward_, not into the wood like these are designed.

I say the nippers work better & faster most of the time. Along with a pry bar & small bit of wood to pry out a few special ones.

--->Paul