ri702bill 7,319 #1 Posted August 13, 2022 (edited) All: A while back, @peter lena posted an item about a small Slide Hammer. I replied, without pictures, that about 40 years ago, we used auto body dent puller slide hammers that we adapted to extract hollow pull dowels, a C shaped auto body tool, and a favorite - the marriage of a pair of locking pliers (aka Vise Grips) threaded onto the end of the slide hammer - VERY useful to extract woodruff and straight machine keys, and useful around the house to pull nails where the heads had rusted off and twisting them would break them off. Removed a 3/4 round molding on the porch I am refinishing - not all the nails played fair. Most of us probably have the 2 store bought items in our tool collections - just need to whip up the hex stock adapters.... Bill Edited August 13, 2022 by ri702bill 6 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,849 #2 Posted August 14, 2022 That is a real great idea. Many times having to remove a large rusty nail in a restoration is a problem . Particularly so if it is an antique cut nail as most are. Cut nails really stick to wood new and when rusted they are nearly impossible to remove. The usual methods using leverage always wind up either damaging piece or breaking nail, may times both. This will knock it straight out leaving only the original hole and no other damage. Thank you for sharing it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 7,319 #3 Posted August 14, 2022 2 hours ago, formariz said: That is a real great idea. Many times having to remove a large rusty nail in a restoration is a problem . Particularly so if it is an antique cut nail as most are. Cas - thanks for the comment - yup, also had a couple of OLD square cut nails that the heads were sticking up a tad in a joint - latched onto them and they popped right out. Funny, not too often our machinist and body tools get to work with something that had growth rings. We always tend to "steer" away and around them with the Horses....and other lawn equipment. Bill 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 15,919 #4 Posted August 14, 2022 That vice grip idea is a good one! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 7,319 #5 Posted August 14, 2022 7 minutes ago, wallfish said: That vice grip idea is a good one! It is, but I cannot take credit for the originality. As I said, WE all made these up to aid in threaded pull dowel and key removal. The idea came from a rather crusty, for lack of a better word, guy I worked with. He would gladly let you borrow it ONCE, if you asked a second time, he told you that since we BOTH need one, it's time for you to make your own... 1 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 7,319 #6 Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) I worked at 3 different Machine Tool manufacturers, and i am sure I mentioned this before, about scraped surfaces. Scraping is a lost art - today, you buy a new milling machine and the salesperson tells you the ways are "scraped", that is a lie - they have adjustable tapered gibs to allow take-up for wear and a machine "flaked" finish for oil retention. The old-time scrapers MADE their own surfacing and flaking tools from old GOOD quality used hand files, ground to their individual angle(s) for specific tasks. You just could flat out not buy a "Scraping Tool" from a catalog. You could ALWAYS tell that a guy was a scraper from a distance - usually hunched over with one forearm (usually the right) that looked like Popeye's - the other was more atrophied in appearance.... Edited August 14, 2022 by ri702bill 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,849 #7 Posted August 15, 2022 2 hours ago, ri702bill said: It is, but I cannot take credit for the originality. Most of us cannot take credit for originality on many ideas or skills we have. We have all learned them from someone else. We may have improved them or adapted them for our needs, but the principle of it came from someone else usually much before our time. Credit is due however to those who are willing to share them so others can reap the fruit of their usefulness. I was taught early in life that the hoarding of knowledge is a dangerous thing and it will make us think that we are more or better than others. 2 hours ago, ri702bill said: He would gladly let you borrow it ONCE, if you asked a second time, he told you that since we BOTH need one, it's time for you to make your own... Yes, another thing I was also taught . If you have to borrow a tool do it only once. You should then go buy one since you need it. I miss those “old friends” . A lot of wisdom seldom seen today. What seemed at the time like trivial statements became true lessons in life and how to live it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 10,596 #8 Posted August 15, 2022 (edited) 11 hours ago, formariz said: I miss those “old friends” . Cas, go look in a mirror. YOU will be looking at an "old friend". Edited August 15, 2022 by Handy Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
