How do you remove big spikes?

[Loopie]

8" spikes...nailed in about half way on average. (I may have about 10-12 to remove)
What would be the easiest way to remove them from live trees? Your regular claw hammer obviously doesn't work. I don't recall ever seeing a prybar that would work.
I'm thinking some kind of slide hammer...but I have no idea what kind or where.

Suggestions?
thx

[bygdaug]

If those nails have been in there for a long time your better off leaving them in and hacksawing them off as close to the tree as possible.

If the spike will fit in a framing hammer u can pull em out by pushing the hammer sideways. Put a piece of wood between the hammer and the tree.

[synchro]

use one of these


and like the daug said, put a block of wood under the foot no matter what type of tool you're using. you want to keep the claw part of the tool (hammer, crow bar, pry bar, etc) as close to the head of the nail as possible. as the nail comes out of the wood your leveage decreases, so the block of wood will help to give you more pulling power.

[Uncle Duke]

Originally posted by bygdaug
If those nails have been in there for a long time your better off leaving them in and hacksawing them off as close to the tree as possible.

[derwood]

Bend the nail 90 degrees,put a crescent wrench on it and hit the wrench with a hammer.

[Loopie]

Cutting them off isn't an option.
Too big for any hammer.
I've seen those nail pullers...I just don't think it'd work for these spikes. 8" with 3/8" thick shaft....you really think it'd work?

Bending them so there's something to hook onto...I like that:)

[Uncle Duke]

why cant you cut them off.? i have used a hack saw on pieces of metal much larger than a 8 " nail w a 3/8" thick shaft.

[bygdaug]

Originally posted by duke
why cant you cut them off.? i have used a hack saw on pieces of metal much larger than a 8 " nail w a 3/8" thick shaft.

Of course you can cut them off. If you can't get them out that is.

[Uncle Duke]

Originally posted by bygdaug
Of course you can cut them off. If you can't get them out that is.



i realise it is early but .... he sez here he cant cut them off..


Originally posted by Loopie
Cutting them off isn't an option.

[Uncle Duke]

I suggest leaving them in rather than working them out of the tree and creating an even bigger wound..


tree loving loser that I am.

[synchro]

Originally posted by duke
I suggest leaving them in rather than working them out of the tree and creating an even bigger wound..


tree loving loser that I am.

just cut the tree down, that'll get rid of your problem.

[Uncle Duke]

Originally posted by synchro
just cut the tree down, that'll get rid of your problem.





?

[Loopie]

Originally posted by duke
i realise it is early but .... he sez here he cant cut them off..
I said it's not an option. Of course I CAN:)
I don't care about the tree....I'm trying to clean up a mistake so Forestry doesn't spaz.

I'll do my best to get them out. But if not, I guess they'll have to be cut down, or something.
Fuck. I hope they come out.

[Beerme]

Use a crow bar(3 foot long I have) flat bar steel under heel of crowbar to save damaging tree and four foot pipe for added leverage if needed

[Loopie]

For sure Beerme....like Derwood was aying too.
I'll pry them out.

[Loopie]

Just for reference...I found the nail puller my Buddy left here. Doesn't fit anyways.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/loopie/Random%20stuff/100_0556.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/loopie/Random%20stuff/100_0557.jpg

[CraigH]

This is what the railway guys used to use to pull spikes much larger than the ones you are talking about.

http://www.danbury.org/drm/images/96-history/29.jpg

edit: it is called a spike puller, who would have thought...

More info here:
www.danbury.org/drm/history/DRM-history-3.html

[Uncle Duke]

^^prolly not too expensive at the old can tire as well..


how about a pipe wrench to grab the spike and use a hammer mini sledge to tap/pound on the wrench and force the nail out.

[stugatz]

use a big wrecking bar ( can get em at can tire for about 15 bux) a 4 footer will get em out... plug the holes in the tree with some kind of tree friendly goo to keep the tree happy, check with a garden center for what kind of goo to use.

[Uncle Duke]

actually the plugging of holes w goo isnt good for the tree...I just had $1500 worth of tree pruning done and the arborist told me that goo actually traps infection against the tree...apparently you should just leave them open and nature deals w it.