Track nail removal

[Chris G.]

How do you remove tightly stuck track nails? What tool can I use that will not break the track? I am using Atlas 100 snap track.  

[GGOOLER]

i usually use a 2' wide putty knife. get it under the track near the nail and wiggle up and down and sideways some, till the head of the nail starts to pry up, then i use a small set of pliers to pull up the nail the rest of the way out.

later

g

[selector]

For a super tough pull where the nail just won't budge, you have two choices, and both promise damage.  First, get two leveraged thin metal wedges or blades that will take some leveraging shoved into the nail from opposite sides and use a small fulcrum to hoist it all up, pushing down on the free ends of the shims.  If you are lucky, and keep the forward edges of the shims tight up against the shank of the nail, it will pop up, or it will pull through the tie but the tie will not part.

A more draconian method is to cut through the tie tight to the nail and lift the track free.  You can always patch the gap in the tie later.

Crandell

["JaBear"]

Gidday,  I use a pair of 6 inch side cutters, if I hold my mouth right I can minimise the damage to the ties.

Good luck, Cheers, the Bear.

[richhotrain]

My track nails go through the ties and Woodland Scenics Foam Track Bed into the plywood surface. 

I use a pair of snip nose pliers to remove nails and that has never failed to remove the nail without damage to the tie.

Rich

[EmpireStateJR]

I use my Xuron rail cutter for nails that are too tight to grab with wire cutters / side cutters. Once I raise the nail head enough I then use my wire cutters / side cutters. O.P. please note that removing tightly nailed track is pretty common and by working carefully you should be able to salvage most if not all of the track without damage. When using the cutters simply come in from the side, grasp the nail with the tip and let the cutters rest on the rail. Push down slowly and steadily and the nails should come up straight without inflicting any damage. The rail will act as a fulcrum and this makes it easier to bring up the nail. In most cases you can probably reuse the nail as well.

Hope this helps 

John

[maxman]

EmpireStateJR

  I use my Xuron rail cutter for nails that are too tight to grab with wire cutters / side cutters. Once I raise the nail head enough I then use my wire cutters / side cutters. 

 

I would never use my Xuron rail cutter for this purpose.  No matter how gentle one intends to be, the possibility remains that the rail cutter could be damaged.  There are other similar tools that will do the same thing.

[selector]

maxman

EmpireStateJR

  I use my Xuron rail cutter for nails that are too tight to grab with wire cutters / side cutters. Once I raise the nail head enough I then use my wire cutters / side cutters. 

 

I would never use my Xuron rail cutter for this purpose.  No matter how gentle one intends to be, the possibility remains that the rail cutter could be damaged.  There are other similar tools that will do the same thing.

I would also worry about leaving the shank in place and nipping off the head. 

[richhotrain]

I still haven't heard of anything better than snip nose pliers to remove track nails.

Too bad that the OP didn't mention what kind of roadbed he is using or the type of layout surface.

Rich

[mobilman44]

Hi!

A couple years ago I finally broke down and bought the 3 plier set from Xuron (thru Micro Mart).   One of the specialty pliers is made for removing track nails.   Trust me, it works.

Oh, a hint.......  When you have really stubborn nails hold the track/ties down around the nail with your free hand as you pull up on the pliers.

 

[BRAKIE]

I use a small flat tip screwdriver and 6" needle nose pliers.

I pry up on the nail head then take the needle nose and pull up on the nail(similar to pulling a lower tooth)..I'm yet to damage track.

[Chris G.]

Thanks all, by using a flat tip, tiny, and using the rail as a fulcrum I was able to pry the nails straight up safely. 

Thanks again,

Chris g.

[dknelson]

To address some first principles, one lesson is not to drive the track nail in quite so tightly.  I myself use bonded ballast to hold my track in place (So I can remove any nails or pins once the ballast is set and dried) but on prior layouts I followed a piece of wisdom I read in a magazine and avoided driving in the nail so deeply that the nail head actually pressed down on the tie.  that can be an invitation to driving the tie down and actually narrowing the gauge.  A little "give" can be as useful for model track as it is for the prototype.

I was also able to find a very small, well, I guess it is a miniature crowbar.  I am not even sure where I found this tool.  The one thing to remember when using such a small crowbar, or the claw end of a tiny hammer which i also have used, is not to rest it on a nearby tie because that can be an invite to crack that tie.  A strip of styrene between the rails is helpful. 

Dave Nelson

[Aralai]

I use bent needle nose pliers. The tie has a bit of give so push down just enough to grip the head of the nail and then gently pry up.