removing romex cable

[wantacoe]

I am trying to take some romex out of a building without hurting it. Anyone have any tricks to getting these plastic staples off without messing up the wire?
https://www.menards.com/main/electr...ic-staples/ps-1550/p-1444431014891-c-6448.htm

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

Side cutters. Grab the nail and use something as a fulcrum (a small block of wood works great).

A small prybar works too.

Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.

 

[wantacoe]

Yeah, that should work! Thank you.

 

[PCustoms]

Side cutters. Grab the nail and use something as a fulcrum (a small block of wood works great).

This.

But why the hell are you trying to save it?

 

[RegeSullivan]

My experience is those pull out of framing lumber pretty easily. A quick yank with a pair of linesman pliers would do it in a heartbeat.

Sent from my SM-N950U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[CJ7VFR]

My experience is those pull out of framing lumber pretty easily. A quick yank with a pair of linesman pliers would do it in a heartbeat...]

This. I do it all the time with either linesman pliers or just plain old regular pliers.

Just be sure that nothing is behind you when you do it! You don't want to hit someone, or something with your arm!

Jim

 

[sparky 1971]

Bent handle dykes work the best as the fulcrum is already built in. If you don't already have some, they are probably not worth the investment to save a few feet of romex though.

 

[Zeke]

Don't yank staples out with pliers. Your shoulder will thank you when you're getting older.

This from a guy that has a whole new shoulder, but it's titanium. And expensive. A LOT more expensive than enough wire to wire an entire tract of homes.

Also, I don't know the reason for pulling out the cable, but reusing it after "yanking" it is never a good idea. It has been kinked and stretched. No bueno.

 

[Dave Nelson]

Bent handle dykes work the best as the fulcrum is already built in. If you don't already have some, they are probably not worth the investment to save a few feet of romex though.

Have always done it this way, no yanking involved.

 

[rlitman]

I removed a bunch from my house a year ago. In my case, side cutters could not get the grip I needed. The staples were mostly too tight, so I sought out a prybar with the thinnest tips possible and ended up with this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Estwing-9-in-Pro-Claw-Nail-Puller-PC210G/202033610

I also considered this:
https://www.techtoolsupply.com/Prod...4tq2iuUn3oCt0VeXTX5GNPrB9nB51RSRoCUV0QAvD_BwE

 

[rsanter]

End nippers. You know the wire cutters where the cutter it perpendicular to the handle.
Grab the end of the staples and pry. No extra tool needed

 

[bagsanthony]

Long radiator hose pick works best. Thin and pointy enough to get in there then use leverage against the wood.

 

[Brymar]

I use channel lock side cutters with the bent end ,taken thousands of staples out with those cutters model number 449 works very good.

 

[nadogail]

The bent Klien Dykes work well for this job. If you have to buy them new, consider that "Romex", NMB Cable is pretty inexpensive.

 

[Marctrees]

Clip one nail w sidecutter, elevate slightly then swivel staple head 180.

Marc

 

[mark#3]

I have grabbed the romex, give it a good yank, freed it easy

 

[ed_v]

I have grabbed the romex, give it a good yank, freed it easy

I just did that in my shop over the weekend. That being said, not a lot of staples were used.

In the past, it I come across a staple that is hard to get out, I just grab a small prybar and my linesman pliers.

Ed