Removing carpet staples

[joe_pinehill1]

The answer is probably no easy way, but are there any tricks or special tools to remove pneumatic staples from wood?

We're pulling the carpet runner off the stairs, and would like to do minimal marring of the oak.

I've been using thin profile screw driver, and vice grips, the staples that break I sink with a very small nailset.

 

[mattblast]

I use diagonal cutters for this.

Just don’t press too hard or you’ll cut the staple. Pinch against one leg of staple and gently press down to pry staple up.

Shape of tool prevents denting floor but you can also put something under handle to add extra protection.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

anyone have one of these? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T6KT9J8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[seber]

Tack puller or end cutter.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003M6V7YW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[kd3pc]

dull cutters with a wide putty knife/scraper under them, to keep from marring the wood.

 

[Prospecter]

I also alternate between dull diagonal cutters and dull end cutters. Those seem to work about the best for me.

 

[superduty1]

dull cutters with a wide putty knife/scraper under them, to keep from marring the wood.

What he said ^

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[welder4956]

I have used either diagonal cutters or end cutting pliers.

 

[ddawg16]

The crime was putting down carpet in the 1st place......We have pulled ALL of the carpet out of our house. Much easier to keep clean now.....

And what ^^ they ^^ said

 

[RKA]

I use these nail removal pliers. The only issue is if the staple are sunk into the floor, these pliers won’t grab. Then I use an auto trim tool (like a screwdriver but with a bend within 1-2” of the end and a little fork at the end) to get under it and pry it up just enough for the pliers to grab. Usually the carpet pad is stick under the staple so I use this to clear out the pad leaving the staple exposed enough for the pliers.

https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-NP11-11-Inch-Pulling-Pliers/dp/B008NM6VAA/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=Nail+pliers+removal&qid=1573397009&sr=8-8

 

[nmantas]

I think you need a varied approach. I have done this many times and I use a flat billed plier like a linesman or my knipex duck-billed plier and from coming straight down with the plier I can grab and yank out well over 90% of them without the pliers touching the wood. After that I will use inventive way to get at the ones that are too far into the wood such as the ideas above.

 

[HDtalk]

I've used fence pliers for pulling out staples used to hold luan underlayment when taking up old vinyl flooring. It is easy to grip the staple and use the curved section as a lever. One thing I did was add a spring to force the jaws to open up? Really sped up the removal.

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[Stuart in MN]

Removing them is tedious, but finding them all is nearly impossible. I've spent hours pulling them and thinking I got them all, then I come back in the room the next day and it's like someone sneaked in during the night and added more of them.

 

[MadMechMaster]

Beer + Music + Time (side cutters and a scraper too)

 

[Wyoming09]

I just use a pair of channellocks and/or vise grips. Seems to work well enough.

 

[The Cobbler]

I use diagonal cutters for this.

Just don’t press too hard or you’ll cut the staple. Pinch against one leg of staple and gently press down to pry staple up.

Shape of tool prevents denting floor but you can also put something under handle to add extra protection.

dull cutters with a wide putty knife/scraper under them, to keep from marring the wood.

What he said ^

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

these guys have it nailed . I have an old pair of crescent side cutters that are really worn/dull. they work great

take your time and sooner or later, you will be done. only to find other missed staples!

 

[Minnesota Steve]

I just used a pair of linesman pliers. Just pulling straight up they come out easy enough. For cases where you can't get a grip, then a flat bladed screwdriver helps.

I removed carpet from a staircase... they use a LOT of staples on stairs.

 

[warren.albert.77]

Tack puller is the way to go


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[txvwnut]

I used end cutters when I pulled the staples out of my hardwood flooring. For the ones I couldn’t get I took the smallest punch I had and sunk the remainder of the staple in the wood and filled with filler then sanded and refinished.

 

[techieman33]

anyone have one of these? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T6KT9J8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've use a similar tool but it's pointed so I can dig in a little bit. It's served me well.

 

[engineer2]

but finding them all is nearly impossible.

Your kneecaps are excellent for finding staples you missed. Very accurate with instant feedback!

I used my Dremel to cut a notch in my Wonderbar so it would fit under the staple. Worked real well.

 

[davethorik]

If you have a lot of staples to remove from the floor of a large room...and don't mind some scratches...

One of these shingle rippers can pretty much grab most staples that aren't sunk in. It can be a real life saver. Yeah, you'll still have to pull a few it missed. I use Knipex end nippers for the onesies.