Timber Framers Guild Forums General This Old Building Peg Plucking

While helping out with the Cuvilly barn deconstruction this past weekend, I was introduced to the art of peg removal using a Timlock fastener and pry bar for recalcitrant pegs. We used a rod for whacking those pegs that were accessable. I'm curious as to what other methods folks have used.

We have successfully used a dent pulling type slide hammer fit out with a special tip which fits over a bolt head driven into the pin, much as it seems you all did at the Cuvilly Barn.

Happy to see folks are moving away from drilling them out.

Will's method is the one I'm most familiar with also. It might be obvious, but vise-grips come in really handy too. If the bolt or screw strips out but the peg is partially out, try grabbing it with vice-grips (really hard) and twisting back and forth a little while someone uses a pry bar under the head of the vice-grips. I like using a small "wizard" bar because the lift is straighter.

Rudy

Andy, at the Cuvilly barn project one of the workman from Arron's team asked me if I had a hose clamp in my truck. He wanted to use a standard hose clamp to suck together a split peg to then use a timlock screw and pry bar. That's was a good idea but I didn't have a hose clamp, so I'm not sure how good it will work. Good luck, Jim

Hose clamps work quite well on split pegs going in or out. And you can always borrow one from your pickup truck heater hose. Just remember to put it back on BEFORE the raising or razing celebration starts!