The makers of the Kwick Gripper nail puller sent me an update earlier in the week, saying that the first production run has been received and is ready to be shipped out. They also mentioned a coupon code (10ebtools) that’s good for 10% off all orders.
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After coupon, the price of the nail puller is $36, and shipping looks to be a flat $10.
I am still intrigued about the design and performance of the Kwick Gripper, as it looks mighty versatile in the manufacturer’s demo videos. If you’re skeptical, don’t worry, we’ll be testing one to see just how well it really works.
UPDATE (5/2017): The Kwick Gripper and EB Tools don’t seem to exist anymore.
John S
They definitely talk a big talk – I am eager to see what you think!
W RILEY
I CANT FIND ANY WHERE T CAN BUY THIS TOOL !!!! CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE !!! THANKS WALTER
Jordan
I’d like to see this thing reviewed as well. I have a hard time buying something like this unless it’s significantly better than what I’m using now.
Galadriel
Fascinating. I am tearing down two barns right now (one permanently, one for rebuild, so trying to keep the materials intact) and checking out all manner of demo tools.
I was really disappointed in the Stanley FUBAR Extreme (I think? The largest size, anyway) when I picked one up in a store; I’d been planning to buy it off Amazon along with an Annihilator and a Nailjack and a few other tools. I of course already have a large selection of Wonderbars and cats paws and so on.
Anyway, the big version of the FUBAR was horribly balanced, and I think it was because the nail puller pointed to one side, rather than straight back. It wouldn’t sit straight in my hand, holding it approximately like a hammer, with the hammer face forward; it wanted to tilt to one side. It felt like positioning it to pull nails would be a fight. It felt like positioning it to hit anything would be a fight.
It might have been because of the additional weight, since it was the large version, and I haven’t yet picked up a “regular” FUBAR to see how the balance feels. But I am going to be wary of any demo tool that has its prybar end pointed to the side.
Having said that, I think I’m going to order one of these; it looks like it will really help when we go to pull out the large nails holding the horizontal boards on the stalls. It also looks like its design might do some damage to the boards, moreso than a Nailjack. All the photos show it prying up nails using the hammer end as a fulcrum, and it also shows splintering boards underneath. But we’ll see whether pulling with the curved end helps.
It’ll be a while before we do more demo; I have some fencing that’s about to take priority. But I can report back when I know how this thing works 🙂
Bob S
I ordered one hoping it would arrive before I had to rebuild a section of my fence. Unfortunately, it arrived a week after I had completed the task. I may try to use it over the weekend just to test it out. It seems like a solid tool. It has a lever on the side to lock the clamping foot closed. That lever seems a little difficult to rotate between locked and unlocked. I am hoping that will wear in after some use.
Galadriel
Well, I kind of regret taking this hit for the team. Click the link at my name for photos on Flickr.
Here are my initial impressions of the tool:
* I was worried about the side-to-side balance. Holding it, it does not have the serious sideways balance issue of other tools with the “bottom” nail puller pointed to the side. It feels like I can use the hammer-head at any angle without it pulling at me. That’s good.
* Regarding the lever Bob S. mentioned above, I can not make it move at all. I can’t even tell which way it is supposed to move. It’s not mentioned on the cardboard backing zip-tied to the tool–the “packaging”–or in their videos, or on their site at all that I can find. That’s not good.
* Without being able to move the lever, it’s fixed as a hammer with a crowbar at the end. The jaws are locked together. That’s not good.
* The handle and crowbar-end are black and finished, with silver-colored metal of some kind [hey, I’m not going to make any guesses] showing through in a few flattened places. The hammer-head is shiny silver-colored, rough and unfinished-looking at ALL the surfaces and edges, looks softened by a coat of chrome maybe. Not good.
* I’m pretty sure that “chrome” is not a guess because, well, every time I touch it or pick it up, more of the chrome flakes off. It’s silver-colored metal underneath, but I am still not making any guesses about interior composition. Not good.
I’ve got an unpleasant smell clinging to my hands after handling it. *Almost* like that nice new-tool grease/oil smell, but unpleasantly rancid or stale. Hmm, one go at it with Gojo wasn’t enough, it’s still there. Going to go back and scrub again.
Galadriel
Well, I still am not dismantling my barn yet (Florida is HOT), but I did have a chance to try this sucker out when moving some fence. I used it on both fence staples and long, bent, rusted, or just plain bad straight thick nails.
I took pliers to the lever and finally got it to move; I think I’ll just leave it there, and carry a hammer, because it does not get easier to move the lever with use. But at least the head is now in the right configuration to pull nails.
It does exactly as they claim. It may have rough unfinished edges and I may lose all of the chrome before its third use, but it will yank a nail right though a board, letting me release and move down the nail to get a really long one out. I have REALLY bad shoulders and it made this easy and almost pleasant. I got all of the fencing removed much more quickly than I’d planned. Very, very nice.
I was working with fencing board, and posts, weathered and dry but meant for hard wear. I still left a few marks. I would expect that on more delicate wood it would be hard to pull nails and leave the wood entirely intact for re-use.
So. It WORKS. It may not meet _all_ their claims exactly, but boy does it WORK.
Chakib MAHI
Hi
I want to know how can i buy this tool in Paris, or buy internet and delivery at home in paris
Stuart
It doesn’t look like you can buy this anywhere right now.
Alan
Where can I purchase a Kwick Grip nail and screw puller? There are no sites anywhere to buy one of these tools. I would love to get one.
Rick Parduhn
I have posted previously about this tool about Ben and his dad Eric having no knowledge of tool making . I invented and produced this tool at a small shop in Soldiers Grove with no help from them, except for Eric backing the patent with money for the patent and production. I would not think about buying this tool because it’s a piece of China junk. It’s not how I created it. The material that is being used does not support the design of the patented product.
Stuart
Your previous comment was nothing but personal attacks. What’s your goal in trying to drag your former business partners through the mud? What’s the point of this?
Lee
@ Rick Parduhn…. Since these tool don’t seem to be available anymore…. are you going to start building and selling them?
Lary Smith
I’m another guaranteed customer. Really NEED this tool or a more modern version. I’d prefer a plain ol’ round handle instead of the marginally useful hard-on-the-hands pry/bar. I’d like this tool to do one thing well; pull nails. All that other stuff is creative but they are all compromises.
Jeffrey Smith
when and where can i get one!!
Stuart
As mentioned in the post update, “The Kwick Gripper and EB Tools don’t seem to exist anymore.”