Stake Pullers

There are many clever stake pullers on this page. If you want an easy solution try this: Get a pair of vise-grips, grab onto the top of the stake with the vise grips and twist while pouring water down the shaft of the stake. Two complete turns should do it and the stake slides right out.

Using Rope and Your Leg Strength

Ember writes: “I have a stake puller I learned about from a DPW old-timer. It’s not heavy-duty but will pull up tent stakes, concrete form stakes, and rebar. It fits comfortably in a pocket; I store mine in a sandwich ziploc. Unfortunately there’s no URL to point to a seller’s web page. Perhaps when we meet, a camera can capture how to make and use one.

It’s a 10-ft length of flat nylon tubing – a climber’s lightweight rope, really, purchased at REI. A couple of knotted loops make it possible to seize a stake, tighten the strap around your waist (over your hipbones) while you stand bent-kneed over the stake, and then stand up by straightening your knees. Behold: no back effort; it’s all legs doing what they do well. Out comes the stake.

The effectiveness can be greatly increased by an assistant who grabs the stake with vise-grip pliers and rotates it back and forth – also a low-stress activity.

I’ve made a drawing of how to tie the knots, and use the puller, but it’s not online. I’ll be happy to show off the puller once we reach the playa.”

Weed Wrench

Yes, this doesn’t sound like something you’d need on the playa, but it’s the tool used by the infamous DPW of Black Rock City.
$82 http://www.weedwrench.com/index.htm

Stake Pullers for Concrete Forms

Yet another unlikely source for stake pullers. These are designed to pull stakes out of concrete forms, but can also be used on the playa.
http://www.deeconcrete.com/stakepullers.html

Multi-purpose Stake Pullers

These guys have figured out there are many uses for stake pullers.
$95 http://stakepuller.com

Tent Stake Puller

This one looks sturdy.
$250 http://www.gettent.com/catalog2/1__stake_pullers_1591529.htm

Tent Stake Puller with Wheels

Wheeeeee! Scroll down to see the stake puller. Call them for more information.
http://www.anchorinc.com/tentaccessories.html

Tolman Tool Stake Puller

Typical playa tool. (Kerry uses this one. Position its short end downward, and it pulls candy-caned rebar, too.)
http://www.tolmantool.com/stake.htm
$60 http://www.amazon.com/

Gas-Powered Stake Puller

Silly! Don’t use this one in the AEZ!

http://www.gettent.com/stakepuller.htm

Broken Stake Pullers

It doesn’t take the Incredible Hulk to break a stake puller! Here are some photos of a stake puller from Harbor Freight: they no longer carry these. It bent and cracked its second year on the playa.

This puller is made of Mystery Metal! If you want to get a durable puller, get one made of steel, as opposed to unlisted metal or iron. Of course, strength is more than just the metal: design is important too.

Be careful how you use a stake puller: even an expensive one can break if it’s used improperly. To avoid tool breakage and/or bending of your stakes, align the tool so that it pulls the stake straight out of the ground.