Staple Removers, Tack Lifters & Ripping Chisels

Upholstery Staple Removers, Tack Lifters and Ripping Chisels

Shop specialist upholstery tools for removing staples, tacks, decorative nails and old covering materials from furniture frames. Livedale supplies compact tack lifters, professional C.S. Osborne staple removers, straight and cranked ripping chisels and specialist furniture-stripping tools.

The range can help with:

• Removing upholstery staples
• Lifting traditional tacks
• Pulling small nails
• Removing decorative upholstery nails
• Stripping old fabric and hessian
• Opening existing upholstery constructions
• Preparing furniture frames for reupholstery
• Marking timber, leather and suitable workroom materials

Choose the tool according to the fixing, access, condition of the furniture frame and whether the old covering material needs to be preserved.

A narrow staple lifter, tack claw and broad ripping chisel perform different jobs. Selecting the correct tool can provide better control and reduce unnecessary damage to frame timber.

Shop Upholstery Removal Tools by Type

The range includes:

• Angled and spoon-shaped staple removers
• Wooden- and plastic-handled staple lifters
• Compact tack lifters and claws
• A specialist decorative-nail removal tool
• Straight and cranked ripping chisels
• An upholstery scratch awl

Upholstery Staple Lifters and Removers

Staple lifters are designed to work beneath suitable upholstery staples so that they can be raised from the furniture frame.

The most suitable design depends on:

• Staple crown width
• Staple leg length
• How deeply the staple is embedded
• Available access
• Furniture-frame condition
• Whether the old fabric must remain intact
• The amount of leverage required

Cag Kabara Angled Upholstery Staple Lifter – Red Handle

The Cag Kabara Angled Upholstery Staple Lifter – Red Handle has an angled working head and fluted handle.

The angled blade helps the tool enter beneath the staple crown while keeping the handle clear of the furniture frame.

It provides a lower-cost alternative to the C.S. Osborne No.120.5 and may suit regular furniture stripping and staple removal.

Mundial Plastic-Handle Upholstery Staple Lifter

The Mundial Plastic-Handle Upholstery Staple Lifter uses a compact blade similar in style to the C.S. Osborne No.124.

It may suit:

• General furniture stripping
• Accessible upholstery staples
• Smaller chair and cushion frames
• Occasional repair work

This product is currently shown as unavailable, so stock should be checked before ordering.

C.S. Osborne No.1066 Spade Upholstery Staple Lifter

The C.S. Osborne No.1066 Spade Upholstery Staple Lifter has:

• A broad spade-shaped working blade
• Drop-forged steel construction
• Hardwood handle

Its wider working end provides more contact beneath a staple or suitable tack than a narrow awl-style tool.

This may be useful where the fixing head is accessible but too broad or firmly seated for a small pointed lifter.

Work the blade beneath the fixing gradually rather than forcing it deeply into the timber.

C.S. Osborne No.124 Wooden-Handle Upholstery Staple Lifter

The C.S. Osborne No.124 Wooden-Handle Upholstery Staple Lifter is manufactured from tempered 4140 alloy steel.

Its compact blade and traditional wooden handle make it a general-purpose tool for removing upholstery staples from furniture-frame timber.

It may suit regular work on:

• Chairs
• Sofas
• Footstools
• Headboards
• Cushion frames
• Furniture backs and arms

C.S. Osborne No.124-12 Long-Reach Staple Lifter – 12″ Blade

The C.S. Osborne No.124-12 Long-Reach Staple Lifter – 12″ Blade uses the same general design as the standard No.124 with an extended blade.

The extra reach may help when removing staples from:

• Deep furniture frames
• Restricted internal sections
• Areas behind padding
• Deep corners
• Sections that cannot be reached with a standard tool

The longer shaft also creates greater leverage. Apply pressure carefully to avoid splitting or marking old frame timber.

C.S. Osborne No.120.5 Angled Upholstery Staple Lifter

The C.S. Osborne No.120.5 Angled Upholstery Staple Lifter has:

• An angled working end
• Tempered alloy-steel construction
• Hardened working edges
• Fluted amber handle

The angled blade is designed to enter beneath suitable upholstery staples while providing clearance between the handle and furniture frame.

The handle shape also helps prevent the tool rolling when placed on the workbench.

Plastic-Handle Awl-Type Upholstery Staple Lifter

The Plastic-Handle Awl-Type Upholstery Staple Lifter has a narrow pointed working end.

This style may be useful for:

• Starting beneath a tightly fitted staple
• Working in restricted areas
• Raising one side of a staple crown
• Occasional furniture repairs

A narrow point can mark timber more easily than a broader lifter if excessive force is used. Insert it carefully and avoid driving it unnecessarily into the frame.

Upholstery Tack and Small-Nail Lifters

Tack lifters and claws are designed primarily for suitable upholstery tacks and small nails rather than deeply embedded fine-wire staples.

C.S. Osborne No.146 Upholstery Tack and Small-Nail Claw

The C.S. Osborne No.146 Upholstery Tack & Small-Nail Claw has:

• Tempered-steel shaft
• Plastic handle
• Clawed working end

Position the claw beneath the tack or nail head and apply controlled leverage rather than pulling sharply away from the frame.

Browse Upholstery Tacks & Gimp Pins for the traditional upholstery fixings commonly removed with this type of tool.

Silverline Soft-Grip Upholstery Tack Lifter

The Silverline Soft-Grip Upholstery Tack Lifter has a hardened chrome-vanadium steel blade and soft-grip handle.

It provides a straightforward general-purpose option for lifting suitable upholstery tacks from furniture-frame timber.

Toolzone Soft-Grip Upholstery Tack Lifter

The Toolzone Soft-Grip Upholstery Tack Lifter also uses a hardened chrome-vanadium steel blade with a soft-grip handle.

The Silverline and Toolzone tools are similar in their current specifications. Selection may therefore depend on availability, blade shape and personal handle preference.

Removing Decorative Upholstery Nails

C.S. Osborne No.200 Decorative Upholstery Nail Removal Claw

The C.S. Osborne No.200 Decorative Upholstery Nail Removal Claw has a fine narrow claw designed to enter beneath suitable ornamental nail and tack heads.

Its construction includes:

• Hardened and tempered working end
• Wooden handle
• Nickel-plated ferrule

The narrow claw may help remove decorative nails while limiting contact with surrounding fabric and timber.

Browse Decorative Upholstery Nails for loose furniture nails and decorative nail strips.

When removing a decorative nail:

1. Protect the surrounding fabric and timber.
2. Work the claw beneath the head gradually.
3. Lift the fixing a small amount.
4. Avoid twisting against visible timber.
5. Complete the removal with suitable pincers where required.

Browse Upholstery Pliers, Stretchers & Pincers for tools that can grip a raised tack or nail.

Upholstery Ripping Chisels

Ripping chisels are more substantial stripping tools used when old upholstery materials are being removed completely.

They may help remove:

• Old upholstery fabric
• Hessian
• Platform cloth
• Lining materials
• Layers secured with repeated staples
• Suitable tacks
• Materials that will not be reused

A ripping chisel is less appropriate where the old cover must be preserved carefully as a pattern.

C.S. Osborne No.402 Cranked Upholstery Ripping Chisel

The C.S. Osborne No.402 Cranked Upholstery Ripping Chisel has:

• Cranked forged-steel blade
• Angled chisel edge
• Translucent plastic handle

The cranked blade provides additional clearance between the handle and the furniture frame while the tool is worked beneath old fabric and fasteners.

It may be useful for stripping larger sections where removing every staple individually would be unnecessarily slow.

C.S. Osborne No.402.5 Cranked Ripping Chisel with Tack Claw

The C.S. Osborne No.402.5 Cranked Ripping Chisel with Tack Claw combines the cranked chisel design with a more defined tack claw.

This allows the tool to:

• Strip old fabric
• Lift suitable staples
• Engage selected tack heads
• Work along furniture-frame rails
• Remove mixed upholstery fixings

It may be preferable where broad stripping and individual tack removal are both required.

C.S. Osborne No.762P Straight Upholstery Ripping Chisel

The C.S. Osborne No.762P Straight Upholstery Ripping Chisel has a straight forged-steel blade and red plastic handle.

Its direct blade design may suit:

• Exposed furniture rails
• Flat frame sections
• Areas with straightforward access
• Stripping where a cranked blade is unnecessary

Choose between straight and cranked ripping chisels according to the frame shape, required working angle and amount of hand clearance available.

C.S. Osborne No.4 5½″ Upholstery Scratch Awl

The C.S. Osborne No.4 5½″ Upholstery Scratch Awl has a hardened steel point.

Unlike the other products in this category, it is principally a marking and scribing tool rather than a staple or tack remover.

It can be used to:

• Mark layout points
• Scribe suitable leather
• Mark timber
• Mark steel
• Create shallow guide points
• Indicate future fixing positions

Browse Upholstery Measuring & Marking Tools for rulers, tapes, chalk and related layout equipment.

Choosing the Correct Removal Tool

Choose an angled or spoon-shaped staple lifter where:

• Individual staples must be removed
• The old covering may need to remain intact
• Controlled lifting is more important than speed
• Damage to the timber must be minimised

Choose a tack claw where:

• Traditional upholstery tacks are being removed
• Small nail heads are accessible
• A narrow claw is required

Choose the decorative-nail removal claw where:

• Visible ornamental nails require careful removal
• The surrounding fabric or timber must be protected
• Nail heads are closely spaced

Choose a ripping chisel where:

• The furniture is being stripped completely
• Large areas of fabric and staples must be removed
• Speed is more important than preserving the old material
• The furniture frame is strong enough for broader leverage

Choose suitable pincers after a tack, staple or nail has been raised sufficiently to grip.

A Practical Furniture-Stripping Process

A controlled stripping process is:

1. Photograph the original furniture and upholstery.
2. Label panels that may be reused as patterns.
3. Remove decorative nails and trims carefully.
4. Lift accessible staples and tacks.
5. Remove covering materials in manageable sections.
6. Retain useful templates and measurements.
7. Remove remaining metal fixings.
8. Inspect the timber, springs and webbing.
9. Collect loose staples, tacks and nails.
10. Prepare the frame for the new upholstery.

Related replacement products include:

• Upholstery Staples
• Upholstery Tacks & Gimp Pins
• Upholstery Staple Guns & Pneumatic Tackers

Protecting the Furniture Frame

Old furniture-frame timber may be dry, split or weakened by previous upholstery work.

When levering:

• Work close to the fixing
• Avoid driving the tool deeply into the timber
• Use a protective pad where practical
• Apply pressure gradually
• Change the working angle if the fixing resists
• Avoid levering against decorative timber
• Use a smaller tool in restricted areas

If a staple crown breaks, remove the remaining legs with suitable pincers rather than repeatedly forcing the lifter into the same section of timber.

Safe Use

Wear suitable eye and hand protection while stripping furniture.

Old staples, tacks and nails can:

• Break during removal
• Spring away from the frame
• Remain hidden inside discarded fabric
• Project from old covering materials
• Fall onto the workroom floor

Always:

• Work away from the supporting hand
• Keep the furniture stable
• Store sharp tools safely
• Collect removed fixings in a closed container
• Check discarded fabric before handling
• Inspect the floor after stripping
• Keep tools and fasteners away from children

Do not strike a staple lifter or tack claw unless the manufacturer confirms that it is intended for impact use.

Care and Storage

After use:

• Remove fabric fibres and adhesive residue
• Wipe the working edge clean
• Check the blade or claw for damage
• Inspect wooden and plastic handles
• Protect tools from damp
• Store sharp points and claws securely
• Keep stripping tools away from finished upholstery

Replace tools with:

• Cracked handles
• Bent shafts
• Chipped claws
• Mushroomed striking ends
• Badly damaged working edges

A damaged removal tool is more likely to slip and mark the furniture frame.

Related Upholstery Tools and Supplies

Closely associated ranges include:

• Upholstery Pliers, Stretchers & Pincers
• Upholstery Hammers & Mallets
• Upholstery Staples
• Upholstery Tacks & Gimp Pins
• Decorative Upholstery Nails
• Upholstery Staple Guns & Pneumatic Tackers
• Upholstery Measuring & Marking Tools

Return to the Upholstery Tools hub for cutting, measuring, fastening and furniture-repair equipment.

Trade Upholstery Stripping Tools

Livedale supplies staple removers, tack lifters and ripping chisels to professional upholsterers, furniture restorers, manufacturers and training workshops throughout the UK.

The range covers careful removal of individual fasteners as well as faster stripping of complete furniture sections.

Approved trade customers can access preferential pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose the tool according to the fixing, access, frame condition and whether the original upholstery must be preserved.