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Step 1
Know that there are several types and sizes of pry bars that you can buy. Your local home improvement store or hardware store should have a good selection to choose from. You can often find pry bar sets packaged together that provide you with a variety of kinds that are suitable for any job you need to do.
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Step 2
Buy a small-sized pry bar for tasks such as pulling nails out of wood. This type of pry bar is often referred to as a "cat's paw." It is usually about 1-foot long and often flat. Some are round and have a split section ("claw") that you put around the nail to pull it out.
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Step 3
Look for pry bars that you can buy in 2- to 3-foot lengths. These are good for pulling out large nails and for taking lumber apart that has been nailed wrong. These pry bars are also good for pulling warped wood tightly so that it can be nailed properly.
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Step 4
Purchase the big 5- to 6-foot-long pry bars for heavy-duty jobs. You can use these as a lever to move heavy objects. Buy one to stick under the edge of heavy objects and you can lift easier. The longer, heavier pry bars provide greater leverage. This is a great size for pulling the wooden frames away from finished concrete floors, for example.
