Abstract: A pin pulling and inserting block has a channel therein in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped which opens on one end of the block and is large enough to admit the head of a retaining pin on an integrated circuit package shipping rail. There is a tapered ramp within the channel which progressively narrows the depth of the channel from a dimension which is larger than the depth of the pinhead to a dimension that will snugly hold the pinhead. A slot extends through the block from the channel opening and opens into the channel. The slot is wide enough to admit the shank of a pin whose head is admitted into the channel. There is a rounded surface on the end of the block opposite the channel opening which acts as a fulcrum for prying the pin out of the shipping rail. The pin remains snugly held in the channel after it is removed from the rail and can be easily inserted back into the rail by simply pressing the rail against the exposed end of the pin.