Caleb Foster
Removing finish nails can be a tricky task, especially when dealing with hardwood boards or when nail heads are embedded deeply in the wood. The main challenge is to extract the nails without causing damage to the surrounding wood or leaving noticeable holes. Common tools used for the job include hammers, pliers, wire cutters, nail punches, and reciprocating saws. The choice of tool and technique depends on factors such as the nail's placement, the type of wood, and the condition of the nail head.
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What You'll Learn
Using pliers
Pliers are a great tool for removing finish nails. Before you begin, ensure you are wearing protective eyewear. When using pliers, grab the nail at the base, on the back of the board. If the nail is bent, shake your pliers back and forth until you find the angle where the nail has some room to move. Then, roll the pliers as if you are rolling the nail around them. This will help you get the necessary leverage to pull the nail out.
If the nail is damaged or rusty, it may be harder to remove with pliers. In this case, you can try cutting the nail with wire cutters, or a pair of end-cutting pliers, leaving about a quarter of an inch protruding. Then, hammer the nail from the back until the head sticks up enough for you to use the claw of the hammer to extract it.
You can also use the pliers to pull the nail through from the back of the board, which will leave a neat round hole. If you are worried about damaging the wood, you can place a putty knife or another piece of stiff metal under the pliers to lever against.
If you are removing nails from trim, a carpenter's trick is to pry the trim off from the back and ignore the nails. If they pull through, great, and if not, you can pull them through the back after the trim is off.
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Using a hammer
To remove a finish nail with a hammer, first, assess the condition of the nail and the surface it is embedded in. If the nail is rusty, apply a lubricant like WD-40 to the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes. If the nail is on a delicate or old surface, be extra careful to avoid splitting or damaging it.
Next, ensure you have the correct type of hammer. A claw hammer is best for removing nails. If you are using a wooden-handled hammer, be aware that it may break if you are removing a particularly stubborn nail. Hammers with a fiberglass or steel handle are less likely to break.
Now, you can begin to remove the nail. If the nail head is not exposed, use a screwdriver, chisel, or cat's paw to dig underneath it. If the nail is small, use pliers or the cable-cutting part of pliers to grip and twist the nail out. If the nail is damaged or bent, use a pneumatic nail remover or screwdriver to push it through the surface.
If the nail has at least 0.25–0.5 inches (0.64–1.27 cm) of space between the head and the surface, you can use the claw of the hammer to remove it. Flip the hammer around and slide the prongs around the nail head. Press the hammer into the surface and rest it on a small block to protect the surface. Apply pressure to the handle in the opposite direction that the claw is pointing, then pull the nail out.
If the nail is stuck and you can't get enough leverage with the claw, try putting a scrap piece of wood between the claw and the surface to increase leverage and protect the surface. If this still doesn't work, use a crowbar with a scrap piece of wood to lever the nail out.
To remove a nail that is really small, use the hammer-and-block technique. Put a block under the head of the hammer to develop leverage, then use a strong, steady pull to remove the nail.
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Using a nail punch
If you are removing finish nails from trim that is less than 5/8 inch thick, you can punch the nails all the way through with a nail set or pin punch. This way, you won't have to pull the nails out. To do this, use a nailset to start the nail moving and then switch to the pin punch. Make sure to take your time and line up the punch nicely before driving it through to avoid breaking the nail.
If you are removing nails from a handrail, you can use a pin punch or nail set to push them through. You won't need to move the nail very far to free it from the newel post.
If you are removing nails from thicker pieces of wood, you can still use a punch to drive the nail back out. However, this will often result in chipping on the surface of the wood. To avoid this, pull the nails from the back of the wood. You can use large pliers or vise grips to do this. If you are reusing the wood, you can fill the holes with wood putty.
If you are removing nails from thin timber, you can punch the head of the nail right through the material and then simply adjust the workpiece and nail it in a different place.
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Using wire cutters
To remove a finish nail using wire cutters, you can try the following methods:
Cutting the nail
Use a pair of diagonal wire cutters to cut the nail as close to the wood as possible. If you can get them totally flush with the wood, great; if not, use a punch to gently tap the nail back into the wood diagonally so it doesn't poke out the other side. You can then pull the nail out from the back with pliers, channel locks, or another tool. This method is especially good for older and thinner trim, as it reduces the risk of damaging the wood.
Using a multi-tool
If you can't get a grip on the nail, you could try using a handheld multi-tool with different attachments. Use a small gouge to circle around the nail, removing enough wood so that you can grip the nail with wire cutters or needle-nose pliers. Place a thin piece of sheet metal or a scraper blade against the wood to avoid causing any damage or dents. Then, cut a matching face grain plug to fill the hole.
Removing the nail head
If the nail head is large and protruding, you can try pushing the nail towards the front of the piece until the head is slightly protruding. Then, use wire cutters to snip off the head. Finally, pull the nail through the back.
Modifying your wire cutters
Start with a pair of old diagonal cutters. Use a belt sander to grind away some of the material from the back of the cutters, forming a point at the end. Place the pointed ends on either side of the nail, push them slightly into the wood, then squeeze the handles and grip the nail right below the head. Rock the cutter back and forth and re-grip the nail until you can pull it out.
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Using a reciprocating saw
When removing finish nails with a reciprocating saw, safety should be a priority. Put on safety goggles and gloves to prevent injury from flying nails or wood splinters.
Next, fit your reciprocating saw with a metal-cutting blade. This type of blade has finer teeth and is designed to slice through nails cleanly. A 10-teeth-per-inch all-purpose blade is ideal for rough work and demolition. However, you may want to opt for a carbide blade if you want to cut through nails, wood, and drywall quickly.
Once your saw is ready, position the blade parallel to the wood, about half an inch from the nail. Hold the saw firmly and push the saw guard tightly against the wood. Slowly bring the saw into contact with the nail, letting the blade do the work.
After cutting through the nail, you can grind down any leftover metal or hammer it flat. If you plan to reuse the wood, you can sand down any protruding metal and fill the holes with wood filler or putty.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a variety of tools to remove finish nails, including pliers, wire cutters, a reciprocating saw, a hammer, a nail punch, or a cat's paw.
Use locking pliers, channel-lock pliers, or end nippers to pull the nails out from the back. Place a putty knife or a piece of stiff metal between the pliers and the wood to avoid damaging the surface.
If you want to avoid damaging the wood, you can use a nail punch or nail set to drive the nails through from the front. You can also use a reciprocating saw to cut through the nails without damaging the surrounding wood.
