Thread: Nail/screw extraction

I think you want this thread - it pretty much covers it

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/ex...-timber-66502/


For my two cents if the nail is flush with the surface then drill two holes either side, knock the nail sideways with a punch to loosen and try and dig out enough timber to get a grip with pliers/pincers/multigrips is the only way. You can choose to try conservative with smaller drill sizes or go big enough that you will be able to knock the nail right into the hole.

or, if you can live with them... just punch them down out of the way. Don't like it myself but sometimes you just have to.

pampelmuse,

Cheers

None of the searches I tried turned up that thread - and I knew it existed as I recall reading it.

might try the drill holes next to the nail trick first

Nick, a good set of vice grips and an old chisel works wonders.
Once I get a grip on the nail I insert a small pry bar under the vice grips and pull the nail straight up.
I found the chisel worked well because I could cut an angled divot that the corner of the vice grip jaws fit into....if that makes sense.

To remove screws you can always try an impact driver to get them started.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

pampelmuse,

Cheers

None of the searches I tried turned up that thread - and I knew it existed as I recall reading it.

might try the drill holes next to the nail trick first

I have just tried the link and it worked first time. Maybe it's good now.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/ex...-timber-66502/

Regards
Paul

Paul

Thanks

I meant that when I did a forum search for removing nails and whatever other search terms I came up with I didn't get that particular thread, which I knew existed.

Sawdust Maker

Sorry. Thought there was a computing hiccup.

For what it's worth, I have de-nailed several houses and heaps of demolition timber. I have used good claw hammers, pincers, vice grips (chisels are a bit of a last resort if you are removing literally hundreds of nails) selected pinchbars (the vee section on most of them is poor), metal detector and nail punches.

The punches are to drive the nail in if all else fails. If the timber is going to be planed, sawn or thicknessed, I draw a circle around it with crayon so I know it's down in the timber somewhere.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Paul

Thanks

I meant that when I did a forum search for removing nails and whatever other search terms I came up with I didn't get that particular thread, which I knew existed.

I use a flat nail punch, around 3 mm and whack it all around the nail, but not too deeply, at angled away from the nail. Then remove mashed bits of wood and use vice gips or wire pincers. Works every time for me (mostly) and doesn't dig as big a hole as a chisel.

I use a old large screw driver (or small chisel)thats cut into a V on the end, doesnt need to be ultra sharp bit of an edge will do. Attack the nail each side and lift out the chips, now grab some vice grips and lock them on "dont not lever it yet" grab a pry bar or large claw hammer and hook it under the vice grips and heave straight up. If that dont work the drill will do it.
I would never nail them in, its to easy too forget and find them with a machine DAMHIKT

Nail holes can be hid pretty easily when recycling joists if you consider it while designing your project.
Panels hide them as you can glue the nailed faces together, if the nails are in a straight line you can groove/dado them out to form the stiles and rails on doors or panels.

Harry
thanks

The 'nailed' face will end up as the underside of a workbench or the rails of said bench. I thus will want it reasonably smooth. The groved idea with glued in piece sounds like it might work - But I'll bet my left ? that they don't line up but is an idea anyway

one thing that works moderately is getting an engineering rolled pin...ya know a pin rolled of spring steel.
grind the end sort of like a drill and use the nail shaft as a centre.

select the right rolled pin and this gives the smallest possible hole for a given nail extraction

if you have any head or shaft showing at all a big pair of pincers is by far the best thing.

But if they are deep , and you can at all manage....drive em deep and leave em where they are.

cheers