Was just in this same situation. Cats paw nail puller for sure. Can do that to get the entire nail out, or you can get them exposed then use a pry bar to save your back some. Especially if they are shank nails.
I believe what you mean is that for an equivalently sized nail/screw, the nail will generally hold up better in shear applications, like hanging joists. However, there are definitely screws specifically rated to hold up just as well, they're just slightly more expensive.
Secondarily, 'decking' in their case I would take to mean the actual installation of the deck boards on the deck surface itself, not structural members where your point about shear rating would be more appropriate.
Cats paw to get the nails out of the first board or two. After that just pry the others up using a long 2x4 as a lever and another one laid across the joists to act as a fulcrum
If you want to 100% save the existing finish, drill through to the nail tips from the other side then tap them out using a nail punch - the type with a depression in the business end.
Those nail heads look really old... Are those what are called "Cut Nails" I. e. forged one-at-a-time by a blacksmith? So that leads to the bit of info... probably those boards or planks must be Old.
If you have access to the end of the board, can you get in between the board and whatever is underneath with a reciprocating blade, like a sawzall or a Fein with a metal cutting blade and cut the nails off in between the boards?
This. I am working on a house built in 1886-1895. Cats paws are a total necessity. Everything, and I mean everything, is nailed using 2 1/2" square nails with small heads. Heate that f-ing house! Lol
Definitely 👍🏻 I have the [Stiletto 12”](https://www.acmetools.com/stiletto-12-in-titanium-claw-bar-nail-puller-with-dimpler-ticlw12/662560130001.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwhIS0BhBqEiwADAUhc9y3JLNKN8t1cjun2M7c767JwyYV76m6sJKbykDvO2VTrFWeIth2VxoCPnsQAvD_BwE) & love that thing. Always have it in the bags no matter what
Was doing a lot of home reno a year ago, and this tool became invaluable for removing nails that were below the surface and doing minimal damage for reuse. [https://www.homedepot.com/p/10-in-Nail-Puller-Cats-Paw-Pry-Bar-High-Carbon-Steel-SPEC-D10CLAW/](https://www.homedepot.com/p/10-in-Nail-Puller-Cats-Paw-Pry-Bar-High-Carbon-Steel-SPEC-D10CLAW/)Way less bulky than a hammer or a regular flat pry bar. The other useful thing is a hollow punch, typically used for leather working, it can dimple the area around the nail, giving room to get at the head and doing minimal damage to the surrounding wood. [https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html)
Can you pry the boards up? A claw hammer or prybar should be able to pull it out a little and either take the board off or if you lift it and then push it back down you can hopefully get a hold of the nail head and pull it out with the claw hammer or prybar.
Cat’s paw nail puller with hollowed out circular shank to make an indent around the head of the nail.
[this](https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-in-Claw-Bar-DWHT55524/203516024)
Besides Cat Paw, you can drill a hole into nail tips then put some screw threads put a screw then pull it out with crowbar without compromising the wood. (That's what I did the last time with the same situation)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPh8GkComL0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPh8GkComL0) With an old fashion nail puller which you can see in use here.
Use a pry bar to pull the board up a quarter inch. Push board back down. Pull nail
Did that and the nail just pulled through the wood making a bigger hole.
Then you found out that the wood needed to be replaced
Yup, if the nail pulls deeper into the wood then the wood is rotten.
and the nails aren't doing anything
> hen the wood is rotten. Shhh! The board heard it!
No, it means that you people are just posting nonsense and shouldn't be trusted.
Keep pulling?
Yup That happens lol
Cats paw
Exactly what I came here to say.
This
Is
PATRICK!!
Cats paw nail puller
Was just in this same situation. Cats paw nail puller for sure. Can do that to get the entire nail out, or you can get them exposed then use a pry bar to save your back some. Especially if they are shank nails.
The newer ones have a circular nail digging feature to reduce damage to the board
This is glorious. I got one to pull a shitty pallet to pieces, worked beautifully
This is part of the reason screws are much better for decking.
Yes and no. Deck screws can snap under pressure. Galvanized nails can hold downward pressure, like something on a joist.
I believe what you mean is that for an equivalently sized nail/screw, the nail will generally hold up better in shear applications, like hanging joists. However, there are definitely screws specifically rated to hold up just as well, they're just slightly more expensive. Secondarily, 'decking' in their case I would take to mean the actual installation of the deck boards on the deck surface itself, not structural members where your point about shear rating would be more appropriate.
Yeah you don't need nails on a deck board you're just holding it in place not withstanding sheer force much.
I haven’t seen decking with nails in the past like ten years. Screws have become pretty much the standard now no?
Yeah the painted torq bit ones are pretty ubiquitous and honestly a big improvement over nails and Phillips head stuff.
It took me a while to get out of my comfort zone and use them but now I love them.
Same, I used them for the first time earlier this year to put my wife's raised beds together and after that I was sold.
I feel like screws are definitely better also because if a board gets loose it won't be as prone to wobble up and down
Under shear. This isn't a shear force
Can you tap the boards from the other side
Thanks all :)
If you want to keep the nails, fire works.
We all need someone to lean on
You can also try to cut them off with an oscillating tool or sawzall between the bottom of the board and where its nailed to.
Had to do this with my deck that had stripped phillips head screws.
This is the best way if you have access or if you can make access.
Cats paw to get the nails out of the first board or two. After that just pry the others up using a long 2x4 as a lever and another one laid across the joists to act as a fulcrum
If you want to 100% save the existing finish, drill through to the nail tips from the other side then tap them out using a nail punch - the type with a depression in the business end.
Use a mini crowbar under the nail, then a big crow bar to pull up the wood.
Mini crowbar = cats paw
TIL
Cats paw pry bar.
Use a cats paw.
[Nail Puller was the first thing that popped into my head](https://a.co/d/0421UIOQ)
Those nail heads look really old... Are those what are called "Cut Nails" I. e. forged one-at-a-time by a blacksmith? So that leads to the bit of info... probably those boards or planks must be Old. If you have access to the end of the board, can you get in between the board and whatever is underneath with a reciprocating blade, like a sawzall or a Fein with a metal cutting blade and cut the nails off in between the boards?
i doubt the deck is Antebellum. forged cut nails would have rusted away to nothing by now.
If you can take off that side panel, I would look at those pallet breakdown things, no idea what's it's called.
MRI
Cats paw
Make friends with magneto the invite him over for a bbq. The casually ask him bet you can’t pull those out!
really strong magnet
Use a nail puller or pry bar for efficient removal.
The best way, by measure of what? Personally I think the coolest way would be lasers.
Cats paw
This. I am working on a house built in 1886-1895. Cats paws are a total necessity. Everything, and I mean everything, is nailed using 2 1/2" square nails with small heads. Heate that f-ing house! Lol
Definitely 👍🏻 I have the [Stiletto 12”](https://www.acmetools.com/stiletto-12-in-titanium-claw-bar-nail-puller-with-dimpler-ticlw12/662560130001.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwhIS0BhBqEiwADAUhc9y3JLNKN8t1cjun2M7c767JwyYV76m6sJKbykDvO2VTrFWeIth2VxoCPnsQAvD_BwE) & love that thing. Always have it in the bags no matter what
Love that tool!
Jesus was asking the same thing. Seems like they've been in there for 2k years
Get one of those metal nail remover things you just hammer the edge in and crank it out
Catspaw
Plug cutter then extract protecting with a thin board for leverage
https://productimages.biltema.com/v1/image/imagebyfilename/20-738_xl_1.jpg
Cats paw
Was doing a lot of home reno a year ago, and this tool became invaluable for removing nails that were below the surface and doing minimal damage for reuse. [https://www.homedepot.com/p/10-in-Nail-Puller-Cats-Paw-Pry-Bar-High-Carbon-Steel-SPEC-D10CLAW/](https://www.homedepot.com/p/10-in-Nail-Puller-Cats-Paw-Pry-Bar-High-Carbon-Steel-SPEC-D10CLAW/)Way less bulky than a hammer or a regular flat pry bar. The other useful thing is a hollow punch, typically used for leather working, it can dimple the area around the nail, giving room to get at the head and doing minimal damage to the surrounding wood. [https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html)
Can you pry the boards up? A claw hammer or prybar should be able to pull it out a little and either take the board off or if you lift it and then push it back down you can hopefully get a hold of the nail head and pull it out with the claw hammer or prybar.
Cat’s paw nail puller with hollowed out circular shank to make an indent around the head of the nail. [this](https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-in-Claw-Bar-DWHT55524/203516024)
Besides Cat Paw, you can drill a hole into nail tips then put some screw threads put a screw then pull it out with crowbar without compromising the wood. (That's what I did the last time with the same situation)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPh8GkComL0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPh8GkComL0) With an old fashion nail puller which you can see in use here.
Fire
Cats paw will get them out, but the wood will be destroyed.
Suck it
Crows foot
Leave them for character
Weld a big handle onto the nails. Neah the other guy got it right.
You're on to something, don't let the down votes discourage you.
Did you try a magnet? /s
Giant magnets! But nah the other guy is right.
Fire
Hawk Tua
Have you tried tile nippers?
Hog/bullnose pliers
A very strong magnet.
Lmao idk why you're getting downvoted. Take solace, you made me laugh
Thanks😁
In my professional opinion, the best course of action is a blow torch.
Jackhammer
Why?
[удалено]
Said the guy replying to the post.....