Tips on getting old nails out of wall?

[rhysjc]

Morning all,

Took on what I thought would be an easy job Saturday, pulling off an old picture rail from the wall. Bit of a mess created for the plasterer, but took me 5x longer thanks to the old nails. Not sure specifically what kind they are, but they look most like what I’d expect to see the floorboards fixed down with. Every so often one would come out with the rail, but for the most part they were so tight in to the brickwork and plaster they’d rip out of the wood. Anybody got any tips on getting these out? I’ve tried using the rail remover on the hammer and pry bar, and pulling with pliers. Got a few out but mostly just pulling the heads out after A LOT of huffing and puffing.

 

[Mottie]

Knock them in instead.

 

[JohnD]

Bang the heads sideways and they will snap off.

 

[rhysjc]

Not a bad idea knocking them in! So far all the ones where the head has snapped off have snapped below the level of the plaster. When the heads don’t snap off they’re protruding so far I’m not sure I’d be able to knock them in deep enough.

 

[Mottie]

One swift whack with a hammer will get them below the surface and then just fill and smooth over - you’re going to have to fill and smooth over the hole if you removed them anyway.

 

[blup]

Grind the heads off flush or just below the surface with a multi tool. If they were set in mortar they will be probably as difficult to drive in as to pry out.

 

[rhysjc]

@blup i reckon this is the way to go. Cheers for that

 

[JohnD]

Not a bad idea knocking them in!

Sideways.

 

[mrrusty]

If they're square cut nails I found getting them in the claw of a claw hammer and twisting them was enough to snap them flush most of the time,

 

[rhysjc]

Most effective I’ve found is a few hits sideways either way with a hammer then pull and wiggle with some pliers