Wear protective eyewear to protect yourself. In some cases, the nail will pop out and go flying when you do this. This will work on all surfaces, but it’s best on hard wood, metals, and masonry. Avoid doing this on drywall without a strip of wood or putty knife under the head of the hammer.
You can use a cat’s paw to reach nails that are flush with the surface they’re embedded by striking the L-shaped end with a hammer while holding the flat end next to the nail at an angle. This will work on any surface, but it will damage drywall. Cat’s paws could leave marks or damage behind after you use them. [4] X Expert Source Josh GoldenbergResidential Remodeling Expert Expert Interview. 25 January 2022.
Pry bars look a lot like cat’s paws but they tend to be longer and thicker. They’re also designed to handle strikes from a hammer. This process will work on hard wood, metal, or masonry. It will absolutely destroy drywall, though. Pry bars are often marketed as bear claws. Some pry bars have a handle on the end instead of an L-shaped length.
Nail pullers are really easy to use, but they’re a specialized tool that most people don’t have access to. You can pick one up online or at a construction supply store.
This will only work on wood and soft metals. It’s not a great choice for masonry, though. You may accidentally cut the nail if you squeeze too hard, so don’t use all of your force at first.
If the nail is especially big and you aren’t particularly worried about damaging the surface of your material, feel free to use a chisel or cat’s paw instead of a screwdriver. A cat’s paw is an L-shaped bar with a chisel on each end. You can use a putty knife, which is a flat blade used for joint compound, instead of a screwdriver if the nail head is really thin and you’re trying to avoid damaging the material that the nail is embedded in. A putty knife will only work if the nail is barely sticking up, though.
This process will work on wood, soft metal, and masonry. Don’t strike the screwdriver hard—you only need to dig directly under the head of the nail to remove it. This shouldn’t require a ton of force. If you’re using a cat’s paw, strike the L-shaped handle with the hammer. If you’re using a putty knife, strike the handle very gently to get it in between the head of the nail and the surface.
If you can’t move the head of the screwdriver, try pressing down on the handle at the same time that you’re tapping it with the hammer.
You may need to apply some moderate pressure if your nail won’t move at all, but avoid pressing too hard. Many flathead screwdrivers will crack or break if you press down too hard on them. If you can’t get the nail up at all, you may need to repeat this process 3-4 times. If you do, repeat the process next to the first location where you tried to raise the nail to create enough space for another tool to get the nail out. If you’re using a putty knife, press up and down against the surface and the head of the nail, respectively. This will create a gap for your tool.
This process may require 3-5 minutes of work. It may not be easy if your nail is really bent. You may be able to use needle-nose pliers on thinner nails, but you’ll generally have more luck with slip-joint or lineman’s pliers. This is the best choice for drywall. It will work on any surface, though.
You cannot use a pneumatic nail remover if you can’t access the sharp end of the nail. Pneumatic nail removers cost $50-200 depending on the brand and model you get.
This process is not recommended if your nail is embedded in plastic or metal. The nail is extremely likely to get stuck in these materials if you attempt this. You can use a hammer if you prefer, but you’ll need to strike the screwdriver accurately. A mallet is preferable since it distributes weight evenly as it strikes a surface.
You can also use a reciprocating blade, but this is largely unnecessary unless you have an extremely strong nail.
