"Charlie S." wrote in message
newsMXmf.1492$Bj4.312@trndny01...
Live in an old house where the nails rise up from time to time from out of
the pine floor.

Years ago I went around pulling some of them up and replacing them with
long screws. (The Phillip heads don't look nearly as nice as the old
rustic nails... I should cover the screws with some wood-filler type
stuff.

The tops of the nails are rectangular. The problem is that some of them
don't rise up very much and it's difficult to remove them without
occasionally damaging the surrounding wood.

I used a screwdriver type tool that has a curved v-shaped claw to it.
Crowbars and hammer claws are too thick to fit beneath the nails.
Sometimes, I couldn't grab the nail and damaged the wood slightly to get
at it. Anyone recommend a less damaging method? And, any cosmetic
substitute to using long screws other than covering them up?


I have used Vise Grips. If they stick up much at all, you can get ahold of
them. The jaws on the pliers are rounded, but put a small square of plywood
or paneling or luan next to the nail, and then roll the pliers onto the
piece to keep from marring the floor.

Works on some, not all, YMMV

STeve