Tips for removing finishing nails from molding

Sometimes forever doesn’t last as long as you think it will. When you put finishing nails into your molding, you were probably thinking that you wouldn’t have to worry about it ever again. That’s not always the case and you may decide that you want the molding out. Here are some tips for getting the nails out with the least amount of damage:

After you have carefully pried the molding off of the wall, you may want to reuse it somewhere. Unfortunately, it won’t do you much good if it’s splintered because you were too rough getting the nails out. One thing NOT to do is try to drive the nails back through the front of the molding. This will, in all likelihood, damage the wood.

Actually, the best option is to pry the nail out through the back. To do this, get a pair of linesman pliers. These are the best for the job because their grip on the head will keep a good hold of the nail. Grab the nail where it is sticking out in the back about halfway down. While you pull the nail, roll it to one side rather than trying to bring it straight up. If you turn the piece of wood over to the front after pulling the nail, you will see that the only damage is from when you put the nail in the first time.