Nail-related wisdom sought

[undyingking]

Preparatory to moving we need to replace some skirting-board in the living-room. I've pulled the old board off, but the nails which were holding it are still embedded firmly in the wall and I can't work out how to get them out without pulling out large chunks of wall. But they're too flush for me to get a hacksaw in and cut them off. Or should I just make hollows in the back of the new board (which I'm going to be gluing on) to accommodate their heads? They're big old rectangular-cross-section things and look like they've been there for some time...

Comments

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Those mini cutting tools you can get for use in electric drills would be able to cut right next to a wall.

Must admit, in your position I'd just make holes in the wall then fill them up again with Tetrion (or similar).

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, cutting tool would be great, sound kind of expensive though?

I will end up by making holes if I can't do anything else, but I'd like to explore the possibilities first, in case there is a practical way round...

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Drill them out?

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

That sounds as though it might involve some screechy metal noises... I'm a bit scared of drills. Although open to persuasion that it's not as bad as I think, as I do actually have a drill but not either of the other suggested implements.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

If you drill a hole right beside the nail on the side and on the bottom, you should be able to wiggle the nail out and then have an easily disguised neat hole rather than a big divet.

Wear goggles, though, as if bits of metal fly off the nail they are sharp.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I have now done this, and yay! -- it worked just fine. Thanks!

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

I am the DIY guru ;o)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

How far are the nail heads sticking out? Should be at least as much as the board was thick so you should be able to get to them with a pair of (Carpenter's) pincers.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Yes -- mm, maybe I should get (or se if I can borrow of a neighbour) some pincers, they sound cheaper than a mini-cutting-device.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

and will come in handy if you need to remove any nails in your new property. :o)
I remember a friend telling me that he had to remove about 100 nails from the walls of his last house when he moved in. The previous owner had been a bit ... odd.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Did the previous owner look anything like this?

[waistcoatmark.livejournal.com]

Put a candle/spirit burner thing underneath them 'til they get hot and then let them cool down? Ought to loosen things up a bit...

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Gosh, that's an interesting idea! I shall certainly try that next time, but sadly I'd already drilled them out before reading this.