How to Remove a Nail From Wood Without Damaging It

If you’re taking apart a piece of furniture, removing wood molding or disassembling any other wooden home fixture, you run the risk of damaging the wood. An easy way to put an ugly dent in a piece of wood is to drive the head of a hammer into it while you use the claw end to remove a nail. But avoiding this misstep is just as easy. All you need in addition to your usual tools is a small, thin piece of wood to distribute your leverage.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Wood with nails in it
• Small piece of scrap wood about ¼” thick

Instructions

1. Place the thin piece of scrap wood on the wooden surface with the nail you want to remove. Set it about 1-inch away from the nail head on the side you plan to approach it from with the hammer.

2. Set the hammer’s claws around the sides of the nail head. Carefully lower the front of the hammer until the center of the head is resting on the piece of scrap wood. If necessary, slide the scrap wood closer to the nail to remove any direct contact between the hammer and the wood surface.

3. Apply slow and steady pressure to the hammer’s handle as you pull the nail all the way out of its hole. You may want to remove the hammer before the nail is completely removed and pull the nail out the rest of the way with your hand, as this will help you keep the edges of the nail hole straight.

Tips & Warnings

• This method not only helps you avoid denting or scratching the surface of the nailed wood, it’s also good for your hammer. The scrap wood acts as a fulcrum because the center of the hammer head is elevated above the claw end, and this puts less stress on the handle, which is the most vulnerable part of any claw hammer.