How to knock nails out of a wall without a hammer (6 ways)

If you're in the middle of a project and your nail is stuck in the wall and you don't have a hammer to pull it out, what should you do?

Some nails may be difficult to remove while others may be loose and pop out easily. You can still remove them using a few tools and no-hammer hacks. I have been a jack-of-all-trades for many years and have put together a few tricks in my article below. Depending on how tight or tight the nail is, you can use these simple methods to remove them.

In general, there are several tricks that you can use to remove stuck nails from a wall without a hammer:

• Insert a flathead screwdriver, coin, or wrench under the head of the stuck nail and pry it out.
• You can also insert a butter knife or chisel under the nail and remove it.
• In addition, you can grab the head of the nail between the prongs of a fork or pry bar and easily pull the nail out.

Let's look at this in detail.

Method 1: Use a flathead screwdriver

You can easily remove stuck nails from the wall without a hammer with a flathead screwdriver.

Removing nails in this way is not particularly difficult, but you will need some knowledge to get a stuck or deeply stuck nail out of the wall. You can damage the layers of the wall, especially if it's made of plywood, if you don't get the stuck nail out properly.

A flathead screwdriver is the best screwdriver you can use to get stuck nails out without a hammer. This is especially useful when the nail head is flush with the wall surface.

Here is how you should remove the nail with a flathead screwdriver:

Step 1. Bend the flathead screwdriver close to the head of the nail on the wall.

Place the tip of the screwdriver next to the (0.25 - 0.5) inch surface next to the head of the nail.

Step 2. Tilt the screwdriver at a 45 degree angle to the wall surface, gradually lifting it up being careful not to slip off the 0.25 or 0.5 inch position.

Step 3. Now you can press down on the head of the nail to pull it out.

Be careful not to hurt your fingers when pressing on the nail.

Method 2: Use a butter knife

Kitchen tools like a butter knife can help you get stuck nails out of the wall. I prefer a butter knife because it is short and strong over a regular knife that is long and flexible.

It is best to use an oil can, especially if the nail head is thin. This will prevent collateral damage to the wall. The knife will work best if the nail is barely sticking out.

Proceed as follows:

Step 1. Take a butter knife and run it under the surface of the head of the nail until you feel it is firmly under the head of the nail. You can test this by trying to pull the nail out.

Step 2. Once you have a firm grip on the nail, apply pressure and gently pull the nail out.

If the nail is too big and won't come out, try using a chisel in the next technique.

Method 3: Use a chisel to pry the stuck nail out of the wall

Chisels are durable tools that can be used to remove nails stuck in various types of walls.

You can even use them to get nails out of hard wall surfaces like concrete walls.

This type of technique is viable if the nail head is relatively large and strong. Thin nail heads can swing open, jeopardizing the entire process. So make sure the nail head is strong before using a chisel to pull it out.

To pull out a nail:

• Take a chisel and slowly push it below the surface of the nail head.
• Be careful not to damage the wall.
• Using the lever is optional but recommended.
• Once you have a good grip on the head of the nail, lift it up and gradually pull the nail out. It is so simple.

Method 4: use a fork

Yes, a fork can work just fine. However, the nail must be small or the fork will bend and fail.

The fork uses the same mechanism as the hammer tines, only they are not as strong and no turning is needed. You can't turn the fork because it's not strong and bends immediately when pressed by hand.

The procedure is quite simple:

• Check the minimum distance between the nail head and the wall surface.
• If the head of the nail is firmly attached to the wall surface so that there is no room to insert it under the prongs of a fork, try to pry it out with a suitable tool or the tip of a fork.
• Then insert the tines of the fork so that the head of the nail fits snugly under the tines.
• With a firm grip on, pull the nail out gradually but firmly.

Method 5: use a pry bar

If the nails are too big or hard to pull out by other methods, you can always rely on a pry bar.

A pry bar is a perfect example of a heavy duty tool for removing stuck nails and other similar materials. 

The mount is an L-shaped metal object with a flat chisel at one end. Here's how you use a pry bar to pry nails out of walls:

Step 1. Wear safety goggles.

During the removal process, the nail can pop out with force and accidentally get into your eyes or any other part of the body. Therefore, make sure that you prevent such incidents by covering vulnerable areas of the body. (1)

Step 2. Insert the flat end of the straight side under the head of the nail.

Step 3. Use your free hand to hold the middle bar in the middle area.

Step 4. Use a strong piece of metal or wood to hit the bar on the opposite side to dislodge the nail. (You can use your hand if nothing can be found)

Method 6: use a coin or a key

Sometimes we are caught off guard with nothing but a coin or a pair of keys. But you can still use them to remove stuck nails from the wall.

However, the nail doesn't have to be hard or hard pressed or sunk into the wall for this trick to work. And be careful not to hurt your hands in the process.

The process is simple:

• Get a coin or keys.
• Slip the edge of the coin under the head of the nail.
• For small nails, you should be able to use your strength to "knock out" the small nail with a coin.
• For larger nails, place your finger or a small metal object under the coin to add leverage when you press it.
• Once you have a good grip, push the nail with reasonable force onto the coin or the other end of the key.
• You can use keys and coin interchangeably. (2)

For a key to be useful, it must be of considerable size and have smooth edges. Wrenches with a round tip may not work.

Recommendations

(1) vulnerable areas of your body - https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Cuts-The-Most-Vulnerable-Areas-Of-The-FCS4LKEET

(2) coin – https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-are-coins-made-4589253