Dick Haward’s tip on pulling nailsis a good one, but it can be carried further. Sometimes the hammer claws will not grip the nail tightly enough to avoid slipping as pressure is applied (steps 1 and 2 in the drawing). To finish the job, relocate the hammer claws on opposite sides of the nail (step 3) and re-apply pressure, locking the nail into the claws and lifting it out (step 4). This works especially well in the case of a nail that has “lost its head.”
Ryan Nevins, Venice, CA
