Warning: a church job in Charleston taught me to check for hidden nails in old trim

I was pulling baseboard in a 1920s house last month and my pry bar hit something hard, bending the trim. The old guys had nailed through the plaster into the studs behind it, not just into the bottom plate. Now I always use a strong magnet first to find those hidden fasteners. What's your trick for saving old woodwork without damage?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesley_adams8d ago

Ever find a nail in the weirdest spot? That magnet trick is a total lifesaver, honestly. I've wrecked my share of trim learning that lesson the hard way.

leo_fisher8d agoMost Upvoted

That magnet trick is solid. I also score the paint line with a sharp utility knife before prying. It cuts the old paint bond so it doesn't pull chips off the wall and onto the wood face. Go slow with a flat bar and use thin wood shims as you go to spread the pressure.

tylerj228d ago

Scoring the paint line is a great tip from @leo_fisher. I learned the hard way after chipping the face of some original door casing. A sharp knife and those thin shims make all the difference for clean removal.