I’ve never seen anyone post this tip, and it’s so simple that I hate to take all the credit for it.
I used to remove trim and either clip off or pound back the existing finish nails. Now what I do is keep either a roto zip with an angle head attachment and metal cut-off wheel, or a 4-1/2″ grinder with a thin metal cut-off wheel handy.
I zip those protruding mails off on the back side of the trim. Very quick and very clean. Then I just shoot the trim back in place when I’m ready with a 16ga. or 18ga. finish nailer. Try this sometime – you’ll wonder why you never thought of it ( but then again, maybe you did).
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When cleaning up trim for reuse, I use a pair of bull nose pliers and pull out the nails from the back side of the trim.
I find this way is quick and easy, and I'm usually carrying the pliers, anyway.