removing deck nails

[dennisberge]

I would like to remove ring shanked deck nails in my teak deck which has worn down and needs refastening. I would refasten with screws. Does anyone know how to remove these nails?
Thank you

[JMAC]

I've never had any luck pulling them, unless total destruction of the ply is okay. Could you refasten with screws next to the nails?

[Dale Harvey]

Centerpunch the nailhead and drill with appropriate bit to remove head. You may want to make a jig to do this quickly and accurately. Take a length of thin stainless tubeing from the hardware, cut it a bit longer than the nail, and siver solder to a drill bit. cut with a diamond pattern file to make tiny teeth for a mini-holesaw that just fits the nail shank. You may want to make a dozen or so if its a big job. Drill down to clear the nail and yank out the nail shank with needle nose pliers, or an old dental tool if you can find one. The commercial screw extrator bits I've seen are too thick to do this and leave enough wood for screws without plugging.

[imported_Conrad]

The decks on my Egg Harbor were also nailed down with ring shank nails, and wear had reduced the thickness to the point where the bungs wouldn't stay in. I found the only solution was to pry up the decking plank by plank with a builder's "Wonder Bar", sort of a putty knife on steroids. The first four or five planks suffered pretty badly, then I slowed down and got the hang of it. After sawing the planks down to 1/2" and running them through a planner I plan to set them in epoxy with new bungs just to fill the holes. The only other approach I considered was to center punch and drill the existing nails- trying it on several convinced me I'd die before the job was ever completed, but a younger man might be able to make it work.....