Removing cable clips from external brick wall

rubble2

Ridiculous as it may sound I am having real problems removing redundant cable clips from my house wall. When we moved in we had the existing satellite dish and cabling removed but it left behind a number of clips still attached to the brickwork (I am talking about the ones with a plastic semi circle that fits over the cable and is then hammered into the brickwork with a masonry nail.

I thought that the easiest option would be to prise the plastic bit off the nail and then use a claw hammer under the nail head to pull it out from the wall but they seem to be incredibly difficult to shift, the plastic wont easily come away from the pin and with the plastic still in place I can't get any grip on the pin to lever it out.

I have even thought about heating/burning the plastic so that it drops off the nail but that seem a bit risky when you are up a ladder.

I am sure that there must be an easier way to sort this so would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

shiraz99

Have you tried with a pair of pliers and a bit of a twisting motion.

grumbler

I was always able to remove all clips with pliers, but in the worst case scenario pincers will surely do this easily.

maisie_cat

Agreed that pincers are the easiest thing but not too sharp because they cut the nail head off instead of removing it.

grumbler

Those nails are for mortar and are very difficult to cut. You grip them as close to the wall as possible, cutting through the plastic. Even if you cut it (unlikely), you can just hammer the remaining part into the wall.

Eldi_Dos

Tack lifter and a piece of wood to help with leverage, wear eye protection as they can suddenly ping free.

If plastic clips are still on pins you could put  a length of rope through and pull from safety of the ground.