Removing nails embedded in plywood floor

boatbuilder

I need to remove about eight sheets of 3/4 plywood that have been nailed down to joists with a nail gun. Any ideas for a handy way to do it?

There are about 12 or 15 nails on each sheet, but the nail gun must have been very powerful and the nails are well embedded under the surface of the plywood.
I've tried pulling the sheets up at the edges with a big prybar, but I think the plywood would break before the nails come up.
I tried cutting the heads off the nails with a small grinder and then pulling the sheet up..it worked but created a heck of an amount of smoke and as this is in a small triangular crawl space it's a horrible way to do it...

Any ideas greatly appreciated!:)

lgk

Use a nail puller. Simpler varieties available.

galwaydude18

Use a 2' long nail bar. Beat it in between the joint of two sheets and pry the sheet up. You may need to use the claw of the hammer to hole it open while you move the nail bar along it length and width. Once you have the sheet up knock the nail through to the other side and then pull them out fully

Carpenter

Get a nail punch