How to get rusted or tight exterior nails out when hammers don't fit

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

1. 1
   Using a small flat pry bar or cat's claw
2. 2
   Using a pocket knife to wedge space behind the metal
3. 3
   Prying and destroying the old cover to access the nails directly
4. 4
   Using a manual impact driver struck with a hammer
5. 5
   Applying penetrating oil such as WD-40
6. 6
   Using heat or soaking overnight with penetrant
7. 7
   Tapping a regular screwdriver lightly on the back while trying to turn it
8. 8
   using an angle grinder to cut through the hardware
9. 9
   using a nut splitter tool
10. 10
    using a torch to heat the rusted parts
11. 11
    Soaking parts in penetrating oil overnight
12. 12
    Heating the nut or surrounding metal with a torch
13. 13
    Using a nut splitter or extractor socket

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.