Starting my first defret... Have some questions.

[ErebusBass]

I've done a search and read the sticky but I still have a few questions.
I'm planning on going to the hardware store in the next day or two to get everything I need, here comes the first set: I'm not entirely sure what all I need. So far all I've got on my list is wood filler to fill in the fret slots, and sandpaper (one rougher, one finer). Am I missing anything?

Also, I have some questions about the actual defretting process:
What did YOU do to pop your frets out? I was planning on using a very tiny screwdriver and banging it (very lightly) next to the fret and working it across the fret to loosen it up then prying it out with something. I don't want to ding up the fretboard, please help me with this.
I've heard that my nut height will most likely need to be lowered, how do I file down the nut slot? How do I even take the nut off? I've never done this and don't want to damage the instrument in any way.
Last but not least, I was planning on filling in the fret slots with wood filler, even though I know that this isn't the best, but rather the easiest way to do it. What difference does it make what you fill in the slots with? Is it just for cosmetics, or does it effect the sound/playability in some way?

Thanks in advance, I'll post more questions as they pop up, I'm sure I'll have a ton.

[aquateen]

here's what I did.

1. heat up the fret with a soldering iron. doesn't have to be much but will help loosen any glue that may have been used.
2. take a blade from a box cutter or utility knife and use it to pry the fret up, working you way across the fretboard. do it on both sides. you might get it come all the way out with the balde.
3. grab the fret with some needle nose pylers and gently pull it out. be careful not to splinter the freatboard on either side of the slot.

to fill the slots, I would use strips of veneer, either wood or plastic. make them as close to the width you need and glue them in with superglue. sand the fingerboard down to make it smooth but be careful not to make it uneven. this is the trickiest part, imo. if you not sure you can do it right, have a repair shop do it for you.
the nut does not have to be removed. you can simply use a file or even sandpaper to lower the nut slots.

if you're not comfortable doing this, then find a shop to do it for you!

[69nites]

okay when I'm doing a refret I use blue painter's tape to tape off the fingerboard. if any wood splinters off it will be caught by the tape and you can glue it back on and you don't have to really worry so much about damaging your fingerboard.

I pull the frets carefully with fret nippers.

it's a really easy process. If they were glued in you generally need to apply some heat to the frets.