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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Painting, Decorating & Tiling Questions >> Hollow wall anchor removal? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1164628368 Message started by SankeySoap on Nov 27^th, 2006, 11:52am

Title: Hollow wall anchor removal?
Post by SankeySoap on Nov 27^th, 2006, 11:52am

I'm about to move out of an apartment and wish to remove the hollow wall anchors which were holding up a shelf and then 'make good'. They are similar to http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100067&ts=27827&id=12229. I know you can get a tool for setting them in place, but I wasn't sure whether there was one for the reverse process? I was also thinking that if I put the screw just back in the thread and then gently tapped it, I may be able to get it straight and pull it back through, but that sounds like it may go horribly wrong! Any tips/ideas on how to get them out would be much appreciated.

Title: Re: Hollow wall anchor removal?
Post by SankeySoap on Nov 27^th, 2006, 12:02pm

Actually, I may be able to answer my own question. I found these guides on the web (after doing more googling). If you have any better suggestions then they'd be most welcome as well.

This first one seems the best to me, since it's a cleaner finish.
http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/19303/

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/inffastener/infanchor/infanchor.shtm

Title: Re: Hollow wall anchor removal?
Post by woodsmith on Dec 2^nd, 2006, 7:45am

Hi Sankey soap, I've looked at the two methods on the links, the first where the cap is pulled off could work on the cheaper fixings, that are sold by the likes of Screwfix, but if they are better quality you'd do a lot of damage to the wall.

Easiest is to keep the bolt in and give it a push or a tap, you may want to give a bit of a "jiggle" and get it just below the plaster surface then remove the bolt and Polyfilla over it.