Removing "anchors" from drywall

[ottawasquaw]

Hi all.

Well, after living in old houses (with plastered walls) for most of my life, I now find myself temporarily in a 15-yo home with walls in need of paint. However, I'd first like to remove all the left-over plastic and metal anchors from the previous homeowner. You know, those little rubber jobbies that expand in the drywall to hold your screw for your window treatments, etc.

Any suggestions? I know how to install these, but I've never had to remove them, and there are a bunch! Even some on the back of doors, which I am not sure are metal or wood. So far, I am guessing that I can (maybe) stick a screwdriver in there and gouge them out. Of course, there will be major patching, etc. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[AwayWeGo]

Slightly Less Gouging By Using Diagonal Cutters.

Any other suggestions?

Once you get enough a particular embedded item exposed, you can grab it using pliers, etc., & pull the whole thing out -- in pieces, if necessary.

Diagonal cutters are good for that because they're pointed and work like something like pliers when you're not squeezing the handles together hard enough to cut through. You can work the pointed ends under the embedded item, then use the cutters to grip the partly exposed anchor.

If you're dealing with embedded Moly-Bolt-style metal expansion anchors, you might consider just leaving those in, but tightening them so the surface of each remaining 1 is slightly lower than the surrounding wall surface, then Spackling over the anchor.

Any way you do it, though, you'll need major serious Spackle to fix all the holes when you're done.

Good luck.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[ScoopKona]

Hi all.

Well, after living in old houses (with plastered walls) for most of my life, I now find myself temporarily in a 15-yo home with walls in need of paint. However, I'd first like to remove all the left-over plastic and metal anchors from the previous homeowner. You know, those little rubber jobbies that expand in the drywall to hold your screw for your window treatments, etc.

Any suggestions? I know how to install these, but I've never had to remove them, and there are a bunch! Even some on the back of doors, which I am not sure are metal or wood. So far, I am guessing that I can (maybe) stick a screwdriver in there and gouge them out. Of course, there will be major patching, etc. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Use a wood screw with wide enough threads to grab the anchor, but not wide enough to expand it so it does its job.

Insert screw "just far enough" then grab the screw with pliers and pull the anchor out. You'll get the hang of it after a couple anchors.

 

[Makai Guy]

No matter what you do, you will scuff up the edges of the hole somewhat. But since you're going to patch the holes anyhow, this shouldn't be too big a concern.

I usually remove the plastic ones by grasping with pliers and pulling. If you can't get a good grip, try screwing in a screw just 1/4" or so and pulling on that just enough to get it started.

The metal ones usually were used with threaded bolts, not screws, and are more difficult to remove.

They go in like this:
____
 ||
 ||
 ||

But expand out like this:

____
 /\
 \/

If you can find an appropriate bolt to screw into it, try tapping on the bolt with a hammer to straighten the anchor out in the wall a bit, then gently try to pull enough to get it started coming out. Then pull the rest of the way out with pliers.

 

[Passepartout]

Using a punch, screwdriver or similar tool, just pound 'em down below the level of the surrounding drywall and spackle over 'em. don't remove them at all or you have a bigger problem to fix.

Jim Ricks

 

[ottawasquaw]

Excellent and Thank you!

Hey, guys, I knew I came to the right place Thanks! These tips and suggestions are really going to be a big help!

And Alan, nice to hear from you - (my son#2 just finished his first year at DePauw. He adores the football program and the science research ...)

 

[easyrider]

Using a punch, screwdriver of similar, just pound 'em down below the level of the surrounding drywall and spackle over 'em. don't remove them at all or you have a bigger problem to fix.

Jim Ricks

yup.........do it like this

 

[ricoba]

Who'd have guessed that TUG has now become an extension of the DYI Network!

 

[RDB]

I have drilled tiny holes along the edge to make an area in the plaster board for the tunked anchor to receed a bit.

Like finishing nails in moulding. I only push them in farther, never pull them out. Keep in mind, the anchor, screw and/or nail already fill most of the hole. Not much filler required.

Have fun.

 

[easyrider]

Who'd have guessed that TUG has now become an extension of the DYI Network!

:rofl: whats next, diy health care

 

[Elan]

If I were going to do this, I'd use a Dremel to remove the head portion of the anchor, and leave the expandable portion in the drywall (unless it wanted to come out easily).

Jim

 

[RDB]

If I were going to do this, I'd use a Dremel to remove the head portion of the anchor, and leave the expandable portion in the drywall (unless it wanted to come out easily).

Jim

Jim, I never thought to do that. Always another thing to learn.

Thanks.

 

[silverfox82]

I use my drywall hammer, it had a convex head withs a knurled pattern on it. A smack on the fastener leaves a concave depression with texture that holds the spackle. They are not real expensive but a regular hammer works also. You can mix a bit of plaster in your spackle and it will dry much faster for a second coat and sanding all in the same day.