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How to Remove drywall anchors?
What is the easiest way to remove this kind of drywall anchor? I have several dozen of the stupid things to remove.
Woodtick ... your method would work if you had a longer screw the same diameter as the original. It didn't quite straighten the legs out and left a big ugly hole.
pickmefirstplz (and David) ... punching them through is the easiest, and it leaves tidy little holes to patch.
And I like pounding on walls :)
Thanks to everybody ... I'm pounding them through the drywall and leaving nice tidy holes. The first one who suggested it got best answer, everyone else whe knew what the anchors were got a "attaboy"point.
13 Answers
- SkepDoc 2.0Lv 61 decade ago
I agree those ones are a pain. Punch them through the wall so the frayed paper from the drywall is on the inside and is then easier to patch.
Use topping compound as it is easier to sand. Do a couple of layers and allow to dry properly between for best results.
Source(s): been there, done that - woodtick314Lv 71 decade ago
Your best hope is to take the screw that was used in the molly, turn it in a couple of threads, and hit it with a hammer. You may be able to decompress the ribs. Then take a screwdriver to get under the flange, pry it loose, and pull it with the claws of the hammer. If that doesn't work, drive it all the way through. Either way, patch the hole and you are done. Good luck.
Source(s): Carpenter - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- Just DaveLv 51 decade ago
Almost impossible, I think. I just get a drill bit that's a wee bit larger than the center hole in the anchor and drill it through and it falls apart into the wall. As you know, the aluminum side deform when tightened, so they never go back to their original size and shape.
- 1 decade ago
2 Ways:
If it is a very soft surface, punch them thru with the washer intact.
If it is a dense surface, you can occasionally overtighten them (with a screwgun) to the point that the washer will break off, remove the bolt, and punch the molly thru the wall. You can then just repair it with a small amount of spackeling.
Source(s): Countless years in construction. - mrrosemaLv 51 decade ago
unscrew to minimize the on-end profile, then yank it out, you will still have to patch and sand regardless of removal method. A 50cent sized hole isn't much different to fix than a dime sized one. If you want to minimize tearout, a hole saw on the end of a drill could help.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
easy, remove the screw (if there is one), take needle nose pliers and pull them straight out. You'll be left with a little hole that you fill in with drywall mud, stand, & paint if you want.
Source(s): done it a million times - cyberfly00Lv 61 decade ago
there is no way to remove them without damaging the drywall. you could cut them out and then patch the drywall
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Beat them into the wall! Only pull them out if you HAVE to put another one it. One of those plastered ripped the corner off the plaster of my window- the whole freaken corner! The people who lived there before me used them on all the curtains and I had to replace them! LOL
I am convinced those thing were invented by Satan..... he is laughing at you right now.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I just drill them through and let them fall behind the wall then fill the hole with mud, sand it, and paint it. Smiles Terry
