removing v. large wall plugs

[Janet Tweedy]

My husband had a wheelchair stair lift which had a very heavy large bar bolted at intervals to the wall. The wall plugs were very large and consisted of a very thick plastic outer edge and solid metal (what looks like brass) inner.

When he died, the platform stair lift was taken out but it has left about 15 of these very large rawplugs where the bolts went into the wall. They are proud of the surface and to date several people have decided that they don't know how to get them out of the wall so i can redecorate. At least not without chopping VERY large holes around them and digging them out but they are VERY deep and they are 3 centimetres wide.

Anyone know of a way of removing them please?

Janet

[MuddyMike]

I wouldn't even try removing them. Just grind (angle grinder!!!) them back slightly beyond the wall surface, fill and rub down.

Mike

[The Medway Handyman]

Could you post a photo somewhere so we could see one? I can't think of a fixing 3 cm wide.

[stuart noble]

Or drill into them with the same diameter bit as was used to make the holes in the first place. Less dusty than a grinder

[Adrian C]

Drill a large hole (>3cm) in a plank of wood. Get a coach bolt of the size that was originally used and a large washer (>>3cm). Thread the washer onto the bolt, then both though the plank into the wall plug. Tighten the head with a spanner until the plug leaves the wall.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Like others said, a picture may be useful.

The brass insert may be the spreading plug for the plastic. In this case, hammer the brass insert in as far as possible, and then the plastic may let-go of the hole sides.

[Janet Tweedy]

In article , The Medway Handyman writes

Hopefully I've set up photobox to show three views of the wall. (Never used photobox before so keeping fingers crossed!)

[ss]

I have in the past screwed a screw nail in to fittings (might need a large screw to get a grip) then using a piece of wood to protect the wall just used a claw hammer and levered them out. But as others have said me just be easier to hammer them into the wall.

[Bob Minchin]

plastic and should be able to be remove the plastic to below the surface with a sharp wood chisel. Then you can fill almost flush with filler, allow this to dry and shrink a bit, then finish fill flush.

hth

Bob

[dennis]

It depends on how deep they have drilled the holes

[Janet Tweedy]

In article , Bob Minchin writes

No, tried very sharp chisel and plastic seems so thick it's almost impossible to make a mark let alone cut through!

[Janet Tweedy]

In article , "dennis@home" writes

Very deep, don't forget there's a brass sort of plug at the bottom of the hole, it seems to have been screwed in through the plastic outer bit

[Janet Tweedy]

In article , ss writes

Did get someone with a huge drill bit to try that but the brass bit at the end of the hole seems to hold the thing in the wall tight. Of course if you are trying to carry a platform and a wheelchair up the stairs i am sure it has to be very strong but it doesn't help when you are trying to dismantle it all! I've had to leave the motor still bolted to the board in the loft as I have no idea what to do with that:) Council work on basis that we had the thing for more than 26 years so our or rather my problem.

[Newshound]

the back of a stanley knife with a small hammer to get clean removal. You want to remove *all* of the plastic to well below the wall surface without doing too much damage to the rest of the plaster (or yourself). Then fill the bulk, skim, and sand if necessary. The details depend on what filler you use, and your degree of skill and patience.

[Terry Casey]

That first one looks well proud of the wall, suggesting that the hole may not have been drilled deep enough in the first place (hence so many protrude).

In that case, attempting to hammer it further in could not only be counter productive but cause other damage to the wall.

This looks like the type of anchor which looks like a bit of rod with a cross-cut in it, when viewed from the other end, that is 'set' after insertion either with a tool or, more likely, a screwdriver and a hammer, to splay the end. (I know it's got a name but I can't recall it!)

If so, what is the likelihood of pulling it out successfully?

Janet, you say 'they are VERY deep ...'. Can you quantify that?

Thought ...

If using a bolt to pull it out doesn't work initially, how about drilling some holes in the wall around the object, in other words, right up to it, then tapping the projecting bit sideways from several different angles to try to 'rock' it in its hole, then try pulling again?

(Presumably, if all else fails, a circle of holes all the way round should work as it could simply be lifted out of the larger hole this created. This might be preferable to 'chopping VERY large holes ...')

[The Natural Philosopher]

[The Natural Philosopher]

messy, but can be tided up

[ss]

Janet where do you live maybe some kind soul could pop round and have a look for you.

[thirty-six]

Knock the innards to the back of the hole, make longnitudinal cuts with a cutting disc on an angle grinder and get a slim cold chisel to break the tabs you have just made inwards. Use mole grips and a wrecking bar to pull out from an intact tab. You may not even have to go that far if you get the insides completely loose. Just the grips on the outer part of the fixing with the aid of the wrecking bar may be enough.

[John Miller]

In article , "dennis@home" writes

Very deep, don't forget there's a brass sort of plug at the bottom of the hole, it seems to have been screwed in through the plastic outer bit