throughbolt/thrubolt removal?

[Robert]

Hello,

Is it possible to remove through bolts? I guess not because when you pull the bolt it will engage with the skirt and anchor itself more firmly. Is it just a case of cutting unwanted ones as close to the wall as possible with an angle grinder and tapping them below the surface?

It's not so bad when there's a sleeve left in the wall, but it is a nuisance when there's a bolt protruding!

Rob

[Dave Plowman (News)]

If you mean the sort of expanding wall bolt, slacken it and tap the bolt inwards. This should push the wedge out and allow it to be removed.

[Robert]

Thanks. What a fast reply!

Something like this I think:

looks like it pulls a cone into an expanding skirt (thanks to John who taught me this in another thread). In other words the far end is wider than the middle, so trying to pull it causes the end cone to jam against the skirt.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Rob

[Dave Osborne]

There is no trick that you're missing. Either you patiently "wiggle" it out (if you can) or, as you say, cut off with a hacksaw or angle grinder.

[dent]

Is it a through bolt, or a shield anchor? They are used in much the same way, but are constructed slightly differently. For example, a shield anchor looks more like:

it's one of these, then you can simply unscrew the inner bolt, and then the shield collapses in on itself allowing it to be pulled out.

If it's not the unscrewable type, tighten it up as much as possible to pull the bolt as far out of the hole as you can, to leave as much depth at the back of the hole as you can. Then cut the bolt off close to the wall, and tap the bolt back into the space you made by tightening the bolt up originally.

dan.