Removing Wall Anchors - Help!

MoonMan2 · Tuesday at 1:58 PM

These are wall anchor thingies.

I'd like to remove them from the 12mm thick board without wrecking the board.

Any tried and tested way!?

Wayners · Tuesday at 2:00 PM

Punch them through.
Use a old screwdriver or something and hammer to punch through.
Fill holes.

Other way is to cut around and put out but hole will be bigger

freddiemercurystwin · Tuesday at 2:31 PM

Use some long nose pliers to pry off the collars.

Wayners · Tuesday at 3:36 PM

freddiemercurystwin said:
Use some long nose pliers to pry off the collars.

They are bigger behind plasterboard as they spread out when screwed. Just no way to crush the back part that I know of to allow them to come out.
Plus the plasterboard is soft so you need to hold them to bend..
They aren't very good but that's a problem with plasterboard.

freddiemercurystwin · Tuesday at 3:55 PM

Alternatively you can find a suitably long bolt and screw it into the threaded part of the plug, then knock it with a hammer until the anchor has been extended, then pull it out the wall, effectively reversing the process by which it was fitted in the first place.

Rodders53 · Tuesday at 5:49 PM

Use a HSS bit to drill off the front and the back will then push in/drop into cavity leaving a relatively small hole and four puncture points to fill.

It's the way I've done a few in this house.

MoonMan2 · 2026-05-31T13:18:40+0100

Job done!

I was surprised how easily the metal collars of the wall hooks broke by use of long nose pliers.

Thanks for help.

opps · 2026-05-31T14:18:09+0100

freddiemercurystwin said:
Alternatively you can find a suitably long bolt and screw it into the threaded part of the plug, then knock it with a hammer until the anchor has been extended, then pull it out the wall, effectively reversing the process by which it was fitted in the first place.

I do the same. Works in most cases.

When it doesn't, I try to punch them below the surface (and then fill).

The HSS drill idea makes perfect sense.

mattylad · 2026-05-31T21:54:16+0100

I just put the screw back screwed in a little bit then giv it a tap with the hammer.
Works every time.

MoonMan2 · 2026-06-01T16:13:09+0100

mattylad said:
I just put the screw back screwed in a little bit then giv it a tap with the hammer.
Works every time.

You're talking about hammering the wall plug through to the other side completely intact?

Doesn't the collar make a bigger hole that way?

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Removing Wall Anchors - Help!

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