Removing and making good old screw plugs

[Flyingspaniard]

Hi,

I just trying to prepare my walls for painting and wandered if there were any tricks for removing and making good old plastic plugs from the wall, where there were once hooks and shelves.
I have tried pulling them out with pliers but they break and that just leaves an untidy mess! I don't want to start drilling them out in case there's wiring in the wall... any thoughts?

 

[breezer]

drill them out, since there cant be any wiring in the wall because there is a rawl plug there already

 

[Flyingspaniard]

Gr8 thanks

 

[jbonding]

tap with a hammer and fill

 

[JohnD]

If you want to push a plug in deep, so you can fill over it, put a rather large screw (like a size 10) into it and tap it with your hammer. this will usually drive the plug in, then you can unscrew the screw.

If you want to pull a plug out, drive a screw into it and pull it out with the claw of your hammer. this will probably bring some plaster with it and leave a crater in the wall.

When you fit a new plug, it is best to drive it slightly below the surface of the plaster by tapping the screw before you tighten it. This reduces the risk of the plaster cracking as the plug expands, and also gives a stronger fixing, and is easier to fill (see above) when you decide to remove the fitting in years to come.

 

[Zampa]

tap with a hammer and fill

Yep...when it doubt...give em a clout...always works!