How to remove a dowel from a concrete wall: metal, plastic, nail, broken screw

While removing a dowel from a concrete wall may appear difficult, it can actually be quite simple if you take the proper approach. Each type of fastener—metal dowels, plastic anchors, nails, or broken screws—needs a slightly different technique to be extracted successfully. This guide will take you step-by-step through every scenario so you can approach the work with assurance.

Because of their strength and longevity, metal dowels are frequently used, but removing them without the right tools can be difficult. Most of the time, a pair of pliers or a claw hammer will work, but caution and patience are needed to prevent damaging the nearby concrete. You may need to use a specialized tool or a little more leverage to remove particularly stubborn dowels.

Even though plastic anchors are simpler to work with, they can still be difficult, particularly if they have broken off inside the wall. The secret is to extract them with gentleness while avoiding additional harm. Some very useful techniques are to use a pair of needle-nose pliers or to grip and pull the anchor with a screw.

Broken screws and nails pose special difficulties. Usually, a claw hammer can be used to pry out a nail, but if the nail is really embedded, you may need to use more creative techniques, such as a small crowbar or a nail puller. In contrast, broken screws might need to be removed from the concrete by drilling around them or by using an extractor bit.

The secret to success, no matter what kind of dowel you’re working with, is patience and the appropriate equipment. You will have all you need to safely and effectively remove dowels from your concrete walls if you just follow the advice and methods in this guide.

Plastic dowels

You might need specific tools and abilities to remove a plastic dowel. Yet, taking these fasteners out is frequently simple and quick. Nylon, plastic, and other elastic materials can be used to make plastic dowels. They can be made with whiskers to secure the sleeve in the monolith, and they can be produced with a variety of profiles and spike depths.

The simplest method for removing these dowels is to insert a sturdy corkscrew into the element. To do this, take out the screw and its plastic shell first. Then, insert the corkscrew clockwise, pull it in your direction, swing it, and remove the sleeve with care.

• Hammering into the wall – if the dowel sticks out strongly and it is not possible to pull it out, the element can be hammered in. To do this, you will need a hammer and a center punch, putty and a spatula. The center punch is placed on the protruding fastening, knocked with a hammer, and then the hole is sealed with putty.

• Removing the dowel with pliers, nippers – for this, you need to fix the tool on the plastic element, and then carefully pull with force and at the same time loosen it.
• Melt with a soldering iron – there is also such a method for removing the dowel. Suitable for cases when the plastic element is broken. It is melted with a soldering iron, then removed or hammered into the monolith of the wall.
• Using a metal tube – find a pipe of suitable size, stuff it onto a plastic rod and simply take it out.
• Screwing in a suitable self-tapping screw 2/3 of the length of the dowel, then sharply pulling it out.
• Using a drill and a drill equal in length to the dowel – several holes are made around the element with a drill, then the loose rod is picked up with nippers / pliers and it only remains to easily remove it.

You must disassemble the monolith more carefully if you intend to remove a plastic dowel from aerated concrete because it is extremely brittle and unpredictable, and the fasteners are designed with spiral-shaped special blades. Such a dowel must be handled carefully.

Metal

Metal dowels typically have a different configuration than plastic ones; they are made like sleeves with three petals that open up to act as anchors when installed in concrete monoliths. Typically, a screw serves as a spacer element; it can be a standard screw or one with a detachable cone. The dowel may have antennae, spikes, or cling along its whole length.

To remove simple expansion dowels, simply knock out or unscrew the bolt. Using combination or pliers to hook the edge, the tool is held against a wall or stand (if the wall is brittle), and it is simultaneously pulled and swung.

"Molly"

These kind of daubel function on the following principle: their center is compressed and opened in the shape of petals by means of special screws or ticks. This enhances the fastener’s strength considerably and permits the best possible load distribution (which is especially important in hollow walls). It is nearly impossible to disassemble the dowels due to this design.

When the screw is unscrewed and pushed, the fastener’s so-called petals break in half instead of straightening out completely. As a result, the fastener is forced to be removed, and the hole is then sealed after the fasteners’ remnants are removed.

Removing the dowel for a construction gun

Dowels resemble nails that have had washers welded to them. Experts advise against using the construction gun to install fasteners for plumbing, batteries, windows, doors, and other projects because they typically do not require disassembly.

• 2-4 blows on the head with medium force (the dowel will loosen), then you need to grab the head, pull it out, swinging.
• Fasteners can be heated by a burner, allowed to cool (fasteners will expand, slightly spread concrete, then acquires past dimensions), pull out.
• With a drill 6, enter as close as possible to the fastener, squeeze a narrow tool (for example, a crowbar) under the head, knock the pin into the slot located nearby.

Using the proper equipment and methods can make removing a dowel from a concrete wall a simple task. Knowing the precise procedures for each type of material—metal, plastic, nail, or broken screw dowel—will help you avoid wasting time or aggravating yourself.

Grasping and removing metal dowels with pliers or a claw hammer works well most of the time. Applying pressure and lightly tapping the dowel with a hammer can help loosen it if it’s stubborn. Conversely, plastic dowels can typically be pried out of the concrete using a screwdriver or by drilling a hole around them.

Because nail dowels are meant to stay firmly in place, they may take a little more work to install. In these cases, a pair of vice grips or a nail puller can come in handy. Using an extractor kit can be the best solution for broken screws. With the help of these kits, you can twist out the broken screw with little harm to the surrounding concrete because they are made to bite into it.

To prevent harming the concrete wall, it is crucial to proceed cautiously and slowly, regardless of the kind of dowel used. The secret to successfully removing the dowel without creating more problems is to apply steady, mild force. You can effectively complete the task and maintain the condition of your concrete walls by adhering to these tips.

Although removing dowels from a concrete wall can be difficult, it can be completed quickly and without causing any damage to the surrounding area if the proper tools and methods are used. Every kind of dowel, whether it’s made of plastic, metal, nails, or broken screws, calls for a different strategy. This tutorial will take you through each type’s step-by-step procedure while offering helpful advice to make the task go more smoothly and guarantee a clean, smooth surface that’s ready for any upcoming installations or finishing touches.

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