Drill Out Stubborn Anchors

A last-resort technique for plastic anchors that cannot be unscrewed, pulled, or pushed in. A drill bit breaks the anchor apart from the inside, allowing the pieces to be removed or to fall into the wall cavity.

Steps

1. Select a drill bit slightly larger than the anchor's screw hole but smaller than the anchor's outer diameter.
2. Carefully drill into the center of the anchor at low speed. The bit will shred the plastic and weaken the anchor's grip on the drywall.
3. Pull out loosened fragments with needle-nose pliers, or let small pieces fall behind the wall.
4. If the anchor collapses inward, push remaining material into the wall cavity with the drill bit or a nail set.

Finishing

Patch the hole with spackle, let it dry, sand flush, and touch up with paint.

Caution

• Wear safety glasses; drilling plastic produces small fragments.
• Use light pressure to avoid enlarging the hole beyond what spackle can fill.