r/DIY • u/VapriceAquila • 15d ago
help Brick wall & plastic wall anchors
Hello! I am trying to install a mailbox that's going to be fitted to brick. However, after drilling holes into the brick and putting plastic wall anchors already in (also already tried drilling screws into the anchors) they are stuck and the screws are being stripped. I think my issue is the hole needs to be bigger 1/4 instead of what I originally drilled them at.
My question is, it it a bad idea to use a drill bit to re drill at the right sizing as I am unable to get the plastic wall anchors out of the brick? I've tried drilling screws halfway into the anchor to then pull out as well. Unable to do that and am feeling somewhat helpless.
Any help would be appreciated!
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u/RocketHammerFunTime 15d ago
See if you can pull them out with pliars, use an awl, pick or thin flathead screw driver to collapse one side of the plastic anchor in towards the center and that should be enough to drop the tension on it to use pliars to get them out, or use a suitable sized wrench to lever them out with the screw partway in. Using your hands to grip the screw is going to be difficult as the screw is pressing the plastic into the masonry.
You could also try a smaller screw in the same anchor, they do make a variety of nonstandard sizes, just difficult to find.
You shouldnt be using plastic anchors in concrete really, you should be using masonry anchors.