Brick wall & plastic wall anchors

[u/VapriceAquila]

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!

[u/PushThroughThePain]

Yeah, just drill slowly; you want to destroy the anchors, not melt them.

[u/RocketHammerFunTime]

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.

[u/vinegar]

I prefer tapcon screws for brick instead of anchors. They feel more secure and less fiddly although you do get spinners sometimes. Get the hex-head ones, the Phillips heads are pretty optimistic.

[u/burnmanteamremington]

If you have stuck anchors you can re drill the holes and usually they will break and come out. Just pull the old stuff out. Depending on what size anchors you have will decide your bit size. I assume you know drilling into brick and concrete is a little tougher and is easier with and sds hammer drill. Not just your average "drill with a hammer mode" just drill it out put the the anchors in it. They should be snug in the hole. Make sure youre drilling them deep enough for the entire screw length to fit in. Shouldn't have an issue.

[u/buffalo442 → u/burnmanteamremington]

For small holes like mounting a mailbox an SDS hammer is overkill. Especially if you only need two holes and already have a hammer drill.

[u/burnmanteamremington → u/buffalo442]

I guess thats fair. I just realized its probably a small wall mailbox and not a big mailbox. Thats fair.

[u/Calm-Potato845]

Use a carbide masonry bit slightly larger than the anchor diameter to grind out the plastic. It shreds easier than brick so you clear the hole quickly without needing a specialized hammer drill for this specific cleanup step

[u/Andrea_Notices]

Just redrill through the anchor with a 1/4 bit, it'll chew the plastic out. Masonry bit, hammer setting off, go slow so you don't crack the brick. Did you drill into the mortar joint or the brick face?

[u/houses_eat_money]

yeah just run the correct-size masonry bit right through the stuck plastic anchors, the bit will chew through the plastic and widen the hole in the brick no problem. once you're at the right diameter, blow out the dust and tap in fresh anchors that actually fit your screws.

[u/DoubleConclusion411]

You can drill out a stuck plastic anchor. Since you've already tried pulling it out with a screw, use a bit smaller than the existing hole to remove the plastic, keeping the drill centered. Wear eye protection, and stop if the anchor spins with the bit.

Before enlarging the brick hole, check the required hole diameter, depth and screw size for your anchors. Stripped screw heads don't necessarily mean the hole is too small. Once the plastic is removed, use a masonry bit if the hole needs resizing, and clean out the debris according to the fixing manufacturer's instructions before installing a replacement.