Drilling out Tapcons?

[danny_barkley]

I had an outside kitchen that needs to be redone.

I demo'd out the wood, but I have what is some type of screw in the concrete that will not back out.

They are pretty hard, I tried to use a Fein Multi Tool to snip them off and ended up with Bumpkis. So used a Grinder and off thjey went flush with the concrete.

I need to drill out enough to patch the concrete.

Can't leave them there, I'm in S. FL and they will cause rust leaching if I leave them methinks.

What do you use to drill something out in concrete? Regular drill bit is going to be hitting the concrete and will be useless pretty quick I imagine.

These are a bit less than 1/4" it looks like.

 

[MikeinNorthWales]

Since you are already planning to patch, drill next to it with a masonry bit. You should be able to pull it out.

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[danny_barkley]

Since you are already planning to patch, drill next to it with a masonry bit. You should be able to pull it out.

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I've already cut them off flush. Trying to make as small a hole as possible.

Definitely holding your idea in my head though, thanx!

 

[seber]

The smallest way will be a diamond core drill.

 

[rlitman]

I'd pound on it with a punch to destroy the threads. Then it will either be sunk enough to cover, or should fall out.

 

[danny_barkley]

The smallest way will be a diamond core drill.

Ohhh my, that sounds elegant, yet expensive at the same time

 

[danny_barkley]

I'd pound on it with a punch to destroy the threads. Then it will either be sunk enough to cover, or should fall out.

When I was cutting them off, they were harder and tougher than I thought they would be. Not sure this would work.

 

[rsanter]

Get a very hard center punch.
Go at them and see what happens. If they are very hard they may just fracture and you can patch over them.

If they do not you can get a solid carbide die grinder bit and basically use it like a drill

 

[6PTsocket]

Ohhh my, that sounds elegant, yet expensive at the same time

Diamond core bits are not expensive. Look on ebay, Amazon for Chinese stuff or HD for DeWalt. I don't know how small they go so it may be no better than drilling next to the screw. Those bits are often used for making holes in tile and glass.

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[Dingleburry]

Try an air hammer and try to drive them in deeper? Shouldnt have cut them just yet. I would have beat them with a hammer to try and break the threads free. Or break the concrete around the threads. And use an impact back and forth

 

[danny_barkley]

Get a very hard center punch.
Go at them and see what happens. If they are very hard they may just fracture and you can patch over them.

If they do not you can get a solid carbide die grinder bit and basically use it like a drill

I saw a video on Youtube with the Grinder bit, and it looks like that may work like magic.

 

[danny_barkley]

Try an air hammer and try to drive them in deeper? Shouldnt have cut them just yet. I would have beat them with a hammer to try and break the threads free. Or break the concrete around the threads.

I see that now in my rear view mirror with my newly acquired 20/20 hindsight!

 

[jumbojak]

I've had success getting them out using a hand impact driver. Depending in the size you might be able to cut a slot and use a slotted bit.

 

[danny_barkley]

Diamond core bits are not expensive. Look on ebay, Amazon for Chinese stuff or HD for DeWalt. I don't know how small they go so it may be no better than drilling next to the screw. Those bits are often used for making holes in tile and glass.

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Ahhh, just figured out what you were talking about. Don't know if I could find a core as small as I would want.

 

[KnurledNut]

Do you have a welder? Could you tack a nut to the screw?

 

[Wamsutta]

"Drilling out Tampons" is what my brain keeps seeing.

 

[danny_barkley]

Do you have a welder? Could you tack a nut to the screw?

No welder.

 

[Dagny]

cutting torch?

 

[danny_barkley]

"Drilling out Tampons" is what my brain keeps seeing.

I Say, I Say, I Say, Boy pay attention!

 

[danny_barkley]

cutting torch?

None of them either...

 

[doublearon98]

"Drilling out Tampons" is what my brain keeps seeing.

At first I saw "drying out tampons" then it was and is "drilling out tampons" [emoji849]

To the OP: Knocking them down with a punch would probably work. If not drill next to them.

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[zachzach]

cutting torch?

I might be wrong but he’d have to be real careful with a cutting torch doesn’t concrete explode when heated?


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[seber]

Ahhh, just figured out what you were talking about. Don't know if I could find a core as small as I would want.

I use diamond core bits all the way down to 4mm in lapidary work. They can be had for less than a dollar each.

 

[rlitman]

When I was cutting them off, they were harder and tougher than I thought they would be. Not sure this would work.

That's what I'm counting on. Tapcons are extremely hard. They have to be, because they self tap threads into concrete. But those threads have limited engagement. So long as the hole drilled was 2 thread turns deeper than the length the tapcon was inserted (which it should be, as the tapcon should not be bottomed out), if you hammer on it with a punch, you should be able to pulverize the concrete between the engaged threads as it goes in deeper.

That won't pulverize the threads near the surface that it isn't driven past, but the punch will take care of that. So, if you can drive it in enough to skip a thread, at that point, it should also be free to remove.

 

[Finky198]

This is well said ^^^


I use tapcons all the time have prob installed a 5000+ and the best way to not have this problem is to use a different anchor That’s Removable. Yes hind sight.... but in the future projects planning stages if you have a thought that something might need removed or demo’d later. Take a look at other options... Lowe’s and HD both have a wide selection of anchors now a days so does Hilti, Red Head, and Powder actuated nailers.

My personal tip I have not removed many as it’s not fun, but and air hammer and pin punch can usually get it below the surface enough to cover the spot with matching caulk.
It could also be done with a hammer and punch either way wear good eye protection...

Small carbide and diamond stuff will work all depends of what you working on.... and the level of time you want to spend per bolt.

My best advise about tap cons don’t use anything but the hex varieties. The counter sunk Phillip style **** even tho I stock a few sizes of them for some projects and repairs out of necessity. I try to shy away at all cost. I’d much rather counter sink the hex and I’m less like to have issues going in or coming out...

 

[jonesg]

Dremel carbide disk ,
cut a slot and break
it loose with an impact screwdriver.

 

[59 wagon man]

are you planning on just plastering over the tapcon or installing sheetrock?

 

[danny_barkley]

are you planning on just plastering over the tapcon or installing sheetrock?

These were holding a wood "Bar" to a concrete pool deck that is stained. The Bar had rotted out. So I had them sticking proud of the concrete about 2". I could not get them to budge at all.

So I cut them off with a grinder. How I want to deal with the remnants. I'd prefer to get them out somehow so I can put a little patch in there and re-stain.

I bought the house with this in place. Building a wood structure on a Pool deck in South Florida was not forward thinking IMO.

The Tapcons seem both hard and tough. I don't think there is much brittleness in them at all. If there was, they wouldn't do what they do.

I am just guessing they are Tapcons. They are very rusted, no blue Visible. They were driven through wood into concrete so I guessed that's what they are.

Phillips head and they didn't budge with an impact driver.

 

[rustyjames]

cutting torch?

If you go anywhere near masonry with a torch it will spall. If it's concrete it will explode Into pieces that can easily put a hurt on you. If you really need to remove a small core bit would be the way to go, IMO.

 

[PFSard]

I use diamond core bits all the way down to 4mm in lapidary work. They can be had for less than a dollar each.

Can you provide a link (or other reference) where you are buying the diamond core bits?

 

[strutaeng]

Dude, just chip down the concrete a bit and grind them off! 1/2 to 1" below and patch them with a repair mortar. You can coat them with epoxy for added corrosion protection.

We are talking a concrete patio concrete not museum quality concrete!

 

[seber]

Dude, just chip down the concrete a bit and grind them off! 1/2 to 1" below and patch them with a repair mortar. You can coat them with epoxy for added corrosion protection.

We are talking a concrete patio concrete not museum quality concrete!

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...+bit.TRS0.TSS0&_nkw=diamond+core+bit&_sacat=0

 

[strutaeng]

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...+bit.TRS0.TSS0&_nkw=diamond+core+bit&_sacat=0

I see.

 

[signcrafter]

Diamond core bits come in all sizes. You will need one with an ID just bigger then the screw. Use water and drill as deep as you can. Then use a screwdriver in the hole to snap the plug off. Best and easiest and cheapest option.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=diamond+core+bit

 

[ReggieR]

I Say, I Say, I Say, Boy pay attention!

The only thing better than a Corvette

 

[danny_barkley]

Since you are already planning to patch, drill next to it with a masonry bit. You should be able to pull it out.

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Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Did this today and it was a piece of cake

Drilled right up against them with a pretty small masonry bit, hit them into the space with a punch, pulled them out with needle nose.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Thanks everybody for the suggestions!