Removing anchors from small safe

[miamiparis]

I removed a small safe but there are 2 small anchors left in the concrete.
To look at the pictures, click at https://photos.app.goo.gl/41PTz8NuD4SWtpu46
How can I remove them?

 

[Spud McGee]

Angle grinder would have them gone faster than it took to create this post.

Some other options kinda depends on your situation. Are the holes drilled all the way through the concrete? Are they wedge type or epoxy?

If you screw both nuts onto 1 anchor, then jam them together, can you use a wrench on the lower nut to spin the anchor counter clockwise? If so, you may be able to just unscrew them.

 

[housewolf]

You can knock them back and forth with a hammer or bend them with a piece of pipe over them and break them off. If a little is left above the slab they should knock back in enough with a punch to put them below flush

 

[miamiparis]

Angle grinder would have them gone faster than it took to create this post.

Some other options kinda depends on your situation. Are the holes drilled all the way through the concrete? Are they wedge type or epoxy?

If you screw both nuts onto 1 anchor, then jam them together, can you use a wrench on the lower nut to spin the anchor counter clockwise? If so, you may be able to just unscrew them.

I don't know, I didn't install them, my father did. I will try to screw both nuts onto 1 anchor. Thanks

 

[cgrutt]

Those look like the style that hammer into concrete with a wedge at bottom and then they pull up into wedge as it's tightened. Id cut them off with an angle grinder as close to floor as possible then see if you can hit them back into hole below surface. Can fill over them with either concrete patch or epoxy.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Yep - looks like a wedge-type anchor. If the installer had foresight, the hole was drilled deep enough so you can pound the anchor flush with the floor level. We have hundreds of anchors like this at work and my guys know that an extra minute drilling can save time if you ever have to move the equipment in the future.

If not, grab a sawzall or an angle grinder.

 

[Walkers]

Just hammer them down, if anything is still sticking up cut it off with an angle grinder, or hammer and chisel.

 

[rsanter]

Bolt cutters
Cut off wheel
Hack saw
Bend and break with hammer.

After that drive the remains into the concrete.
Dap over the hole

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Angle grinder

 

[miamiparis]

I hammered it down. I will have to buy new anchors so I can tie the safe in my new home. The problem is that my house has tile. I'm afraid anchoring it would break the tile. The only place in the house with concrete is the garage, but there is no AC (I'm in Florida) and it's not typical. What do you think? Here is a picture of the safe on the tile.

 

[nadogail]

I have a preference for two tools when it comes to remove things from Concrete, they are a BFH and an angle grinder.

 

[Firebrick43]

I hammered it down. I will have to buy new anchors so I can tie the safe in my new home. The problem is that my house has tile. I'm afraid anchoring it would break the tile. The only place in the house with concrete is the garage, but there is no AC (I'm in Florida) and it's not typical. What do you think? Here is a picture of the safe on the tile.

Use a diamond hole saw (with water) that’s 1/4” bigger than the anchor. Make sure you go all the way through the tile and into the concrete a 1/4”. That way when you switch to a rotary hammer bit for the concrete it won’t touch the tile.

 

[Spud McGee]

A safe with a cheap backup key like that in the front is just about not worth bolting down. A toddler with a limp spaghetti noodle can pick those "backup key" locks.

 

[CraigStu]

Can you drill a couple of holes in the back of the safe and hang it from the wall. I am not sure if it is wide enough to get into two wall studs but going into one stud at top and bottom will do fairly well.

 

[mikeyr]

that safe may have holes in the back and you could bolt to the studs. That would be easier/safer than drilling through the tile plus easier to fix when you want to move the safe somewhere else. May not be as strong bolted to the wall, but a safe like that is more to keep honest people honest and also the kids out of it then it is to keep thieves out.

 

[Kuma601]

The anchors aside, I would suggest a better quality safe to hold any valuable contents. As @mikeyr mentions it is meant to keep curious out rather than secure the contents. A magnet can be used on a variety solenoid actuated ones too.

 

[CSRPenFab]

I agree on not wasting your time to anchor that "safe" down. I had a similar Sentry brand safe with only a digital lock and it went "**** up" and refused to open. Several calls to Sentry to try all the possible fixes failed. They basically told me I'd have to break into it to recover the contents (valuable papers, currency, and a .357 revolver).

They said they couldn't give me tips on how to "break in" but that anyone with common tools could do it pretty easily. 10 minutes with a cold chisel and sawzall was all it took to recover the contents. It made a big damn mess since the "fireproof" lining is basically compressed drywall. I bought a much better safe with an old school dial lock and key backup.

 

[rayra]

Seconding cgrutt's answer. Easiest way. THere's no real reason to take them out.