this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
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How to Extract Broken Shelf Pin? (lemmy.world)
submitted 11 months ago by 1100000011110@lemmy.world to c/homeimprovement@lemmy.world
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I am re-arranging the shelves in an old bookcase, and I'm having trouble removing a few broken shelf pins inside the holes I want to use. They don't protrude enough for me to get any kind of grip with the needle-nose pliers that I used to take out the other pins.

The shelf pins are this style. Quarter inch diameter. Not sure what kind of metal they're made out of. The pin itself is hollow, which rules out most of the common solutions for this kind of problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to remove these?

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[–] Windswept@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago

Try threading a wood screw into the hollow pin until it grabs, and pull it out while twisting with a pair of pliers.

[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Superglue something to it, wait for it to dry, and then pull?

Or give up on that hole and drill another one just next to it. Should still work and be pretty nearly unnoticeable.

There are quite a few good ideas in this thread, though. Could try those before giving up on actually extracting it.

[–] Kethal@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Super glue may be too brittle. Epoxy or JB Weld may work better, but be sure not to get any on the shelf.

[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

It has a rib that locks the end in, so it needs to be turned to not blow the hole out.

[–] TheKracken@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Get a screw extractor bit and remove the broken piece. If the hole is too large use super glue and toothpicks or matchsticks to fill the hole in. Let it set for 24 hrs then use the proper sized drill bit to recreate the hole.

[–] y0din@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Have you tried inserting a screw in the opening of the pin and pulling it using the now attached screw as a handle? Or gluing it if screwing is not possible and then pulling?

[–] Lophostemon@aussie.zone 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

The hollowness is a benefit, not a drawback in this situation, as other posters have described great solutions.

[–] confusedwiseman@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

  1. Finish mail from the other side?

  2. Small drill bit might bite enough to pull out

  3. Ez-out bit? (Effectively a left handed thread on a cone shaped bit used to remove stripped screws).

[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

The twist on the shank means you need to left-hand twist it as you pull. So an easy-out or a broken schrader core removal bit/tool would work best, so as to not rip out the hole.