What kind of strange screw is it and how do you best remove it?

[Disneygrisen]

I'm going to change hooks, vacuum cleaner holders, etc., in my cleaning cabinet from an unknown year (60s-80s?) but don't know how to unscrew them. Check the picture, what kind of strange screw is it and how do I remove it without breaking too much?

 

[Marsman80]

I think it looks more like a pop rivet than a screw. Is there sheet metal behind the holder? If it's a pop rivet, you'll probably have to drill it out.

 

[Disneygrisen]

I think it looks more like a pop rivet than a screw. Is there sheet metal behind the holder? If it's a pop rivet, you might have to drill it out.

Aha! I don't think there's any sheet metal. It doesn't look like it anyway. But you just drill and then the pop rivet comes loose?

 

[Marsman80]

Aha! Don't think it's any sheet metal. Doesn't look like it at least. But you just drill and the rivet comes loose?

Doesn't seem likely to be a rivet if there's no sheet metal behind it. Rivets are used only (at least mostly) to join 2 sheets of metal together. They don't work in boards like gypsum, chipboard, or similar.

 

[HasseTeknik]

It does not work in discs like plaster, chipboard or similar

May work on hard "masonite", so I think it's some form of pop-rivet and then it can be drilled out with a drill that is slightly larger than the visual hole.

 

[useless]

We have riveted hooks in our cleaning cupboard made from masonite from the 60s. The problem with drilling is that the rivet can start to spin. Then you have to try to saw it off from the backside (after spending half a day getting the damn cupboard off the wall).

 

[Marsman80]

We have riveted hooks in our cleaning closet in masonite from the 60s. The problem with drilling is that the rivet can start to spin. Then you have to try to saw it off from the back (after spending half a day trying to get the closet hell loose from the wall).

It might be possible to saw it off from the side with a hacksaw blade too. Then maybe you can hold it still with pliers at the same time if it starts to spin,

 

[Disneygrisen]

We have riveted hooks in our utility cupboard made of masonite from the 60s. The problem with drilling is that the rivet might start spinning. Then you have to try to saw it off from the backside (after spending half a day trying to get the damn cupboard loose from the wall).

Oh no, I can't get behind there because there's a concrete wall on the side and everything is painted over and the whole shebang. Hopefully, it'll come off with the drill

 

[Disneygrisen]

It might be possible to saw it off from the side with a hacksaw blade too. Then maybe you can hold it still with pliers at the same time if it starts to spin,

Don't think I can get back there, but now it feels like we're getting ahead of ourselves here Haven't even tried with the drill yet

 

[Marsman80]

I don't think I can get in behind there, but it feels like we're getting ahead of ourselves here I haven't even tried with the drill yet

Unclear of me. I thought you could saw off from the front. Risk of scratches though...

 

[Disneygrisen]

Unclear of me. Thought that you could cut from the front side. Risk of scratches though...

Oh, I see But it should work, and scratches are not a problem, I will paint there anyway!

 

[Hallerudsbo]

If it spins when you drill, use pliers to hold it.

 

[JPW]

Grind off the skull with a Dremel or angle grinder maybe?

 

[Disneygrisen]

If it spins when drilling, you take a pair of pliers and hold it.

I will keep that in mind!

 

[Keld]

Hold the drill at an angle with a sharp bit, then even a spinning rivet usually gives in.