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A shelf fell from my bookcase. It was supported by plastic brackets. They broke off at the face of the side of the shelf. How do I get them out so I can put new brackets in place?

TDHofstetter
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user24932
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    We'll need a picture for this one... although if you mean they're adjustable shelves and plastic "L"-shaped brackets with a round peg that fits into one of a series of holes and the bracket broke off leaving the peg in place... you may be able to get it with a drywall screw or a straightened fishhook jammed right into the end of the peg. – TDHofstetter Aug 31 '14 at 18:31

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Plastic plug in a hole, I've always found drilling into it with a bit slightly smaller and stopping the drill, then pulling it straight out works dandy. If not, it gives to a place to try using a screw (and a nailpuller on the screw if it's REALLY stubborn) more easily. Then look for metal replacement brackets in the correct size for your bookshelf so it does not happen again.

enter image description here

Fiasco Labs
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Ecnerwal
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  • Great advice. I had the best luck with this using the smallest drillbit I had. 1/16 worked pretty great. – Mordred Jan 08 '17 at 22:49
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A dry wall screw with threads on it worked like a charm

VABeekeeper
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Using the somewhat smaller diameter drywall screw did not work for me, but re-drilling the hole with the appropriate diameter drill did (ejecting the broken plastic bracket remnant in the process).

Andrew
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I heated a screw tip and stuck it in the plastic and let it sit for a few seconds so that it would cool and then pulled it out.

Sathish D
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Previous answers should work, but if the broken pin spins in the hole without letting the screw grab hold, then a panelling nail could be the answer:

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Also sometimes called ring-shank nails. The ridges on the nail give it tremendous holding power. Just drive in part way and pull out...

DJohnM
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