Holy crap! | Main | kitchen project
April 26, 2006
Need help from a handy person!
I am pulling up the awful carpet in my kitchen/breakfast room in preparation for laying a new laminate wood floor on Friday and Saturday. I realized that the walls look like shit, so I am trying to take everything off of them so I can paint them tonight and tomorrow.
I have a nice plate shelf thingie that goes the length of one wall - I got all the screws but ONE out using my drill. There is one screw left - in the middle of the plate shelf thingie, and I have stripped the damn phillips thingie in the middle. Anyone have a suggestion as to how I can get it out without wrecking the shelf? Or maybe I just don't need the shelf. Heck I dunno.
Any ideas?
UPDATE:
John managed to get the darn shelf down for me, and he helped me with that stupid tack strip from the carpeting. I still have about 1/2 of the kitchen floor carpeted - I'll pull that up after dinner.
I do need ideas for colours for kitchens (not yellow or white!) now that I realized that I should paint before I plank (ha ha).
Posted by Beth at April 26, 2006 2:58 PM
Comments
Ah, this brings back unpleasant memories ;-) Just imagine the same problem on a $300K piece of experimental apparatus ...
-option if the screw head is big enough: Hacksaw a straight cut and use a standard screwdriver.
-plan B: if screw is in plaster, get standard screwdriver and lever the sucker out with main force. You are going to be spackling anyway, right? (if screw head is fllush with the shelf rail, pry the entire shelf rail.)
-If all else fails: get drill bit the size of the screw shank, drill the sucker to oblivion, pry out broken shards with needlenose pliers.
Howzat?
Posted by: Bad Cat Robot at April 26, 2006 3:11 PM
Well, advice from a Rocket Scientist. 'Nuff said!
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at April 26, 2006 3:32 PM
If on post housing - spackle over or push screw through wall then repair - LOL. If I own the house - different story!
Posted by: Greta (Hooah Wife) at April 26, 2006 3:33 PM
Making sure that someone is holding the shelf up so it doesn't fall on you (been there, done that) use a Dremel tool with a little grinder head to remove the head of the screw, pull shelf off and remove screw shaft with vice grips or pliers. (I suspect Armorer has proper tools readily available)
Or delegate...
(John, please remove shelf... Don't damage it...)
:-)
Posted by: Pogue at April 26, 2006 3:37 PM
Heh. Greta's comment brings back the old "FWT" marking on the Housing Inspector's sheet.
The hapless HomeFrontSix is sure she's been caught as the inspector moves through the quarters. She *knows* the inspector knows the holes are "Filled With Toothpaste" because he's put "FWT" on the inspection sheet (a real-live method for cleaing quarters).
What it actually means is "Fair Wear and Tear."
Ah, things like that are the reason, after living in quarters most of my childhood, I *never* once lived in quarters other than the BOQ or whatever shelter was provided when deployed, during my own time of service.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at April 26, 2006 3:43 PM
My Mom could match any color paint with food coloring mixed into said toothpaste. I had forgoten about that...
Posted by: Pogue at April 26, 2006 4:22 PM
Beth,
If you can imagine, I live in a home with mostly "taupe and cream walls. I really do it mainly so I can change out accessories when it begs for it, and if I have scratch to do so.
I have however seen the most gorgeous kitchen recently. It was done in celery green and salmon. It was actually a great color combo. I am not that brave.
Posted by: armywifetoddlermom at April 27, 2006 8:44 AM
Oooo! Red Walls with Pergo. Me likes it :)
Posted by: Boquisucio at April 27, 2006 3:52 PM