broken screw holding pan to floor

roosterjim · Jun 25, 2023

hi one of the screws holding my toilet pan to the floor has broken when trying to remove it , there is only about half an inch showing , i have tried using pliers and pulling it while trying to turn it anticlockwise but no joy , the floor is tiled , appreciate any help/advice . thanks .

fowlerboi · Jun 25, 2023

Mole grips will probably work 95% of the time or cut it flush to the floor with an angle grinder and try and drill a hole next to it. Or leave it and stick the pan down with silicone without fixings

Chuck · Jun 25, 2023

In order of my success rate:

Small hand-vise clamp May help to file a slight flat on one side of the screw.
Locking pliers (Mole grips).
Broken-screw extractor. Like a tap (workshop not water!) with a left hand thread.

All require luck.

Use stainless steel screws to secure the replacement pan.

roosterjim · Jun 25, 2023

fowlerboi said:
Mole grips will probably work 95% of the time or cut it flush to the floor with an angle grinder and try and drill a hole next to it. Or leave it and stick the pan down with silicone without fixings

thanks for the reply , mole grips never worked , its such a thin short piece of screw they could not get a grip , ive left it soaking in wd 40 , dont know if that will help then give it another go with the pliers , i will have a think about the angle grinder or silicone options ta .

roosterjim · Jun 25, 2023

Chuck said:
In order of my success rate:

Small hand-vise clamp May help to file a slight flat on one side of the screw.

Locking pliers (Mole grips).

Broken-screw extractor. Like a tap (workshop not water!) with a left hand thread.

All require luck.

Use stainless steel screws to secure the replacement pan.

there is so little left of the screw in length or thickness , will look into the vice and extractor options ta .