How to Paint Over a Molly Bolt

A molly bolt is an anchor with expanding legs to hold it in place. It is used to keep objects secure on walls and hollow doors, where using only regular fasteners, such as screws, won't work. The difficulty arises when you remove the object to paint the wall or door surface. The expanded molly bolt legs prevent it from being easily removed. If you decide not to remove the anchor, make certain you take care of the hole it has created before you paint.

Needle-nose pliers
Screwdriver
Spackle
Putty knife
Fine-grit sandpaper
Cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Grip the outer lip of the molly bolt with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Twist part of the lip away from the wall or door surface and wiggle it back and forth using the pliers until you break off that part of the lip. Continue around the lip until you break off all of it.
- 2
  Insert the end of a screwdriver into the molly bolt hole and push the bolt into the wall or door, underneath the surface.
- 3
  Dip your finger, or the blade of a putty knife, into spackle and spread a coat of it over the wall or door hole. Smooth the coat with the putty knife's blade. Follow the spackle manufacturer's instructions to allow the spackle to fully dry.
- 4
  Fold over a piece of fine-grit sandpaper and sand the dried spackle. Use light, short strokes until the spot is smooth.
- 5
  Wipe away any sanding dust, using a cloth. The spot is now ready to be painted.

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