What's this and how do I remove it without damaging it?

[BearTricks]

There are two veneered MDF cabinets on the wall of one of our new spare rooms, as well as a wardrobe. I'm trying to take the cabinets down and put them away in the loft until we move out because we have another large wardrobe that I want to put against that wall instead.

The problem is that they're held together, and to the wardobe, using the plastic fitting below. I can turn them with a screwdriver but at risk of chewing up the plastic. What's the safest way to remove it so I can separate the cabinets from the wardrobe?

I imagine they're a feature of budget cabinet construction but I've never installed anything fitted so I'm unfamiliar with them.

 

[YorkshireMartin]

Wrap a bit of sellotape around the tip of a thin flat head screwdriver and lever out. If they are the turning type, maybe 5p coin.

 

[AndyT]

I think you will find that there will be another one on the far side. Each is actually a tubular nut with a slot on. There will be a short length of steel studding joining them together. So hold it still on one side, unscrew on the other. Use a broad screwdriver which fits and you won't screw up the plastic.

But if you do, it's no loss - just drill a hole in one board and use a countersunk woodscrew into the other.

 

[LeeElms]

Agree with the above, except that some that I've encountered are just 2 plastic parts that thread into each other.

 

[biskit]

Agree with AndyT, I used them years ago. :?

 

[Beau]

Agree with the above, except that some that I've encountered are just 2 plastic parts that thread into each other.

My thoughts as well

 

[CHJ]

This is what you have

 

[BearTricks]

Got them out, turns out that they were completely plastic with no metal parts and the two I tried to remove before posting were a bit knackered which is why they weren't coming out easily.

 

[woodpig]

I've had the same trouble. The two plastic parts seem to stick to each other for some reason.