How to remove shower rail?

Question

I have an old shower rail I wish to remove. It has no grub screws, it does not appear to be siliconed stuck to the wall and the player does not look to be a cap that can be removed. It has no small holes to pry off a cap anywhere with a screwdriver or utility knife blade. It would probably be 20 years old. Any suggestions how to remove?

R4addZ · Accepted Answer

Hi @Lachie27

Are you sure the disk at the front doesn't come off/screw off?

JacobZ · Accepted Answer

Hi @Lachie27,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Firstly, it is important to note that plumbing work must be carried out by a licenced plumber for safety and compliance reasons. If you are unsure if this work is something requiring a plumber, it may be worth contacting your local council or building authority for clarification.

I suspect @R4addZ is correct that there is a cap on the front of the rail that can be removed. You can see the seam here -

There's a good chance it has seized in place due to sediment being deposited over its lifetime of use. Try giving it a spray with some

https://www.bunnings.com.au/clr-750ml-ready-to-use-calcium-lime-rust-remover_p0356353

, allowing it to soak and then tapping the cap with something like a hammer. The percussive blows can help to break up any solid sediment deposits. You can then use some multigrip pliers to grip the cap and either pull or twist it off. It may be handy to use a flat implement, such as a butter knife to pry it while pulling with the multigrips. If you are planning to reuse the rail, you can wrap the cap with a rag or tape it off to help protect the finish.

Now, there's also a good chance that the parts of the shower rail need to be removed in a certain sequence so you can access all the necessary screws. Oftentimes the brackets connecting the shower rail to the wall are installed first and the rail is installed after. So, logically, for the brackets to be removed, there's a good chance the rail itself needs to come out first.

Can you see any way of removing the rail itself?  Any grub screws or caps at the top or bottom of the rail?

Have a look and let us know what you find and how you go getting that cap off.

Jacob