I found this advice in the Hacker's Guide:

"Q: When I create a grid, it has a text box in each column. When I add the control I really want in a column (say, a check box for a logical field), the default text box is still there. How do I get rid of it so I don't have the overhead of an extra control I'm not using?

A: This is one of those things that's pretty clumsy. We keep hoping the Microsofties will come up with something better.

In the Property Sheet, use the drop-down list to choose the control you want to delete. Then click on the title bar of the form or of the Form Designer. Be careful not to click on the form itself—that'll change the focus.

Now press Delete to remove the control you don't want."

I tried removing superfluous column controls, and columns, this way. In both cases it didn't work. I want to do both, but mainly get rid of some columns.