Ah yes, now this was the kind of video I was looking for, we have 2 sockets (both in children's bedrooms) that are like this, I was sure we would have to call an electrician to come and fix it........I have changed sockets before but not the box, this video def. gave me the confidence to try it! Thanks a million!!!!
So glad you have decided to tackle this project on your own! If you don't have a hacksaw exactly like this, you can take a pair of gloves & just use a hacksaw blade without the hacksaw & just hold it like a saw. That's how I've been doing it lately & it works great! Thanks again for commenting! Joe :0
Thank you, Joe, for the tip on how to cut these nails. I found a little hand saw for $20 at a home improvement store, and it works like a charm! Now I can get these old boxes out of the wall quickly with minimal damage to the drywall. Before, I was trying to pull out the nails by twisting and pounding on the box; this approach was hard and not too kind to the old sheetrock.
Well you could have saved your $20 & just used a hacksaw blade & some gloves as later down the road I figured out how to remove these boxes without a hand saw thingy at all....just use gloves & the hacksaw blade. I have removed over 100 boxes since then just using a hacksaw blade. This was the very first box I ever removed & knew my particular hacksaw could do it so I wanted to try. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks Joe. Just used your idea of sawing off the nails of an electrical box in my ceiling. I used a hacksaw blade to remove nails on the hanger that went between the joists. Thanks again!!!!!!!
Glad I came back to review this video. I tried using this technique to remove a triple gang box but I was unsuccessful. Turns out that i was attacking the box from the wrong angle... I'll try again later when i have better light in my project area so i can avoid frying in front of a hot work light.
So did you ever get the 3gang box removed? I've had to remove a 2gang plastic box in order to install a 3gang in it's place but I was able to cut the wall for where the 3gang would be then I could use that extra space to cut out & remove the 2gang box easier but not sure just how to go about removing a plastic 3 gang if you are planning on reinstalling a 3gang cutin when you get done pulling wires for instance. I have more videos to show how to remove single gang plastic in interested. Go to my main RU-vid channel page then click on playlists & scroll down to electrical. Thanks for stopping by!
Joe, We have a broken outlet box in our kitchen. I just asked my husband if he could fix it he said "no it can't be fixed because it is nailed into the studs from the side. I'd have to cut a big hole in the sheetrock and blah blah blah." I showed him your video and he is not happy with your right now cause he's gonna have to fix my outlet now. LOL Thanks Joe its the one above my stove and I need it fixed.
Haha sorry hubster! This was the first one I ever removed & I have removed many more since with just using the hacksaw in hand with gloves & not attached & that works the best for me. If you want to see that then go to my main RU-vid channel page then click on playlists & scroll down to electrical & they will be in there. I know he has to be done by now but you will see lots more tips for all kinds of electrical in that playlists & hopefully Hubs won't get mad at me again! But hey.....do it anyway!
That "saw" is just a hacksaw! It's a slightly different hacksaw than the cheap standard ones as it has a slot in the end that you can put the hacksaw blade in & tighten it & use like I saw....cool huh. That slot area is where I store extra blades when I use the hacksaw regular. This hacksaw has 2 other cool features too. You got to get one. Joe :0
You could use a sawzall. Just be careful not to cut any wires in the wall cavity. I'd rather not take any chances & just cut it with a hacksaw. It really doesn't take very long & if I feel any wires or see anything moving in the box, I can stop soon enough & reposition saw, before I cut it off. Once you start cutting with a sawzall, you don't have much time to stop cutting before it's too late. Thanks for commenting. Joe :0
Great job. Here's another idea. Now that you've spent your $20 on your little hand saw (oooppps), here's another something else you can do. I've now just been using a plain hacksaw blade not connected to a hacksaw. Put some gloves on & use the hacksaw blade just like you would, a saw & it cuts them right off. Sometimes you find a better mouse trap! If you do, use it! Thanks for commenting! Joe :0
2:50 "Cmon Baby" LOL! Sounds like me when I'm getting impatient with these things too. Great video! I have the same problem and couldn't find any screwheads. I did notice the two silver rods -- didn't realize they were nails. Thanks!
Wasn't sure how I was going to title these initially as some viewers look for different things so I thought I would title them differently rather than just one title. Hopefully you will find them all. They should be fairly close to each other. Thanks for your suggestion & comments. Much appreciated! Joe :0
@tennisdave1953 Beautiful! I'm glad you were able to remove your electrical box in the ceiling, the same way I showed for a wall outlet. Keep watching. Any time you have a howto question, let me know. Way to go! Thanks for sending me your comments. I always like to hear from my viewers. Joe :0
Hey Joe, It would help if you had 'part 1, 2, 3,...' etc. after the electrical outlet titles. I'm trying to watch them all. Thanks for the series. Pete
Thanks for the suggestion I knew there had to be an easier way. Let me also give you my own observation. Turn the blade over in the saw so it wont hit the wall. No reason the saw has to be facing down like that.
@srbeckable Sometimes you have to make all that noise to complete a project like this! Thanks for commenting on this as I always like to hear from my viewers. Remember.....it takes a "stud" to build a house lol! Keep watching. Joe :0
@arlen49 It's just a better hacksaw than the standard ones. This is a heavier professional grade hacksaw. The brand name is Stanley & I'm pretty sure "joe" got it at Home Depot. I've got another video where "joe" talks about it more in detail.....look for it. :0
@blackbee100 Thanks for your observation! I'll do just that....next time. Here's another tip......I've even cut off the nails by using just a hacksaw "blade" in my hands. Make sure to wear gloves....that way works too....maybe even better....prevents hitting the wall with the hacksaw. Try it....you'll like it lol! Joe :0
Sure. Just go to my main channel page & towards the top right you will see an area where it says "search channel". type in "how to install a cutin box" or "how to install a cutin outlet box"...then click on the magnifying glass right there & see what pops up. That should help you. Thanks for commenting. Let me know if I can help you further. Good luck on your project! Joe :0
Ha! That's what I like to hear. You watch my videos & get hubby to do the work! BTW....anytime you have a howto/DIY question (for hubby), let me know. Thanks again for your message! Joe :0
+Kevin Huffman Knock on the wall with your knuckle & you should be able to determine which side the stud is on. Hollow sound will be where the stud is not. You could also tap in a little nail along the edge of the box at a slight angle & you should be able to tell that way too. Good luck with removing it! Joe :0
@rico0910 Sometimes you have to "talk to it" & then it works out better lol! I'm glad I was able to help you out with this video. Thanks for checking it out & sending me your comments....I appreciate it....I always like to hear from my viewers. Hey.....why don't you subscribe to my channel? That way you won't miss any additional videos I plan to upload to my channel. I am here to help you with your projects. Drop me a line anytime you have a howto/diy question. I'm just one click away. Joe :0
@arlen49 Apparently Ace does not have this particular hacksaw available. I think "joe" purchased this hacksaw at Home Depot?.....not 100% sure....I'll have to ask him. Try Home Depot or Lowes & most electrical wholsale houses will have a similar hacksaw. It's a nice hacksaw as the top shaft is hollow, where you can store additional blades or you can put one in how "joe" did...tighten it up & away you go. "Joe" says this type of hacksaw costs a little more but well worth it. Look for it. Joe :0
I think that was the first time I had to remove an electrical outlet box so I figured I'd better upload it to my channel. I can remove these boxes in a flash now. If you don't have a hacksaw, just use a hacksaw blade & a pair of gloves. Works great! Joe :0
+MrGarcon98 I made a different video that shows how to install the new box. Go to my main channel page to the search box on my channel & type in something like how to install a cutin outlet box or how to install an electrical outlet cutin box or something like that & see what pops up on my channel. Good luck with your project! I now have gotten into just using a hacksaw blade & a pair of gloves to remove these boxes....no hacksaw required! Joe :0
I have to do this t about 10 outlets. The wrong box was used. When I'm moved in I plug something into a wall oulet and the outlet bent back as if not supported. Lo and behold I unscrewed it and the box is behind the drywall because wrong box and not flush to the wall.
@mihaigutulan "Joe" is full of it sometimes huh,,,,,,hot air that is!! Sometimes he's not sure when to turn it off as some viewers learn more the more he talks.....yet others, his wind effects them differently!......they shut down. If you've watched "joe" long enough you will see that he only has the best intentions on helping you save money with your howto projects. You've got to know he means well......I know!!....lol :0
Then you might just cut right through a straggling wire in the wall or a wire stapled around the box some way that you would not have seen! That's why I use the hacksaw. In fact that was the first one I ever removed with a hacksaw like I show & then I started just using a hacksaw blade in my hands with gloves on...works great! I have removed over 100 of these outlets with no issues using just the hacksaw blade. Go by feel & you will be fine. Try it & see!
Any tips to repair a plastic outlet box in an apartment, where I don't want to replace the box? Outlet not flush with wall, screw holes all broken. Maybe a duct tape and JB weld fix? :}
Jason Moonsmith Not sure if that will work. You could try it. did it work? If it's still bothering you, why not try to replace the box. It's not that difficult & you could try out your newfound knowledge! Sorry for not seeing this message when you posted it. What did you end up doing to your outlet box?
Apartment. They've been called in to "fix" it twice. I refuse to do their work, but I don't like dealing with broken boxes. Almost done with my lease. I'll have them rig it one more to keep it off my fee's. Ugh. Thanks for the reply!
I would use my sawzall and gave been for 16 years.....there will never be a back to back box and the wires will never come close enough along the stud because the holes on the box are offset. But do what's comfortable for you is all.
Isaac Barnett I would rather do it by hand so I can make sure I don't hit anything. Lately I just use a hack saw blade in my hand & cut it like that but I hear what you are saying with the sawzall so thanks for explaining how you do it that why & your reasoning..... Good to hear from you. Joe :0
