ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area removing new work box

Anyone have any good tricks for removing a new work box from a finished wall?

What I have done before that works well for me is to first pry the box away from the stud using a screwdriver. You only have to create a small gap between the box and stud. Then I use a sawzall and cut the nails holding the box to the stud. Next carefully pull the box and wire out of the wall. I usually don't have too much trouble doing it this way.

I'll second cutting the nails off.

A sawzall with a good metal blade will work wonders.

I like pushing the box into the wall to work the wires out of it, and then, only if convenient, coaxing the box out of the hole. (my hand is still small enough to get into the wall.)

I use the sawzall to cut the metal brackets close to the box. Then work the wires out of the box and either pull it out or drop it into cavity. Finally, if necessary I remove the brackets/nails.
Don

Just curious... what are you planning on doing with the wire that is there after the box is removed?

Pierre

Did I see NAILS mentioned!!

Glad we use screw in the UK..so much easier to remove things..

You would still be cutting them as they would be inaccessible in the closed wall.

By the way WELCOME!

Bob


[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 05-16-2004).]

... If the wire is Romex,and the old box is metal,you can substitute the box with a plastic cut-in,because they're usually a tad bit larger,and you can cut the wallboard open in order for the plaster ears to be snug against the wall material,..then tighten the hold down screws with the wing brackets and you're done..Available in single,2-gang,3-gang as well..Plastic boxes allow more volume capacity,as there's no clamp for de-rating..
Russ



[This message has been edited by Attic Rat (edited 05-16-2004).]

I found it easier to use diagonal pliers to cut the nails(on plastic boxes). I always used them to pull the cut end of the nail out of the stud too. As to the why...to replace a single gang box with a double gang when the customer wanted a ceiling fan installed in place of the ceiling light.

Has anyone tryed rh smart boxes, for this application. I just used 3 last week. they worked great!

Obsaleet