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02-24-2009, 01:28 PM
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#1
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DIY'er
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 2,030
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
I got some of those large plastic J-boxes. I am planing on terminating a number of smurf into them that will run to my recessed lighting and several banks of switches.
The boxes come with no holes in them. I am wondering what is the best way to put the holes in them, and what size I need for 1/2". I have these greenlee cutters, but have not used them before, will they work? Do I just drill a pilot hole, then run this cutter in?
Thanks
Jamie
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Jamie Dolan - Neenah, WI
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02-24-2009, 02:12 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 241
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Jamie, you have a lot more experience than I do but I personally have never used those cutters on plastic. I have used them on metal boxes and they work great. Why not just drill the plastic box with a spade bit? You should be able to go through them pretty quick.
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02-24-2009, 02:25 PM
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#3
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Res Ipsa Loquitur
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 363
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
For the price of a plastic box you can try and sacrifice a cheap one as a test using the punches. I have those too but haven't used on plastic. Otherwise, you can use a hole saw or sharp spade bit run slowly thru the box.
And yes, you drill the smaller hole for the size of the bolt, then feed thru as they are shown and snug them up with a wrench, cutting the sidewalls as you go.
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Did you ever stop to think, then forget to start again?
Last edited by handyman78; 02-24-2009 at 02:27 PM.
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02-24-2009, 03:23 PM
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#4
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Electrical Contractor
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Newnan GA
Posts: 5,004
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Use a unibit or a hole saw.
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Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"
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02-24-2009, 03:44 PM
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#5
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My License Ain't 4 Sale..
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga/Hamilton, Al
Posts: 1,813
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Jamie, I don't see why the cutters wouldn't work, but you could just use a hole saw or spade bit. 1/2" is really 7/8", and 3/4" is really 1-1/8".
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02-24-2009, 03:45 PM
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#6
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DIY'er
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 2,030
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bocolo
Jamie, you have a lot more experience than I do but I personally have never used those cutters on plastic. I have used them on metal boxes and they work great. Why not just drill the plastic box with a spade bit? You should be able to go through them pretty quick.
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HI;
I actually have not used these cutters before, my dad just gave them to me a couple weeks ago. I don't have a great drill bit collection, many of them are rather dull. I keep a good selection of the speed bor style bits for drilling holes in joists, but I think they would trash a plastic box.
Thanks
Jamie
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Jamie Dolan - Neenah, WI
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02-24-2009, 03:52 PM
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#7
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DIY'er
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 2,030
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Quote:
Originally Posted by InPhase277
Jamie, I don't see why the cutters wouldn't work, but you could just use a hole saw or spade bit. 1/2" is really 7/8", and 3/4" is really 1-1/8".
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Excellent, thanks for the confirmation on the exact sizes. A hole saw sounds like it would be pretty easy. I am going to have to drill alot of hole in the box, I was thinking I might get 15 or so 1/2" smurf into one of these big boxes.
I mounted like 8 4x4's and put 3 smurf into each one of them, running down to the kitchen for switches, and feeds to recessed lights. I decided it was just going to be a mess to try and connect the the 4x4's to each other and decided to yank them and go with a larger box, should be a much cleaner solution.
I think I will run a 3/4"emt from the sub down to these plastic junction boxes (2 of them) and a 3/4" chase or two between them. I think it will be a much cleaner more professional installation.
Thanks again guys.
Jamie
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Jamie Dolan - Neenah, WI
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02-24-2009, 03:54 PM
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#8
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DIY'er
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 2,030
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Quote:
Originally Posted by handyman78
For the price of a plastic box you can try and sacrifice a cheap one as a test using the punches. I have those too but haven't used on plastic. Otherwise, you can use a hole saw or sharp spade bit run slowly thru the box.
And yes, you drill the smaller hole for the size of the bolt, then feed thru as they are shown and snug them up with a wrench, cutting the sidewalls as you go.
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Ahh yes, I have many plastic boxes around I'd be happy to kill. I really like using metal boxes, but I figured it would be easier to get all these holes in the plastic box and since I was connecting smurf to it anyway...
Thanks
Jamie
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Jamie Dolan - Neenah, WI
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02-24-2009, 04:52 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,294
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
The punches will work...but why bother?
You need to drill a hole so you might as well drill the proper sized hole.
I only punch metal 2" and up because the larger size hole saws have too much surface area to cover and it takes freaking forever.
Best hole saw set ever. These things are the best electrical tool to come along in a long time.
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02-24-2009, 05:16 PM
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#10
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DIY'er
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 2,030
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Quote:
Originally Posted by 220/221
The punches will work...but why bother?
You need to drill a hole so you might as well drill the proper sized hole.
I only punch metal 2" and up because the larger size hole saws have too much surface area to cover and it takes freaking forever.
Best hole saw set ever. These things are the best electrical tool to come along in a long time.
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What brand are those?
Thanks
Jamie
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Jamie Dolan - Neenah, WI
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02-24-2009, 06:04 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,294
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Greenlee 660 kwik change.
They aint cheap ($240) but they are durable. Over the past decade I have only had to buy two or three replacements for the well used 1/2 and 3/4 sizes. I have sets on all of my trucks and they get used a LOT.
One arbor and the different saws half twist on/off.
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02-24-2009, 09:25 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 187
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Does Jamie do all this wiring because he has too, or is it because he just likes too? I am thinking the latter! 
Gary
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02-25-2009, 04:27 PM
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#13
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DIY'er
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 2,030
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Quote:
Originally Posted by 220/221
Greenlee 660 kwik change.
They aint cheap ($240) but they are durable. Over the past decade I have only had to buy two or three replacements for the well used 1/2 and 3/4 sizes. I have sets on all of my trucks and they get used a LOT.
One arbor and the different saws half twist on/off.
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Thinking about this one for $88, what do you think??
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100175188
Thanks
Jamie
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Jamie Dolan - Neenah, WI
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02-25-2009, 05:35 PM
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#14
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Licensed Pro
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SC
Posts: 1,420
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Get a couple of Unibits... 1/2 and 3/4... you'll wonder how you ever did without.
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"Life is hard. Life is harder when you're stupid." John Wayne
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02-25-2009, 06:55 PM
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#15
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My License Ain't 4 Sale..
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga/Hamilton, Al
Posts: 1,813
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Cutting holes in plastic J-Box
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamiedolan
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Not worth the box they are in, in my opinion. The set 220 posted is good, as are the greenlee KO sets, but the general hole saws are worthless. If you want a good hole saw, go with Lennox.
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