[miamicuse]

I would like to mount a two gang metal electrical box to the back of the kitchen sink cabinet.


The easiest way is surface mounting BUT the back of the sink cabinet is super thin plywood (about 1/8" may be a tad thicker but not even 1/4" thick), behind that is a gap about an inch, then a layer of 1/2" cement board, behind that wall cavity with 2x4 studs. I am thinking it's not too secure to mount to this thin plywood. So I need to get to the cement board or even better the stud behind it but I can't easily find the studs even with a stud finder.


Any suggestion as to the best way to mount the box?


Or should I just cut a 4"x4" hole through the plywood and cement board to recess mount the box and just use a 1-3/4" deep mud ring?

 

[Nealtw]

Surface mount it to the side of the cupboard??

 

[miamicuse]

The side is very congested with piping off to the side of the dishwasher and disposer. I will take another look, may be I can mount it more to the front of the cabinet but then the dishwasher cord may not reach and I hate having plugs going sideways with the dangling cords interfering any time anyone shoves something into the sink cabinet without looking.

 

[AllanJ]

Choose a location on the plywood cabinet back to put the box,, not where the plywood is cracked or warped, and within a few inches of a side or a corner.

Put a continuous quarter inch bead of glue around the perimeter of the cabinet back where it meets the cabinet side or top or bottom near and extending a little past the vicinity you chose to mount the box.

Cut a piece of 1/2 inch (give or take) thick plywood somewhat larger than the box, say, 6x6 inches. Butter a one plus inch band around the perimeter of one side to glue it to the plywood back of the cabinet. Fasten the box centered on this piece of plywood.

 

[HandyAndyInNC]

You can always hard wire your dishwasher. Why is there cement board behind a cabinet? That is very strange. Under the sink and the furnace are the only places in my house that I use plastic water proof boxes and liquid tight conduit. I do no like plastic when it comes to electrical material. I like metal boxes. But there is a chance that there could be water or liquid spraying. You may want to do the same. Check the corner of the cabinet, there is usually some structure there in quality cabinets.

 

[miamicuse]

It's cement board on that side of the entire kitchen wall. Probably done to make it easier to do backsplash tiles.

 

[ront02769]

Cut the right size hole through everything and use an old work box.

 

[Yodaman]

I always cut a clear hole in the back of the cabinet. And mount the receptacle flush with the wall.

I would cut a small hole thru the wall board to determine thickness and try to get a old work box in there.

You could try using a magnet to pick up fastener locations. They should be over the stud.
Another tell-tale sign is look up along the top board of the cabinet. You may see the mounting screws, which also would be in a wall stud.