[HandyDave]

What is the "trick" to installing those plastic Carlon boxes to studs for new work

I dinked around today for about 1/2 hour trying to straighten out a 2 gang new service box.

Pic here http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...ng+carlon+new+work&storeId=10051#.UPNghR34Ljs

What is the trick to getting these things flush with drywall. Why on earth do they have a 3/8 "leg on them when most of us DIYers use 1/2 drywall?

I measure 1/2 inch pound it to the stud and it has goofy twist etc... Anyone know a solution?

 

[jbfan]

Stud twisted?
I use a piece of 1/2 press board or drywall to set the boxes.

 

[George6488]

Use metal boxes

 

[Speedy Petey]

Use metal boxes

On wood studs with NM cable?? YUK!

 

[Speedy Petey]

I dinked around today for about 1/2 hour trying to straighten out a 2 gang new service box.

Pic here http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...ng+carlon+new+work&storeId=10051#.UPNghR34Ljs

What is the trick to getting these things flush with drywall. Why on earth do they have a 3/8 "leg on them when most of us DIYers use 1/2 drywall?

I measure 1/2 inch pound it to the stud and it has goofy twist etc... Anyone know a solution?

Those thin blue boxes suck! You have to nail them in absolutely perfect or they will twist like you are experiencing.

If I have to get the blue ones I get the heavier ones that are MUCH sturdier. They will not twist.

 

[mikegp]

Hold it with your thumb in the box while hammering. Studs with sharp edges work better.

 

[joecaption]

There suppost to be slightyl recessed, better that then sticking out to far and the cover will not sit flush with the wall.

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

Ok withthis model of boxes I only have problems when doing 3 or 4 gang but it is better to work with the sturdier type and the onlyreason I can think of for you to have problems with a two gang box is that the stud is crooked

 

[Speedy Petey]

There suppost to be slightyl recessed, better that then sticking out to far and the cover will not sit flush with the wall.

Actually they are supposed to be flush, but are allowed to be slightly recessed. How much depends on the wall material.

 

[HandyDave]

Thanks for all the tips and advice. I think I am gonna try to make a lil jig out of plywood. There was some great information in this post..Thanks again.

 

[AllanJ]

One reason why the box ends up being crooked is that the nail doesn't go into the wood exactly where you started it.It is the wood grain tthat "steers" the nail slightly to one side or the other.

For boxes of 3 or more gangs, the box itself is too floppy to stay in place. You need a strip of wood going horizontally between the studs to hold the box in place.

 

[HandyDave]

One reason why the box ends up being crooked is that the nail doesn't go into the wood exactly where you started it.It is the wood grain tthat "steers" the nail slightly to one side or the other.

For boxes of 3 or more gangs, the box itself is too floppy to stay in place. You need a strip of wood going horizontally between the studs to hold the box in place.

Thanks Allen J i think you hit the nail right on the head here.... (no pun intended) I am only using single and occasionally a 2 gang box.

 

[chemman]

I've used a C-clamp to hold the box against the stud while driving in the nails before.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Thinking about how I nail those in...

I hold the box to the stud with my left hand (thumb and hand to make "C clamp"), tap in the top nail just a little - maybe 1/2 inch.
Then tap in the bottom nail 1/2 inch.

That gets it straight.

Then pound the top nail in all the way and then the bottom nail all the way.

If a nail is not in straight after pounding it all the way in, I pound it forward or backward with the hammer (bending the nail).

If a nail hits a knot and kinks, I cuss, rip the whole thing out, and use a new box.

 

[Jim Port]

You can also add a piece of false stud on the outside of the box away from the true stud. There is a flange you can screw through to secure it.