What is the best style of wall box for installing in an existing gyp board lath & plaster wall? The plastic nail-in style looks easy in new construction, but it's hard to see how to drive the nail with an inch of gyp lath and plaster in the way. Would a metal box be easier? I'm talking about a 3-space box for 2 switches and a receptical.
TIA
Ed
If you're using a 3 gang box, you will be able to get enough of an angle with a drill or screwgun to get two solid screws into one side of it, the side that will be flush up against the stud that you find.
If you do a good job of exposing the edge of the stud and keeping the hole nice and tight, you'll get some support from the "ears" on the box that will lay flush on the surface of the drywall. Combine that with your two anchor screws that will be in the stud, and you should have a solidly mounted box. I would just pop two 1" drywall screws into it, on a bit of an angle, but you can get super neat about it and drill a couple of straight pilot holes (with your pivot head screwdriver) and then use hex head screws and tighten them straight in with a socket on a ratchet. TP
You will want a good support for this box. You can get the gangable switch boxes at your local hardware or Home Depot and gang three of them together. You could use a piece of 1" aluminum angle, top and bottom, in the cut hole for the box. Put some heavy paneling glue on the aluminum angle and fasten it so that the inside of the angle is on the edge of the hole and on the back of the wall material. Clamp it in place and let set for a day or so. Then, get the wiring into the back of the box and fit the box into the hole. Drill a couple of holes, top and bottom ears, carefully, through the wall material and into the aluminum backup. It may even be best to just mark the holes that you want to drill and then take the box back out and hold the aluminum steady while drilling. You can tap holes into the aluminum for
6-32 screws, or just use some sheet metal type screws.
Which is it??? "gyp board" aka drywall, or "lath (wood or metal mesh lath?) and plaster"? Or both??? (somebody drywalled right over top of lath & plasrer?) TP
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It doesn't matter what is on the wall ("gyp board" aka drywall, or "lath (wood or metal mesh lath?)
you can use a plastic work box (made for this type of application) in any existing wall. They are sold at HD,Lowes, and any electrical supply store.
Raco Plastic Old Work Box (single gang box) Model 7887
C.A.
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