remove old 6 outlet tap

[grodenhiATgmailDOTcom]

I am in the process of updating all the electrical outlets in my living room. I'm changing out the old ivory outlets/switches to new white ones. I'm down to the final outlet in the room, it's a six outlet recepticle box (I think they're called taps). I for the life of me can't figure out how to remove it. There's no visible screws, tabs, clips, etc. The box has probably been there for decades (I can wiggle it off the wall a tiny bit and see old 60's style wallpaper behind it). How are these typically connected? Like I said, it wiggle back and forth a tiny bit and I can pull it back very little, but I don't want to rip the junction box out of the wall. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!

[les]

Depends how handy you are, and what you are familiar with (ie plaster work, electrical work). It sounds like you have an additional issue of wallpaper. I tend to be aggressive, and will try minimal methods, and graduate to full work if it merits it. If you pull and it gives, perhaps the tap is really not secured, but I find that unusual. It's probably screwed in, but might be loose. I'd check about the center screw. Now you have to commit yourself. The screw might be hidden under plastic. You could make selective test holes in the center where the "center plug" is. TURN OFF YOUR CIRCUIT BREAKER BEFORE YOU DO THIS AND LEAVE OFF TIL YOU FINISH THE JOB COMPLETELY. Using 1/4" drill tap into the plastic cover. You may discover the hidden screw, then drill around it. It might be secured in 2 spots also. If you find a normal outlet underneath this tap, then remove it as usual. Another possible reason why the tap moves is that the whole box is loose. This could be a larger issue in an older house (wallpaper as my clue). You might have to open the wall eventually to secure a new box to a joist. It's hard to predict from the little info we have.

[Goedjn]

If you're talking about a plug-in 6 plug adapter something like this:

I've never seen one without a center-screw. If one isn't evident on yours then there's probably a snap-on cover that's put on over the rest of the unit. YOu could post a picture, but I think that I'd probably kill the power, and take an exacto-knife or a dremel tool and cut a hole right over the center of it, looking for the screw. (Assuming you don't want to re-use the thing)

[PipeDown]

If all else fails, turn off the breaker and break up the box with a hammer and pliers. It should be obvious how to remove it once it is broken to bits. It's just a plastic thing plugged into a standard duplex outlet right? Sounds like you plan to replace the underlying receptacle anyway.