stripped threads in 2 gang electrical box

The tabs on many (most?) boxes can be removed with the box in-situ. Just takes a little careful fiddling. Replace with new tab.

If they are metal boxes, use a slightly larger self-tapper.

Had to do it myself this afternoon, having, with no little difficulty, removed the remains of the original screw which had sheared off. :-(

Chris

Glue M 3.5 nuts to the back of the tabs.

Perhaps I buy cheap rubbish, but all of mine have only one adjustable tab. The fixed one wouldn't be easy to change. ;-)

I've used small bit of tinfil carefully wrapped into hole in network cabling before - might just have been lucky that it held.

Like someone said earlier - probably easier to yank backbox out.

Robert

Chris,

Nice idea, what size did you use? can I get these from screwfix?

Martin

-- Martin J. Evans Wetherby, UK

Thanks, I'd thought of that but couldn't find any 3.5 nuts anywhere. M4 not a problem, but M3.5 - no :-(

Martin

-- Martin J. Evans Wetherby, UK

You can get a re-threading tool for about £3 at a local electrical factors- it is a tap with a plastic srewdriver style handle..

I 'peen' the old hole area with a hammer- supporting the tab with a bit of metal- to close up the orginal hole a bit, then re-thread with the tool.

Used it several times without problems.

Try a spare back box that will have two spare 3.5 nuts just hacksaw the lugs off then glue in place Or if you have a 3.5 tap make some, try a back box knockout you could even bend it double then slip/glue over the lug

Steve

I just rummaged in the collection in my garage until found one that would do, sorry I can't be more specific.

Chris

Local fixings supplier - or model shop - from Yellow pages?

RS Components etc stock them.

Yup. But I've read it *thoroughly* now. ;-)

OK, I give up. I was thinking of buying this thing myself. What does it actually do, and why isn't it suitable for the problem described?

It's simply a 3.5mm tap. Fine for cleaning up threads - but if the tread has stripped as in this case, it can't make a new one, as the hole is too large.