Electrical boxes and plaster

[bay]

Hello,

Does anyone have tips on the easiest way to mark on drywall where the holes for electrical boxes should be?

 

[Fasting65]

I'm just saying: Hole-in-one.

http://www.elbutik.se/group.htm?category_id=2932

If you can't afford it - measure, measure, measure (and swear when it's 3-8 mm wrong all the time).

The magnet locator is visible in the upper left corner. It shows quite precisely where to make the hole for the box.

 

[TN]

Or use ROT dosor

 

[Brugd]

drive a screw through the center of a junction box cover and place it in the box so that the screw tip protrudes. press the plaster against it, and you have a mark where you should place the pilot bit of the hole saw. done.

 

[Mjölnaren]

run a screw through the middle of a socket cover and place it in the socket so that the tip of the screw sticks out. press the plaster against it, and you have a mark where you should place the center drill on the hole saw. done.

Exactamento.....
For OSB/chipboard, replace the screw with a small bolt. Place a dab of color on the end of the bolt and press against the board

 

[bay]

Hole-in-one sounds interesting! Is the intention that the board is mounted and hole-sawed on site?

The option with screws means that the board must be taken down and hole-sawed from the "backside," right!?

 

[Mjölnaren]

Hole-in-one sounds interesting! Is it intended for the board to be mounted and hole-sawed on-site?

The screw option means the board must be taken down and hole-sawed from the "backside," right!?

Yep, the board must come off... But it's enough to hold it in place and press to mark.
I would also like the tool : we'll see what Santa thinks
50 boxes approx. 18:- / hole 8)

 

[Fasting65]

A clarification: Snickarpelle's response above only pertains to Bay's second question.

With Hole-In-One, you don't need to dismantle the board. Place the insert magnet in the box and attach the plasterboard. Then just release the locator magnet and drill.

NOTE!
This works a bit less effectively on OSB because the locator magnet often ends up slightly off-center.

The drill can't "slide" to the side as easily in wood as it can in gypsum. My hole-in-one inserts are quite worn in the center after an entire build where I used them for both OSB and gypsum.

My tip for OSB and other wood panels is:
1) Insert the insert magnet into the outlet box.
2) Fix the osb/plywood/chipboard.
3) Attach the locator magnet.
4) Take out the hole saw and drill just a few millimeters into the wood panel.
5) Remove the OSB board and make the hole with an oversized hole saw. The hole will be a bit too big, but it doesn't matter - no one will see it. Additionally, it will be easier to mount the board if the hole ended up a few mm off in any direction.
6) Mount the OSB board.

In this way, you have preserved your expensive hole-in-one. This tip is something I would have wanted BEFORE I wore out my magnets. Now the magnets have oval holes, and the precision is anything but exact.

 

[Mjölnaren]

Precis.....
became a bit ambiguous with the "quote"
lucky you're keeping me in check

My simple solution for "hard discs" might not have been so bad if hard discs should be removed even when you have the "expensive tool" 8)

 

[Fasting65]

Yes, you CAN do that... but it's 100% cooler to use your expensively acquired tool. Plus, you keep your tool collection down with ONE gadget  

It might be good from a negotiation point not to mention the hole-in-one's shortcomings, otherwise, you probably won't get it from Santa.

PS: New magnets can be bought separately. Seriously considering buying two new small ones.

PS2: It MIGHT be a good idea to buy at least one more small magnet. It happens more often than you think that there are more than two outlets behind a drywall.

 

[dymlingen]

I agree that hole-in-one doesn't work as well in OSB. It's a bit disappointing that the efforts become full of holes after just ten holes considering that they are quite expensive. Normally in gypsum it would just leave a small mark before the drill slides into place.

Otherwise, I can only say that it is a very time-saving invention.

 

[bay]

I think I'll get a hole-in-one when it's time for assembly. I saw they are available at Jula for a better price.

 

[Fasting65]

Drag me backwards - great that Jula has them - at a fine price too....if one can justify 600 stopinkas for some magnets and plastic.

 

[Fasting65]

As a hole saw operator, I use Biltema's. The drill has the right dimension for the holes in Hole-In-One, and the cutters haven't broken yet. Good value for a hobby builder!

The chuck: 20-306 39.90 SEK
The drill: 20-307 8.90 SEK
The hole saw: 20-303 (75 mm) and 20-302 (85 mm) 89.90 SEK each