Am I a genius or am I reinventing the wheel?

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I cut the nails and move the box or pull it out like was mentioned above..
I’ve done some kitchen remodels where I’ve had to move the box 1/4 to 3/4 inches up or down to make sure the boxes line up with the tile lines for a backsplash.

In Sheetrock it doesn’t stand out that bad, but on tile backsplashes it is really noticeable.
 
If your adding a circuit to a box don't you have to disconnect wire's already there to hock up the new wire? Takes a few extra minutes I bet to just disconnect the remaining wires.
Now unless its a large gang box then I see your pain.
 
Hate drilling through closed up members (although you have to bite the bullet and just do it) Not certain if there is a pipe or duct or a wire that someone had to staple every six inches even as that wire runs across the bottom of that top plate. smh

About the op, Maybe a couple times removed the box. 99.9% snake to exiting box hole, which is very fun being a one man shop :- )
 
Coppersmith said:
Normally when I am fishing a cable down the wall from the attic into an existing plastic switch box, I use one of two methods: I either break open a KO and try to fish it into the tiny hole; or I de-term all the wires, rip out the box, fish the cable into the big hole, then install a new box and re-terminate everything. Today I accidentally discovered a third way. I made a cut on both top edges of the box from the front to about halfway back then folded the top of the box down. This made a large hole (target) for my cable which I then pushed through a top KO. Then I just folded the top of box back up. Did I just discover something totally new, or do you guys do this all the time?
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Would seem to me cutting the box in such a way might be a violation. 110.3(A)(2) cutting a listed product that way would compromise the "mechanical strength and durability" and "the adequacy of the protection thus provided", as designed by the mfg.
 
electrofelon said:
Not sure I like the idea of cutting the box up but not replacing it. My usual method - for the case where you can get above the box - is to drill a good 2" hole in the top plate and then it's pretty easy to drop a stick into the Ko.
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This sounds like a great idea. If I can find a way to drill a 2" hole quickly and without damaging my drill bit on a nail the benefit would be immense because like you said I could literally place a fish tape directly through the ko from the attic.

Normally I drill a 1/2 to 1" hole and have someone at the box grab the fishtape or weighted string from the gap in-between the box and the sheetrock.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I have done a similar system to Larry's. I usually pry the box out then cut the nails and screw to studs but that is not really compliant. with the screws sticking into the box.

I remember one job I had to go from the attic to the crawl space. I drilled my holes and dropped a jack chain down. Usually I have to fish it out of the hole below but this time the chain went right thru the other hole. Perfectly aligned.
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If there is some common reference it can be easy to perfectly align them, say a plumbing vent pipe runs entire vertical length of same wall you are fishing.
 
kwired said:
If there is some common reference it can be easy to perfectly align them, say a plumbing vent pipe runs entire vertical length of same wall you are fishing.
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Yes that is true, if you have something like that , of course, it helps with the measurement. I didn't have that but did some measurement from outside walls or something like that. I really don't remember much except I know it went straight thru.
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
If you guys are cutting out the box anyway, why not just pull it all the way out, or drop it down the cavity, and install a remodel box?

View attachment 2559213Thanks
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Just avoid the carlon ones :)

If you do need to install a Carlon old work box, lubricate the clamp screws somehow before installing it will make life much easier. Maybe even lubricate your device screws or run a tap in the device mounting holes.
 
Coppersmith said:
OK, so I didn't hear anybody say they do the "cut the box top" method. Any reason why I shouldn't do it? The box seems solid once I screw the devices back in. The seams where I cut it line up so no sparks can escape. It saved a bunch of time. Is it code legal? Thoughts?
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Never done it, don't think I'd have to much issue with it either. Could even seal those seams with silicone caulk I would imagine.

If you want to be NEC compliant you need a clamped connection on the cable you installed when fishing cable to the box. Done many over the years without any clamping unless actually using some sort of old work box.
 
kwired said:
Just avoid the carlon ones :)

If you do need to install a Carlon old work box, lubricate the clamp screws somehow before installing it will make life much easier. Maybe even lubricate your device screws or run a tap in the device mounting holes.
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When using those, I run the clamping screws all the way in and back out before installing.
 
kwired said:
If you want to be NEC compliant you need a clamped connection on the cable you installed when fishing cable to the box. Done many over the years without any clamping unless actually using some sort of old work box.
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I can usually connect the new EGC to the others tightly enough to resist any pull-out.
 
Ravenvalor said:
This sounds like a great idea. If I can find a way to drill a 2" hole quickly and without damaging my drill bit on a nail the benefit would be immense because like you said I could literally place a fish tape directly through the ko from the attic.

Normally I drill a 1/2 to 1" hole and have someone at the box grab the fishtape or weighted string from the gap in-between the box and the sheetrock.
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Those nails only are there when you have a brand new sharp bit. Use a dull bit and there won't be any nails. Just how it normally happens. :)
 
Yea. I have the Milwaukee camera.

Used it 3 times this week fishing wire, and once wiring up the trailer brake controller on the Suburban. 👍
 
acin said:
Any one using the fishing type cameras ?
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I use a scope camera regularly for use in "blind fishing" and have quite success in doing so. Been interested in a new one I've seen that actually attaches to the end of the sticks and bluetooth to your phone, just don't know how well it works and stays attached to the sticks.
 
acin said:
Any one using the fishing type cameras ?
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I find them to be useful in observing general conditions you can't otherwise see, but to use for any kind of navigation seems to be confusing a lot of the time. Top of the screen is not always the direction you think it is in the real world.
 
A while back I decided to run CAT5 throughout my house. I purchased a large neodymium magnet and some pull cord. Attached a washer to one end of the pull cord and the magnet guided it down the wall.
 
Ravenvalor said:
This sounds like a great idea. If I can find a way to drill a 2" hole quickly and without damaging my drill bit on a nail the benefit would be immense because like you said I could literally place a fish tape directly through the ko from the attic.

Normally I drill a 1/2 to 1" hole and have someone at the box grab the fishtape or weighted string from the gap in-between the box and the sheetrock.
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This is the way I do it. I usually will run the fish stick up through the box into the attic vs the other way around and tape the wire onto the stick. That way I can go back up in the attic and pull the stick and wire end up without bringing the coil of wire into the attic.
 
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