Help the trim man out

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southernboys

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Hey guys something for you roughin resi guys to think about. I do both as most of us probaly do. When it comes to the dishwasher and disposal under a counter lets try to strip and bend hooks on our wires at rough stage. I think it probaly help all of us out. As we all know it sucks climbing under that counter and putting in those plugs. Especially when the lazy sob on rough cant even cut the romex off the wire. Opinions please
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Yeah, sounds like a good idea until you find that your hooks are now covered in spray primer. Now what do you do? You're crammed under the sink scratching paint off the copper or reskinning them. I trimmed out a whole house in which the ruffer decided to skin and hook every device. What a miserable experience. All the exposed copper was painted on with the spay primer (and maybe even finish paint). Yes, I agree that the jacket of the romex should be already removed. Not doing at least this is laziness. I wouldn't shame a guy for not putting hooks on the wires. Often, my custom is to tail out for a disposal anyhow, and put a wiremold box in the back of the lower cupboard. You'd hate me.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

I would simply install the wire onto the receptacle and tuck it into the box with a piece of masking tape over it. Later on you'll just pull it out, screw in the two 6-32's and throw on the plate.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Originally posted by jimwalker:
I want to watch you do this one.How do you tuck it in a box ? :roll:
Yeah, I've done that with temporary switches and receptacle to make it easier on the rockers from time to time. Yes, it's indeed possible. You put it in on a diagonal, with the top of the device's yoke jammed into the left rear corner of the box and the bottom of the yoke ending up in the right front corner. It's not really that hard, especially in a box with one cable.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Originally posted by hardworkingstiff:
Is it permissible to install a female cord plug on the end of a piece of RX at the dishwasher?
Nope. I have seen no cord cap yet rated for romex. I have seen that done quite a bit however, along with a handy box and duplex, for dishwasher and trash compactor connections.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Originally posted by jimwalker:
I want to watch you do this one.How do you tuck it in a box ? :roll:
As MD said it's quite easy. You can diagonal it or insert the top or bottom in first. It works rather well.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Since I do the rough and trim on every job, I don't have to consider how I leave work for the next guy. See -- there are benefits to being a one-man shop! :D

What I prefer to do is leave the NM fully jacketed -- no stripping, no hooking, etc. I then label the end of the cable with a Sharpie and coil it up neatly and tuck it into the box. I never know if someone is going to prime or paint, and I prefer to have my wire insulation remain the color its supposed to be.

I'm not sure what my policy would be if I had employees and had different people doing rough and trim on a job.

As for disposals and dishwashers, I prefer to install a split-wired receptacle on a multiwire branch circuit, with a switch loop for the disposal under the sink. Most of my customers like this idea when I present it to them. I explain to them that doing it this way means that in the future, if they want to swap out either appliance, they won't have to mess around with the wiring since it'll be all set up for cord-n-plug.

[ January 20, 2006, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: jeff43222 ]
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Originally posted by jimwalker:
I will add it to my try list.But i still see no reason to even have a receptacle for the pig or dish washer.
True enough. There is no overwhelming reason. I just consider it one of the little extra things that I do to make the install really "nice". If I was working for a production driven employer, I probably would not do it that way. Installing a receptacle for things like dishwashers, disposals, trash compactors, and instant hot water dispensers is considered the normal practice in my neck of the woods. Just depends on how you were fetched up, and I wouldn't hold it against a guy if he has a different method.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Originally posted by jimwalker:
Residential here is all about speed and cheap.That's why i switched to commercial.
commercial "speciality" here.

Marinas, gas stations, fuel piping at marinas, and anything (almost) that will pay a good rate.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

I've done a few "Residential" jobs in my day and as someone previously stated, I usually "Ruff" and "Trim" my own, but when I "ruff" ... almost anyone could "Trim" it out ... I try to make it easy for the other guy (remove romex cover and "Pig-Tail" wires and "Fold wires" into box (make-up)so when trimming, strip ends, hook and screw receps or switches, etc ... ... I'd like to know how you strip the romex cover off the cable after its in the box and the "Rock is installed" ?? Seems to me there would be a whole lot of "stuff" in that box to get into the way of any other things (receps, switches etc..) ... M :cool:
 
Re: Help the trim man out

I prefer the covering to be left on the wire and identified with a sharpie, especially switch boxes. It's easier for me to identify the different wires, especially when I have a 4-gang box with four three way switches. Don't you love it when the cabinet installer cuts a round hole about as big around as a quarter for your under sink and microwave outlets? ;)
 
Re: Help the trim man out

I always strip the sheath, make all of the connections, and strip and hook the device wires. I fold in the grounds, neutrals, and spliced hots, and place the device wires where each one goes.

I ask how the paint will be applied, and cover each box with duct tape if they'll spray. At trim, the only tool needed is a power screwdriver. The newly-painted walls stay much cleaner this way.
 
Re: Help the trim man out

Originally posted by redfish:
I prefer the covering to be left on the wire and identified with a sharpie, especially switch boxes. It's easier for me to identify the different wires, especially when I have a 4-gang box with four three way switches.
I can't imagine having to make all the connections at trim. It would take forever, and the walls would be filthy around the boxes. I wrap the common around the travelers for 3-ways.
Don't you love it when the cabinet installer cuts a round hole about as big around as a quarter for your under sink and microwave outlets? ;)
I use plastic handy boxes where possible, so the hole size doesn't matter. The box can cover most of the hole if it's too big.

Like Mario, I'm one of the easiest "ruffers" to trim after.

[ January 21, 2006, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: LarryFine ]
 
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