Paper or Plastic?

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Paper or Plastic?

  • Carlon/Slater/Cantex PVC or equivalent

    Votes: 31 60.8%

  • Union brown bakelite

    Votes: 2 3.9%

  • Allied fiberglass

    Votes: 6 11.8%

  • Nothing but metal for me

    Votes: 5 9.8%

  • What is residential work?

    Votes: 7 13.7%
  • Total voters
    51
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A mix of PVC 1 & 2 gang carlon adjustable, and Metal for larger wire counts.

Bakelite - if they survive construction, your gambleing on if the screw hole will strip out.
 
I guess your question is about resi.

I order them from the supply house genericly as "non metallic wall boxes, best price" written on the fax, and I get what I get. I don't have a problem with any of them, but I mostly get the blue Zip boxes when I order genericly. The Union wall boxes are easier to nail on from behind, if you have a wall that is all shear on one side. I happen to like the clamps in the Slater multi-gang boxes better than most brands, but that's just me.
 
boxes

boxes

the carlon 2-gang nail-on has a little less cu.in capacity than some other brands.
for folks who like #12 on lighting circuits this one can be a killer when it comes to box fill.
if I'm inspecting, walk in, see #12 on lighting and carlon boxes, I can take bets on box fill problem and win.
 
augie47 said:
the carlon 2-gang nail-on has a little less cu.in capacity than some other brands.
for folks who like #12 on lighting circuits this one can be a killer when it comes to box fill.
if I'm inspecting, walk in, see #12 on lighting and carlon boxes, I can take bets on box fill problem and win.
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I agree. It's not just limited to Carlon....all of the different mfg's "basic" multigang boxes are too shallow. Deeper ones are available..but the price is double or triple, if the supplier even has them on the shelf.
 
peter d said:
I agree. It's not just limited to Carlon....all of the different mfg's "basic" multigang boxes are too shallow.
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Overheard on the job:
"Hey, all the cable clamps aren't used up. There must be room in the box". :grin:
 
I prefer Allied Molded, they dont flex like the blue things and I like the threaded hole for the device, never any resistance or strip outs... so my trim out is much easier....
 
I use mostly the Carlon blues... the old flexible ones, not the hard, rigid type. I need the flexibility for all the log homes I do.
 
Personally, I can't stand the Carlon blues. I don't like the push tab that holds the wire. Wire slides in to easily and I end up with more sheathing than I like to get a clean cut-in. I prefer the P&S grey boxes and I have gotten to the point that I like to use the deep boxes (21 cu.in. vs 18) to take the worry over if it is going to be deep enough. The Allied boxes are good and sturdy and don't bend with the sheetrocker (man I hate a leaning 3-gang come trim time), but I don't care for the fiberglass.
 
If you're worried about a box leaning then on the end of larger boxes there's usually screw holes (at least the ones we buy 3 & 4gang boxes) just put a piece of 2x4 there and it keeps it from leaning in. Usually some 2x4 scraps laying around on the job to pick up.
 
360Youth said:
I prefer the P&S grey boxes and I have gotten to the point that I like to use the deep boxes (21 cu.in. vs 18) to take the worry over if it is going to be deep enough.
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I prefer the deep ones too. A case of 100 is only a couple bucks more than the 18in?, and I'm like you.... I don't want to worry about overfilling a box. At that price, it's worth it not to have to concern myself about it, as well as stocking two or three different boxes.
 
I prefer the Bakelite ones but I haven't been buying them lately. I'll probably go back to them soon since I just got a part time job due to the worries I posted about a few weeks ago. Now with a consistent income I don't have to struggle and pinch pennies for the sake of a livelihood.

I have compromised myself for the last time.
 
I use the Allied thermoplastic in many instances. They are the biggest boxes I have found in a plastic nail on. Foir kitchens and multi gang they are the best. For the rest of the house mostly Pass $ Seymour deep boxes. Rarely an 18 cu inch for single gang.
 
I always use

I always use

deep boxes wherever I can and charge acordingly. 3.5 in deep carlon either blue or grey nail ons and for old work almost exclusively smart boxes unless I cant get to the stud then I use old work or whatever contraption I need to get the heck out of there.
 
i'm all metal. an added benefit of these is whenever the drywall guys cover them up, they're easy to find w/ a large magnet. on average, i have 6 per house covered. i had one job a couple of years ago where 17 boxes were covered. just awful.
 
brantmacga said:
i'm all metal. an added benefit of these is whenever the drywall guys cover them up, they're easy to find w/ a large magnet. on average, i have 6 per house covered. i had one job a couple of years ago where 17 boxes were covered. just awful.
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Not to hijack the thread here, but I mark the floors with upside-down paint after I get done with a rough-in to avoid that problem. A simple line directly below a receptacle, an "S" below the switches and countertop receps, and an arrow below anything higher such as a wall sconce. Ceiling lights, fans, cans, exhaust fans and smokes are 'X'-ed below their location.
As soon as the drywall is hung, one quick glance will reveal anything buried. A lot easier to dig it out then (or tell the drywallers) than wait until trim!
Cost of a can of paint: $5. Maybe 5 minutes to mark the whole house. Well worth the investment as far as I'm concerned.
 
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absolutely, if using plastic boxes. no need w/ metal. takes about 30 seconds or less to find a covered box w/ magnet.
 
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