Plastic VS. Metal; Fair labor assessment

[220/221]

at least you had the nerve to admit to it!

I never understood the issue with it. They are pointy so they find the hole easier and the coarse threads = less work to tighten the screw.:wink:

 

[active1]

All we use or ever see here is EMT and metal boxes.
Some villages require min. steel 4x4x1.5" unless there is framing in the way.

Maybe if you work in a trailer park you might see a plastic box here.
Why are they plastic, does it make the trailer home lighter and faster?
Or is it a fuel econimy thing?

We don't care much about the weight when the building is bolted down.

 

[peter d]

All we use or ever see here is EMT and metal boxes.
Some villages require min. steel 4x4x1.5" unless there is framing in the way.

Where is "here?" Chicago area? You should add your location to your profile.

 

[active1]

Done.
Never noticed it was missing.

 

[stevenj76]

speaking of plastic

speaking of plastic

I like to run a 3/4" smurf tube up to the attic and down to the crawl from the panel for future.

I prefer a steel mudring in front of the ufer.

No more 18cube plastic boxes, minimum 20 cubes.

Hard plastic paddle fan box, and where it falls close to a joist, the 'saddle box.'

Stack-its for the homeruns then 2x4 scrap above the panel for the homers.

Staple guns are junk. If you can't sink a nail or staple in two taps, you need to improve.

 

[Ted Gerrard]

You will want one of those screw drivers with the wire nut grip in the handel if your not use to twisting nuts a house full will tare your fingers apart

 

[peter d]

Done.
Never noticed it was missing.

Not a problem. When you said that everything was metal, I was 99% sure you were in the Chicago area anyway.

 

[peter d]

I prefer a steel mudring in front of the ufer.

You should also put your location in your profile because a lot of people will have no clue what you're talking about.

You must be in one of the "slab states" where a piece of rebar is stubbed into the wall in the garage, and you connect the GEC onto it later, hence the mudring so the connection is accessible. I've only seen this done in CA.

 

[wireman71]

Actually it's done in WA to when you can either be there during the rebar setting stage or convince the general that it saves him money by you not having to drive ground rods. Wish every general would stub up two pieces, think it's 20' apart. One for the Ufer, other so the inspector can make you take a ohm reading between them if he desires. That's if you don't have your inspector come bye to inspect before the pour.

 

[220/221]

Why are they plastic,

Plastic is non conductive......like the insulation on the wire.

Both are actually a pretty good idea.

 

[pbeasley]

I like to run a 3/4" smurf tube up to the attic and down to the crawl from the panel for future.

I've had more than one inspector around here disallow smurf tube for 120v... low voltage and comm only...

So what's the deal, is this just a jurisdiction thing or is there some date it was added to the NEC and it's just a matter of the right code cycle?

 

[jrclen]

Yup. Been there and done that. Works great in plastic.

 

[jrclen]

All we use or ever see here is EMT and metal boxes.
Some villages require min. steel 4x4x1.5" unless there is framing in the way.

Maybe if you work in a trailer park you might see a plastic box here.
Why are they plastic, does it make the trailer home lighter and faster?
Or is it a fuel econimy thing?

We don't care much about the weight when the building is bolted down.

Why not plastic? Do the metal boxes help hold the house down in a tornado or what?

 

[HighWirey]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 220/221

Never saw your OP about the 'bugle headed drywall screw' until today.

Great sentiment, and picture.

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008

 

[active1]

Why not plastic? Do the metal boxes help hold the house down in a tornado or what?

Ya, but only if you pipe em.

 

[jrclen]

Ya, but only if you pipe em.

That reminds me of a time a while back. A good friend asked if I would drive down to Chicago with him. Seems his elderly dad needed a new circuit installed for a microwave. He said after the job was done we would hit a bunch of Irish bars with our bagpipes and have some fun. After very seriously explaining about licenses and permits and all those reasons why I couldn't do the job, he mentioned the Irish bars again. So off we went. I threw the tool box, misc parts, and a roll of romex into the truck and off we went. His dad pointed to the romex and asked what we figured on doing with that. I told him we were going to install his new circuit. "Not with that you ain't," he said, "not in Chicago." So off we went to the supply house for some pipe and thhn. Lucky my bender was in the truck or we would have had to buy one of those too. That beer sure was good. And those good Chicago Celts enjoyed the pipes too. And Dad learned that even Wisconsin electricians can bend pipe.
:grin:

 

[ishium 80439]

I posted earlier in this thread about the staple guns and it seems that most have the same opinion- perhaps occaisionaly a time saver, but just another thing to drag around.

I use ground crimps. My problem with Greenies has always been in multiple gang boxes that require muliple ground tails. They just won't fit through the hole in the end of the nut. Always been frustrated with them.