Writing on the walls.

[chris kennedy]

Are you talking about marking the box
without checking for studs first?

Yep.

I look for the location then I make a small hole about the middle of the box and use my screwdriver to "feel" around to see if I have any obstructions.

Same here.

 

[tkb]

I have taken my Torpedo(?) level and cut marks the size of the boxes I use. Once I know that I'm clear to cut I use the marks to draw out the box. I have one mark in the Middle and then I have marked for the Length and Width.

I've been doing this way for thirty years.

Messed up my first one. It was a Craftsman.
I intentionally broke the 45 degree vial and brought it back to Sears to get it replaced.
The Sears guy said he need to know how it broke.
I told him it broke while I was using it to pull out a nail.
He said no problem and gave me a new one.

 

[Teaspoon]

I also use a level to level my box.then mark it and cut out.
Any one tried the multi tool for cutting out holes.
works well I have a craftsman. only had it a few months,Handy little tool.

 

[EBFD6]

What I want to know is, how does Al cut out boxes with his shovel?

That's impressive, even if he misses once and a while! :grin:

 

[EBFD6]

I also use a level to level my box.then mark it and cut out.
Any one tried the multi tool for cutting out holes.
works well I have a craftsman. only had it a few months,Handy little tool.

I just got the Fein Multimaster for Christmas, I can't wait to try it. I just hope it doesn't go through blades too quickly. Blades are insanely expensive.

 

[1793]

What I want to know is, how does Al cut out boxes with his shovel?:grin:

That is the $64,000.00 question!

 

[1793]

I just got the Fein Multimaster for Christmas, I can't wait to try it. I just hope it doesn't go through blades too quickly. Blades are insanely expensive.

Picked mine up this past Fall. So far I love it. I don't use it every day but when I do it is a life saver. It does take a little practice so don't get discouraged at first.

 

[Karl H]

I've noticed a lot of you guys are making small holes in the drywall and
rotating a screwdriver or a piece of wire to locate studs. I use a strong
magnet. I scan the area where I want to cut with the magnet first.
It will find any nail,screw, or metal stud in the area every time. I
haven't used electronic stud finders for years.

I have two magnets that have holes in them that you can attach
pull-string to and drag it with another magnet from the outside up
to the accessible ceiling space. It will also work in insulated walls,
depending on how dense the insulation is.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

You guys are all too technical.

I take a perfectly shaped 3lb hammer and swing until I find the perfect spot.

Actually this was my last resort..., and I actually did it more than once. Some guys used to call me the "holey electrician".


I would find a reference for a stud on the common wall, such as another receptacle, switch or wall sconce.

Then I would measure over at 16 inch intervals to get an idea where a stud may be. I would gently knock on walls (clean hands) to see if I could hear a stud. This was great for sheetrock, but did not work as well with plaster.
I also would mark out where the 6-32 screw in the gem box was and send in a piece of 12wire. Once I found a good spot, then I marked the 4-corners and cut a hole.

I did not love those old houses where the original work was sometimes done in pieces and a lot of diagnal framing members made it a mess to snake the wire.

 

[raider1]

I've noticed a lot of you guys are making small holes in the drywall and
rotating a screwdriver or a piece of wire to locate studs. I use a strong
magnet. I scan the area where I want to cut with the magnet first.
It will find any nail,screw, or metal stud in the area every time. I
haven't used electronic stud finders for years.

I have two magnets that have holes in them that you can attach
pull-string to and drag it with another magnet from the outside up
to the accessible ceiling space. It will also work in insulated walls,
depending on how dense the insulation is.

I will also use a magnet to find the studs.

The torpedo level that I use has rare earth magnets on the bottom and I will lightly run this up the wall until one of the magnets pulls against a drywall screw.

Chris

 

[480sparky]

Magnets work fine up to a point.......the point where the drywallers starting installing sheetrock with adhesive alone.

 

[G0049]

Magnets work fine up to a point.......the point where the drywallers starting installing sheetrock with adhesive alone.

Then you get a bigger, heavier magnet. Stand back a few feet, aim at a likely place, and let fly.:roll:

 

[macmikeman]

Magnets work fine up to a point.......the point where the drywallers starting installing sheetrock with adhesive alone.

Or there is an unseen 3" ABS vent pipe run right behind the sheetrock. I use the rotating screwdriver method also. Less chance of disaster.

 

[e57]

Or there is an unseen 3" ABS vent pipe run right behind the sheetrock. I use the rotating screwdriver method also. Less chance of disaster.

And then followed by a bent crank of #12 solid to find what the driver missed...

 

[Ohmy]

Poke a hole in with the skinny screw driver and wiggle it around, put the box over the hole, make it level and make four indentations with the drywall saw on the four corners of the box, then start cutting. If its a 3 gang or round box I just trace it with the tip of my saw. Getting out a pencile takes time. Marking a box with a saw or pencile that you have not tested with a small hole is a bad idea regardless.

 

[JohnJ0906]

I look for the location then I make a small hole about the middle of the box and use my screwdriver to "feel" around to see if I have any obstructions. Then I mark the wall for the cut out.

This is how I do it as well.

 

[DIRT27]

I will also use a magnet to find the studs.

The torpedo level that I use has rare earth magnets on the bottom and I will lightly run this up the wall until one of the magnets pulls against a drywall screw.

Chris

I use this method too, but I also make the small hole with a screw driver or #12 to check for any obstructions behind the dry wall. There was a time when I just made a small hole first, but too many times I seemed to hit the stud right in the center drywall is still slightly damaged. Guess I'm just that lucky.

 

[ceb58]

If Al does it it's right even if he misses, end of story.

Al, if you're reading this thread and you want to move to the mountains, I have a place for you.

Roger

And your snow shovel

 

[big john]

...I get on my own nerves since I usually get in a hurry and forget to check the other side of the wall for a receptacle or switchbox...

I once did that cutting in a double-gang old-work box. Traced the box and just started cutting. Took out the piece of sheetrock and found I'd gone all the way around a 2-gang cut-in on the other side of the wall, and hadn't hit it once. It perfectly filled the hole I'd just cut. I couldn't believe it. :roll:

-John

 

[cadpoint]

Well, All I want to know was what's Al's response to marking up the wall? :grin: HNY everybody!