Receptacle Question

hanover

Hi All,

Sorry for posting here in the Elec forum. I am a home improvement contractor and registered on the FORUMS area, but when i tried to list this in DIY, it didn't recognize me.

I was trying to unscrew a recepticle from it's box and the screws holding the recepticle to the box just broke off due to corrosion (damp basement)

To fix the problem i could replace the box but that involves removing sheetrock or i guess i could re-tap the holes. Is there any other way to fasten the receptical to the box so that it's tight against the sheetrock without doing either of the above?

Thanks is advance for any help.

rabbitgun

Yes, Liquid nails works very well.

mahlere

see that, Mr. Older Than Dirt learned something today...

rabbitgun

Oh!!!!!!!! Oop's!

I thought the OP was asking about gluing paneling to sheetrock............. I did not have my readers on.

Time for plan B I guess.

mahlere

Magnet?

rabbitgun

No, but do spare the women what ever you do.

skymaster

If the gods will smile on ya AND this box is nailed to a stud; sawzall the nails, pull box, install old construction box, IE plastic or metal box with compressing ears that grab behind the rock. Or Same box after you unscrew remains back in with madison bars.
Only things I can think of.
JackM

skymaster

Oh Yeah one more thing; PLEASE TURN OFF THE POWER FIRST

mickeyco

I think you managed to over complicate and over simplify the fix at the same time. The easiest fix is to get out the broken screw and chase the thread with a tap (maybe a vice-grip to remove the old screw). Without knowing what type of box, single gang, two gang, with or without a plaster ring, plastic or metal it's hard to say. Cutting out and replacing a metal box with 3 or 4 emt's in it isn't that easy and if it's a two gang box with a single receptacle plaster ring, plastic or metal you'll have to cut a hole a lot larger the receptacle to get the box out. If you can't get the screw out with pliers you can try drilling the screw out (reverse drill bit) or on a metal box cut the screw flush and try needle nose pliers from behind.. You can even go up a thread size if you have to, drill and tap it for a 8-32. Another option is heli-coils for a plastic box and nut-serts for a metal box. Klein makes a box tapping screwdriver that's great for chasing the threads.

mdshunk

If you broke the screw off, I'm assuming that it's a metal box. Just drill and tap the hole for a new 6-32. No big deal. It happens all the time, especially with outdoor boxes. I use Greenlee's DTAPKIT, which has a drill and tap all in the same bit, but you can do it the old fashioned way with a seperate bit and 6-32 tap. Have a ball.

Sparky Joe

With some things you could just use your "tri-tap" and keep screwing it in to thread it to an 8/32, no drilling or specific sized bits reqired (btw a common self tapper drills a good hole for an 8/32 tap).

To remove the old screw try grabbing it with your pliers and twisting it out carefully, using some penetrating oil helps too.

hanover

Thanks for all the feedback!

RobertWilber

it helps to file the old screw flat with the ear first