I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

On Oct 16, 9:48*am, theparty wrote:
I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

If you can't get a reciprocating saw to cut the nails off without
damage, you may be able to center punch the nail heads and then
carefully drill the heads of the nails off.

Good luck, and take your time.

On Oct 16, 9:57*am, mike wrote:

If you can't get a reciprocating saw to cut the nails off without
damage, you may be able to center punch the nail heads and then
carefully drill the heads of the nails off.

Good luck, and take your time.

Oh, and grinding the nail heads off with a small bit is another
option, assuming you have access to the heads.

theparty wrote:
I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

You already have a hole to repair, what's the difference it it's a
couple inches bigger?

I presume "moving the wires and connections" means there will be no
hidden connections left behind this existing wall...

--

On Oct 16, 12:48*pm, theparty wrote:
I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

I've been able to demo boxes like this by (carefully) taking a small
pry bar and BFH and taking the box apart inside the wall (generally
those boxes are designed to be ganged, so they are made of several
pieces. Sometimes the screws are even available from inside the box.)
then removing the nails. I've had to do this at least twice in my
house - once to remove a loose box and once because I was replacing a
regular switch with a 3-way and needed to fish a new cable, and
couldn't get through a fire stop without removing the box. In both
instances I used an old work box in the same location, although since
you're patching you don't even need to be so careful.

good luck

nate

I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?


*I usually use a big screwdriver and wedge it between the box and the wood
stud. Just apply a little force and rock the screwdriver forth and back.
You should move the screwdriver, as the space opens up, closer to the point
where each nail enters the wood. Sometimes I use my lineman's or my Knipex
diagonals to cut the nails. Take your time and be careful to not damage the
wires. If this is a wood lath and plaster wall it will be difficult to not
cause damage to the plaster.

"theparty" wrote in message
...
I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

Leave the box where it is. The box is below the surface of the plaster.
Screw in a block of wood with some lath screen on the face and use this as
support for your patch. Plan B would be to face the block with a chunk of
sheetrock and use drywall compound for the patch material.

The real easy way would just be to install a blank plate over the box and
leave it, it is in a hallway and people do not spend a lot of time staring
at walls in hallways.

--
Roger Shoaf

If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, what does this say about the
Congress?

theparty wrote:
I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

Nobody else said it, so I will- why bother moving the wires, if you are
using a pull chain? The existing switch is probably just a switch leg,
and you can pull it out of the box in the attic when you change the
fixture. Then just pull out the old box and abandon the wire in place.
Even if the light is powered through the switch, you can just put the
new junction box in the attic. No need to disturb the closet wall at all.

--
aem sends...

On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:48:15 -0700 (PDT), theparty
wrote:

I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?


I like to use a hacksaw blade. To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.

On Oct 17, 4:59�pm, Phisherman wrote:
On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:48:15 -0700 (PDT), theparty

wrote:
I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

I like to use a hacksaw blade. �To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. � More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.

A ppull chain can be a hazard unless its reachable before your in the
attic.

On Oct 17, 4:59*pm, Phisherman wrote:

I like to use a hacksaw blade. *To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. * More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.

Thanks - you just reminded me that I need to buy a new jab saw hacksaw
blade holder. Damn cheap plastic thing must have been fifteen years
old....okay, maybe it wasn't so cheap, and I'm sorry about the damn
thing, too!

R

RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 17, 4:59 pm, Phisherman wrote:
I like to use a hacksaw blade. To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.

Thanks - you just reminded me that I need to buy a new jab saw hacksaw
blade holder. Damn cheap plastic thing must have been fifteen years
old....okay, maybe it wasn't so cheap, and I'm sorry about the damn
thing, too!

I think you are talking about the tool I was going to mention, didn't
know what it's name was. It's a handle to hold a hacksaw blade with the
blade sticking out front. No duct tape needed. I keep one in the van
toolbox and one in the garage toolbox.

On Oct 18, 1:05*am, Tony wrote:
RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 17, 4:59 pm, Phisherman wrote:

I like to use a hacksaw blade. *To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. * More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.

Thanks - you just reminded me that I need to buy a new jab saw hacksaw
blade holder. *Damn cheap plastic thing must have been fifteen years
old....okay, maybe it wasn't so cheap, and I'm sorry about the damn
thing, too!

I think you are talking about the tool I was going to mention, didn't
know what it's name was. *It's a handle to hold a hacksaw blade with the
blade sticking out front. *No duct tape needed. *I keep one in the van
toolbox and one in the garage toolbox.

Mine broke, you have two. That's not right. Send me one and I'll
forget your greediness. Deal?

R

On Oct 18, 4:04*am, RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 18, 1:05*am, Tony wrote:





RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 17, 4:59 pm, Phisherman wrote:

I like to use a hacksaw blade. *To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. * More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.

Thanks - you just reminded me that I need to buy a new jab saw hacksaw
blade holder. *Damn cheap plastic thing must have been fifteen years
old....okay, maybe it wasn't so cheap, and I'm sorry about the damn
thing, too!

I think you are talking about the tool I was going to mention, didn't
know what it's name was. *It's a handle to hold a hacksaw blade with the
blade sticking out front. *No duct tape needed. *I keep one in the van
toolbox and one in the garage toolbox.

Mine broke, you have two. *That's not right. *Send me one and I'll
forget your greediness. *Deal? *

R- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You can easy make a handle for a hacksaw blade, (slot in a piece of
wood and a bolt and nut) and even use a broken off blade if too deep a
cut is a problem!

terry wrote:
On Oct 18, 4:04 am, RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 18, 1:05 am, Tony wrote:





RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 17, 4:59 pm, Phisherman wrote:
I like to use a hacksaw blade. To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.
Thanks - you just reminded me that I need to buy a new jab saw hacksaw
blade holder. Damn cheap plastic thing must have been fifteen years
old....okay, maybe it wasn't so cheap, and I'm sorry about the damn
thing, too!
I think you are talking about the tool I was going to mention, didn't
know what it's name was. It's a handle to hold a hacksaw blade with the
blade sticking out front. No duct tape needed. I keep one in the van
toolbox and one in the garage toolbox.
Mine broke, you have two. That's not right. Send me one and I'll
forget your greediness. Deal?

R- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You can easy make a handle for a hacksaw blade, (slot in a piece of
wood and a bolt and nut) and even use a broken off blade if too deep a
cut is a problem!

The tool is very inexpensive, and you can adjust the blade in or out as
far as you want. You can use the part of the blade that sticks out the
front, or you can use the part of the blade that is supported on both
ends. Hell, you can even use the part of the blade that sticks out the
back, if you have it adjusted that way.

On Oct 18, 8:53*am, terry wrote:
On Oct 18, 4:04*am, RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 18, 1:05*am, Tony wrote:
RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 17, 4:59 pm, Phisherman wrote:

I like to use a hacksaw blade. *To nake it a little more comfortable,
fashion a duct-tape handle on one end. * More important, make sure all
wire connections are inside an electrical box.

Thanks - you just reminded me that I need to buy a new jab saw hacksaw
blade holder. *Damn cheap plastic thing must have been fifteen years
old....okay, maybe it wasn't so cheap, and I'm sorry about the damn
thing, too!

I think you are talking about the tool I was going to mention, didn't
know what it's name was. *It's a handle to hold a hacksaw blade with the
blade sticking out front. *No duct tape needed. *I keep one in the van
toolbox and one in the garage toolbox.

Mine broke, you have two. *That's not right. *Send me one and I'll
forget your greediness. *Deal? *


You can easy make a handle for a hacksaw blade, (slot in a piece of
wood and a bolt and nut) and even use a broken off blade if too deep a
cut is a problem!

Shhh! I want one of TONY's!!

R

On Oct 18, 11:17*am, Tony wrote:
terry wrote:
On Oct 18, 4:04 am, RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 18, 1:05 am, Tony wrote:

I think you are talking about the tool I was going to mention, didn't
know what it's name was. *It's a handle to hold a hacksaw blade with the
blade sticking out front. *No duct tape needed. *I keep one in the van
toolbox and one in the garage toolbox.

Mine broke, you have two. *That's not right. *Send me one and I'll
forget your greediness. *Deal? *

You can easy make a handle for a hacksaw blade, (slot in a piece of
wood and a bolt and nut) and even use a broken off blade if too deep a
cut is a problem!

The tool is very inexpensive, and you can adjust the blade in or out as
far as you want. *You can use the part of the blade that sticks out the
front, or you can use the part of the blade that is supported on both
ends. *Hell, you can even use the part of the blade that sticks out the
back, if you have it adjusted that way.

That sounds great! I'll email you my shipping address. Please send
it Priority Mail as I am very eager to get it. Thanks.

R

theparty had written this in response to
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/main...ox-401074-.htm
:
The OP returns:

All great replies. I posted the original question, so this is to let you
know that I returned and did read all the suggestions, and now I’ll be
able to tackle the job. Responding to your suggestions, in order, to let
you all know what I’ve taken from this:

I can’t get to the nail heads, but I will take my time. I’m sure the
opening will get larger, and there'll be no connections hidden in the
wall; they WILL be in the new box. I don’t think I’ll be able to dismantle
the old box, especially given the size of the nails in it now. I’ll try
prying the old box from the stud. I first considered leaving the old box
and patching it over, but the new box will be right behind it - no room
for two boxes opposite each other and no slack to move the wires far
enough. The old wires are knob mounted and the hot continues through the
box to a switch (in another box about 20 inches below this one) for the
hallway light, so I can’t easily abandon the wires. The attic light switch
is exactly at eye level - I gotta’ remove the box! A hack saw blade is the
answer; I’ll open up the hole a little, pry the box from the stud a bit,
then hack the nails and remove the box. If the wires won’t catch it I
might just drop it into the wall. The attic light is above the folding
stairs, and the pull chain should be easily reachable when I’m halfway up
them, the roof is low. So: I’ll look for a handle to hold a blade so I can
hack the nails off and if I can’t find a handle I’ll fashion one of duct
tape and stuff. Thanks!

On Oct 19, 11:17*am, (theparty)
wrote:
theparty had written this in response tohttp://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/Re-Remove-old-abandoned-m...
*:
The OP returns:

All great replies. I posted the original question, so this is to let you
know that I returned and did read all the suggestions, and now I’ll be
able to tackle the job. Responding to your suggestions, in order, to let
you all know what I’ve taken from this:

I can’t get to the nail heads, but I will take my time. I’m sure the
opening will get larger, and there'll be no connections hidden in the
wall; they WILL be in the new box. I don’t think I’ll be able to dismantle
the old box, especially given the size of the nails in it now. I’ll try
prying the old box from the stud. I first considered leaving the old box
and patching it over, but the new box will be right behind it - no room
for two boxes opposite each other and no slack to move the wires far
enough. The old wires are knob mounted and the hot continues through the
box to a switch (in another box about 20 inches below this one) for the
hallway light, so I can’t easily abandon the wires. The attic light switch
is exactly at eye level - I gotta’ remove the box! A hack saw blade is the
answer; I’ll open up the hole a little, pry the box from the stud a bit,
then hack the nails and remove the box. If the wires won’t catch it I
might just drop it into the wall. The attic light is above the folding
stairs, and the pull chain should be easily reachable when I’m halfway up
them, the roof is low. So: I’ll look for a handle to hold a blade so I can
hack the nails off and if I can’t find a handle I’ll fashion one of duct
tape and stuff. Thanks!

dremel tool the nail heads off.

theparty wrote:
I want to remove a single metal box from the wall of my hallway. There
was a switch there that operated the light in the attic, it was higher
up on the wall and unsightly. I am moving the wires and connections to
another box on the other side of the walll (in a closet, with a blank
cover), and putting a light with pull chain in the attic. I want to do
as little damge to the wall as posible, then I'll repair the opening
with wood and plaster. It looks like the box is nailed to a stud with
two nails visible going through the box. What's the correct procedure?

sawzall in between the box and the stud.