Add extension onto mud ring?

[exranger06]

I'm trying to replace an outlet in my kitchen. It is in a metal box with a mud ring like this:

The old outlet was hanging halfway out of the box because the box is too far away from the drywall. It's behind the drywall and I can't remove it without hacking up the drywall. I need a mud ring that has more of an extension. Is there any product out there that I can add onto this existing mud ring?

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Cut around the box and put a deeper ring on it,while you're at it make it a 2 gang.
Problem solved.

 

[walrus]

http://www.graybar.com/store/en/gb/...ahSYrbDYaVDGv_8svXQE2DFL3PszD9OfrThoCsqjw_wcB

It sits around outlet, it doesn't bolt to old box. They work ok

 

[PhysicsDude]

Just buy 2" 6-32 screws from any home improvement store if the outlet screws won't reach. The outlet sticking out from the mud ring is no big deal, either the ears of the outlet or the cover should hold it in place. If its still too loose, you can stack washers on it or buy outlet screw spacers to keep it tight, we used to call these "caterpillars" when I was an electrician.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-Spacers-25-Pack-172451L/202937111

Electricians commonly carry around 2" or 2.5" 6-32's for when the mud ring is too far recessed to reach with the stock screws. Its quite common, especially with backsplashes or tiled walls.

 

[prostreetamx]

I have used those plastic goof rings and various spacers on many loose plugs over the years but the code compliant method involves actual box spacers or the plastic or metal sleeves. Just stacking caterpillars or washers might make you exceed the 1/4" space allowed in noncombustible wall surfaces. Combustible wall surfaces such as wood paneling are not allowed any gap. That being said, spacers work if the goal is to firm up the receptacle so you can actually use it without breaking the plate. Personally I normally use RG-6 outer jacket cut slightly long and longer screws.

 

[exranger06]

I ended up using one of these: http://m.homedepot.com/p/ReceptXtenders-1-Gang-1-2-in-Electrical-Receptacle-Box-Extension-Ring-00004/100159668
It worked and it's done. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I ended up using one of these: http://m.homedepot.com/p/ReceptXtenders-1-Gang-1-2-in-Electrical-Receptacle-Box-Extension-Ring-00004/100159668
It worked and it's done. Thanks for everyone's input.

I keep a bunch of those on hand all the time for the same reason you needed it. A few years ago I bought three of each "thickness" that they make of those things and they are a god send sometimes.

My house was built in 1955 and the walls are made of rock lathe with a skim coat of plaster on top of that. The rock lathe just crumbles apart anytime I try to replace a switch/receptacle or I want to add one in a new location.

Most of the time the rock lathe would crumble up so much that even the metal "ears" on switches and receptacles no longer had any surface left to come in contact with on the outside of the wall.

These spacers work great for fixing that because they come in thicknesses from 1/4 of an inch up to 3/4 of an inch, and they allow the ears of the switches/receptacles to have a surface to come in contact with.

I also have a small bin full of the longer length screws that I can use to replace the mounting screws that normally come with switches/receptacles. I use the longer screws, as someone else posted about, because when you use the spacers, the original mounting screws can be too short to properly install the switches/receptacles.

Jim