Best way to cut around electrical boxes

[Ran58]

I am about to start sheathing the inside walls of my new shop. Am going to use LP Smartside siding. Does anyone have any suggestions or tricks/tips to position and cut out the openings for the electrical boxes?

thanks

 

[cvairwerks]

Rotozip

 

[kbs2244]

surface mount or behind the siding?

if surface mount just screw it to the siding

if behind the siding over existing surface mount use a "mud ring" to get the box face up to the siding surface and the a face plate to hide the crack

 

[mike93lx]

I've been liking using my oscillating multi tool for boxes. Easy to plunge and pretty controllable.

I'd do that or a jigsaw.

Measuring takes patience and practice. Make sure you pick two reference edges and take all measurements from there. Leave some wiggle room as there is no benefit to it being super tight and it isn't worth the struggle

 

[Cougar67]

Several people on YouTube seem to like this magnetic tool for finding the boxes to cut out. i have not used it. I think if it works with laminate flooring it should work with Smartside, maybe. It's cheaper on Amazon. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Calcula...Box-Locating-Tool-Kit-4-Pieces-BMWK/100529468

 

[paredown]

I want to like Rotozips--and have worked with pros who can get perfect cuts first time every time. Not me. As with a router, you want to move in a direction that pulls the blade into the edge of the box, but I never got good enough at it that I could trust myself not to screw up.

I've gone back to using the oscillating tool for boxes cut after the board is up.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I used to like my rotozip. Still do, for lots of boxes behind drywall.
For LP Smartside, I'd use an oscillating multi-tool. Though I might try the rotozip running around the inside of the boxes to locate the hole, then use the buzzer around the outside of the box.

As for positioning the boxes, put the majority of them at the same height, and position on the sheets. Saves thinking.

 

[rharman]

If you can measure accurately, you can use this on an oscillating multi-tool. They make single and double gang sizes.

 

[mike93lx]

If you can measure accurately, you can use this on an oscillating multi-tool. They make single and double gang sizes.

Have you ever tried one of those in osb/smartside? Feels like they will work OK in drywall, but not osb

 

[bb29510]

i love the rotozip but if you dont blow the dust out of the motor, it last about two weeks

 

[mepstein]

I’m doing surface mount on mine. So much easier and I think it looks good in a shop environment, at least for me.

 

[rharman]

Have you ever tried one of those in osb/smartside? Feels like they will work OK in drywall, but not osb

Never used one. The very few times I needed to add a box, I used my multi-tool with a straight blade or a jab saw. The "blah blah" product description refers to drywall. I'd think OSB would just be a slower cut but that's just my SWAG.