Plastic Outlet Box- Threads Blown Out

[Bruce Amacker]

Yes, guys, I did search and evidently I'm not using the correct term as I can't find what I want. Google isn't helping either.


Our house is about 25 years old and has those stupid plastic outlet boxes where all of the 110v receptacles are. Some of them are stripped, I can handle those. A few are completely broken/blown out where the female threads are that hold the receptacle screws. Those I'm struggling with as the receptacles won't even stay in the wall. The Home Depot and True Value guys are at a loss- they say cut the drywall, install a new box, patch in a piece of drywall. I'm thinking there has to be a better and quicker way than this.

Any tips?

THANKS!

 

[rooster4321]

You could use bigger screws

Sent from my KYOCERA-E6560 using Tapatalk

 

[Ben Buck]

Need pictures for a cure or help !!!

YMMV

 

[driftpin]

What about some epoxy into the female holes, and then either a self-tapping screw, or drill a small pilot hole and use the correct machine screw? What I understand this to be is that the duplex outlet or switch mounting holes are no-longer holding.

 

[alfredeneuman]

25 yrs old
Are the boxes plastic or fiberglass?
Fiberglass ones were notorious for those symptoms.
I know of no fix, other than the removal and replacement.
The only saving grace they have is the removal is easy if you break up the fiberglass with a pair of pliers or diagonal cutters.

 

[PoorOwner]

if planned carefully, no cutting of drywall should be needed

these can go in place once you get the old box out.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Madison...g-Adjustable-Depth-Device-Box-MSB1G/203340257

I was taught to knock it out with a shortened broom stick..

 

[Jim greengo]

25 yrs old
Are the boxes plastic or fiberglass?
Fiberglass ones were notorious for those symptoms.
I know of no fix, other than the removal and replacement.
The only saving grace they have is the removal is easy if you break up the fiberglass with a pair of pliers or diagonal cutters.

I've never had that problem with the fiberglass allied boxes,even the cheap junk blue problems usually dont have that problem unless some clown ran screws in with an impact.

 

[Norcal]

Search for smart boxes, might be the easiest way to fix the issue, but if the hole is just stripped, I have used 6/32 thread inserts like Heli Coil to repair them, that way the original 6/32 device hardware can continue to be used. I am not a fan of using drywall screws to handle stripped boxes.

 

[larry_g]

an 'old work' box should work for you also. Made for fitting in existing wallboard. They come in a variety of shapes, materials and sizes.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Dumber than lumber]

if planned carefully, no cutting of drywall should be needed

these can go in place once you get the old box out.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Madison...g-Adjustable-Depth-Device-Box-MSB1G/203340257

I was taught to knock it out with a shortened broom stick..

Those Madison boxes are really good IMO.
But I would try gluing a plastic toothpick or similar in the stripped out screw holes. Life is a little short to be cutting out a bunch of wall boxes that can be hacked for a second life.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I think you're overthinking this. Just cut the box out (cut nails at the stud) and put in an old-work box.

If only one of two boxes have stripped holes, a coarse thread drywall screw would work. But if you're having this problem on several boxes, I'd cut them all out and replace them.

 

[strutaeng]

I think you're overthinking this. Just cut the box out (cut nails at the stud) and put in an old-work box.

If only one of two boxes have stripped holes, a coarse thread drywall screw would work. But if you're having this problem on several boxes, I'd cut them all out and replace them.

This.

At my old house (built in 1960) I had to do this on about 3 or 4 outlets. I just bought a handful extra old work boxes.

It seemed like if I opened a receptacle box 50% of the time the holes would strip. I can't remember if they were plastic or fiberglass. They were like a dark brown color and very brittle.

Good luck.

 

[MeentSS02]

I think you're overthinking this. Just cut the box out (cut nails at the stud) and put in an old-work box.

This is your answer right here.

Watch this video:

Then buy something like this to replace what you cut out: https://www.gordonelectricsupply.co...Pyxf8GXhfTKdOdpn2dRvFdvfCyvgCMxRoCBloQAvD_BwE

I've used a hack saw blade to remove old electrical boxes in my house by hand, and it worked like a charm. No drywall work needed at all after the fact...not even touch up paint.

 

[PugetDude]

Use a 1/2" longer washer-head sheet metal screw; same size as the existing machine screw. It will burrow into the undisturbed plastic at the bottom of the hole.
Problem solved, no wiring, drywall or paint to worry about.

 

[checkthisout]

An oscillating tool makes it easy to remove the old box without damaging the drywall.

Good excuse to buy one. You'll love having it around when you start doing flooring and such.

 

[Norcal]

If the nail on boxes are plastic a cut in box will not be tall enough for the opening, that is the reason for my original suggestion of looking into Smart Boxes,it is a easy solution for replacing nail on NM boxes.

 

[teamextreme]

If the nail on boxes are plastic a cut in box will not be tall enough for the opening, that is the reason for my original suggestion of looking into Smart Boxes,it is a easy solution for replacing nail on NM boxes.

+1, that's what I was thinking too. Those linked Madison boxes are awesome and are the best solution, IMO. Years ago when I had to replace boxes I would take a blue new-work nail-on box , remove the nails, cut the nail tabs off, and drill 2 holes through the side and mount it to the stud with drywall screws. The Madison boxes perform the same function and are actually legal, since my box hacking method was probably not technically following the UL listing for use of the box.

 

[theoldwizard1]

an 'old work' box should work for you also. Made for fitting in existing wallboard. They come in a variety of shapes, materials and sizes.

Yep ! Assuming you don't have an oversized hole in the drywall. You might have to do a little trimming to get it to go in !

 

[ard]

If they are thermoplastic, heat up the screw red hot, push it in and hold til it cools. It will have remelted the threads back.... or hold a soldering iron on it till it melts, hold in place till it cools.

But honestly, Id probably just toss in bigger screws

 

[Will S.]

A 3/4" or 1" drywall screw should work well. Has a coarse thread which will grab and hold a device in an old plastic box.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

OP here:

The entire bottom area of the female threads are blown out- missing. There's nothing to put an oversize screw into.

I have several boxes like this and will likely have more in the future, I'm trying to find a time effective way to correct this.

 

[PoorOwner]

The only issue I found with the madison boxes is that the clamp for the strain relief is incredibly strong, it's very hard to adjust the wire once it clamps down, No so bad when doing new installation before drywall, I can see that being a pain with retrofitting.

 

[ard]

OP here:

The entire bottom area of the female threads are blown out- missing. There's nothing to put an oversize screw into.

I have several boxes like this and will likely have more in the future, I'm trying to find a time effective way to correct this.

Oh, the box is broken- the area of the box which is threaded is broken away.

Replace the box.

getting the old one out may be a pain, but there are plenty of new boxes that can be screwed to a stud from inside the box- no drywall repairs needed.

 

[Dave Nelson]

A 3/4" or 1" drywall screw should work well. Has a coarse thread which will grab and hold a device in an old plastic box.

As a retired electrician I've been using this method for years, works every time.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

If the nail on boxes are plastic a cut in box will not be tall enough for the opening, that is the reason for my original suggestion of looking into Smart Boxes,it is a easy solution for replacing nail on NM boxes.

They should be. I just measured a couple boxes I have here. The new work plastic box is 3-3/4" and the old work plastic box is 3-3/4" without the tabs, the tabs cover a span of 4-1/4". So as long as the hole wasn't cut more than 4-1/4" it would work just fine.

 

[ard]

These are sweet:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D2O1770/?tag=atomicindus08-20