Cutting back boxes in plasterboard

[pirate]

I've used a Yankee in years gone by...not a fan now!
Dugga-dugga=impact driver

 

[pc1966]

Thanks folks! Seems the multi-tool and wide blade is the best option. For me speed is not really important, more about getting the holes the right size and straight each time.

 

[rewireIT]

On thin domestic plasterboard (or single skin) i use a fresh stanley blade in a knife. Gets the cleanest cut. If i'm doing millions of them, multi tool.

 

[LukeD]

Multitool with a plastic cut out frame a mate made. The size is prefect for both single /doubles .Blade fits against inner side .I just offer it up and put the blade through.

 

[Vortigern]

The worst thing to discover having already cut into the plaster board is that there is a stud going horizontal/vertical in the way. It can help to use a detector around the area you intend to cut to eliminate this as once cut....
I use a laser to line up the boxes and mark before cutting

 

[littlespark]

The worst thing to discover having already cut into the plaster board is that there is a stud going horizontal/vertical in the way. It can help to use a detector around the area you intend to cut to eliminate this as once cut....
I use a laser to line up the boxes and mark before cutting

Change the blunt blade to a sharp one and cut right through that offending stud….

I can’t believe this thread is at 25 messages already…. plasterboard…. Multi tool…. Go for it!

 

[rewireIT]

Change the blunt blade to a sharp one and cut right through that offending stud….

I can’t believe this thread is at 25 messages already…. plasterboard…. Multi tool…. Go for it!

This forum is very bombastic.

 

[DefyG]

Borrowed one of these once - 'Drywall cutout tool', found it really easy and 'quick' once got hang of it. More time consuming marking out the boxes.

 

[mainline]

Borrowed one of these once - 'Drywall cutout tool', found it really easy and 'quick' once got hang of it. More time consuming marking out the boxes.
View attachment 110220

Multi tool wide blade, decent green laser, and a template tool.

 

[nicebutdim]

Multi tool wide blade, decent green laser, and a template tool.

View attachment 110226

A colleague uses one of those. It's good and the level is suprisingly accurate. Not sure that it's any faster than drawing round a box with boat level on top. If setting multiple boxes a laser needs to be set up anyway.

 

[pc1966]

Borrowed one of these once - 'Drywall cutout tool', found it really easy and 'quick' once got hang of it. More time consuming marking out the boxes.
View attachment 110220

Sort of a narrow-body jigsaw!

Not sure that price is justifiable though for the handful I need to do.

 

[pc1966]

Multi tool wide blade, decent green laser, and a template tool.

That looks a brilliant thing!

 

[brianmoooore]

The worst thing to discover having already cut into the plaster board is that there is a stud going horizontal/vertical in the way.

On the other hand, you can then fit a proper metal box, instead of one of those flimsy plastic things.

 

[ipf]

On the other hand, you can then fit a proper metal box, instead of one of those flimsy plastic things.

The Appleby ones with yellow lug pieces aren’t too bad. Only ones for me..when needed.

 

[nicebutdim]

The Appleby ones with yellow lug pieces aren’t too bad. Only ones for me..when needed.

Generally prefer them over other makes, but lugs only allow for fitment in single board. No chance they'll fit double boarded walls without cutting away at rear board, so on those occasions I prefer 'lesser' brands.

 

[loz2754]

Generally prefer them over other makes, but lugs only allow for fitment in single board. No chance they'll fit double boarded walls without cutting away at rear board, so on those occasions I prefer 'lesser' brands.

47mm deep boxes will.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Multi tool every time for me, but does not work on a solid flint wall with internal sand and cement render then its a carbide tip hole saw followed with a hammer and chisel.

 

[nicebutdim]

Multi tool every time for me, but does not work on a solid flint wall with internal sand and cement render then its a carbide tip hole saw followed with a hammer and chisel.

Never heard of anyone trying to cut stone walls with a multi tool. I guess there's a first time for everything.

 

[littlespark]

Never heard of anyone trying to cut stone walls with a multi tool. I guess there's a first time for everything.

It works.

Ok… only a certain blade on a certain type of block… but if you’re lucky in that respect…
You can basically scrape the hole flat with a bolster chisel. No hammer involved… and make rawlplug holes with a plumbers old screwdriver.

 

[mainline]

Never heard of anyone trying to cut stone walls with a multi tool. I guess there's a first time for everything.

I guess someone's got to try it first, electrical pioneers