Packing out back boxes

[Longers]

I have chased out some 35mm and 47mm metal back boxes into some walls made up of granite and mud. Some of the chases have gone too deep and was wondering what people use to pack out the boxes and to even them where the chased out box is uneven?

Cheers

 

[Baddegg]

Thistle bonding, mixed tight

 

[Dustydazzler]

Mud and small sticks

 

[buzzlightyear]

Thistle bonding, mixed tight

fast set, dirty water. like s&&t to a blanket .

 

[buzzlightyear]

Mud and small sticks

house of straw, three little pigs .

 

[Cid]

I butter the back box like a brick with mortar. Keep some rapid set cement and sand in the van.

 

[Pete999]

I have chased out some 35mm and 47mm metal back boxes into some walls made up of granite and mud. Some of the chases have gone too deep and was wondering what people use to pack out the boxes and to even them where the chased out box is uneven?

Cheers

Whip up some strong compo and bed the box into that, when compo is set, drill and screw as normal.

 

[Longers]

Whip up some strong compo and bed the box into that, when compo is set, drill and screw as normal.

Hi Pete, what do you mean when you say compo? Not familiar with the term. Cheers

 

[Pete999]

Hi Pete, what do you mean when you say compo? Not familiar with the term. Cheers

Sand, Cement and water, Brickie's brick laying mix but a bit stronger, add a dash of Washing up Liquid to make it more pliable. Slap it in the box hole, set box at the right depth and height allow to set then drill a fixing hole and strengthen the fixing, jobs a good one. I used to scrounge a bucket of "muck" from the cement mixer.
A pointing trowel was always part of my first fix tool bag.

 

[Longers]

Sand, Cement and water, Brickie's brick laying mix but a bit stronger, add a dash of Washing up Liquid to make it more pliable. Slap it in the box hole, set box at the right depth and height allow to set then drill a fixing hole and strengthen the fixing, jobs a good one. I used to scrounge a bucket of "muck" from the cement mixer.
A pointing trowel was always part of my first fix tool bag.

Thanks Pete sounds ideal I will give that a go.

 

[Pete999]

Thanks Pete sounds ideal I will give that a go.

It saves faffing about packing back boxes with bits of wood etc, need to wait for the Compo to harden, but on new builds it can save so much time. Good luck with it, sure iy will work for you.

 

[123]

Be careful of using bonding if the wall isn't a cavity wall or is liable to get a little damp - the bonding will act like a sponge

 

[Leesparkykent]

What is it called Compo? I have never heard of that.

 

[Pete999]

What is it called Compo? I have never heard of that.

Muck,Compo, S---, Mortar, lots of names, we just called it Compo down in Bath Bristol area, why? I don't know, just know "go and get some Compo" was the order of the day when fitting back boxes, some Sparks used "Thistle Bonding coat" never rated that myself, couldn't beat a dollop of Compo.

 

[ruston]

Muck,Compo, S---, Mortar, lots of names, we just called it Compo down in Bath Bristol area, why? I don't know, just know "go and get some Compo" was the order of the day when fitting back boxes, some Sparks used "Thistle Bonding coat" never rated that myself, couldn't beat a dollop of Compo.

Compo up here too Pete. I suppose it is short for compound.

 

[Pete999]

Compo up here too Pete. I suppose it is short for compound.

Could be but this Compo was nothing more than a strong Mortar mix.

 

[ruston]

That's what we call it too. Same stuff .

 

[Pete999]

That's what we call it too. Same stuff .

All these new fangled compounds, knock the knock outs you require, fit Grommet slap it in the hole, slap the box in, level it, fill in around the box, job done.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Well I'm going to show off now and say I have never had to do that

When I see the brick/stone crumbling behind the back box I do the following...

1. Panic.
2. Slowly stop panicking.
3. Slow everything down and become very gentle with the remaining brick.
4. Drill new holes in the back box itself if needed, where I know there is good brick behind.
5. Drill out new holes in the remaining brick, starting with a smaller drill bit and working up, preferably not with hammer action.
6. Huge sigh of relief when 2 of the screws take a firm hold!
7. Cup of tea.

 

[Squid]

Dot and Dab for plasterboard sticks like an electrician to a £50 note......

 

[ruston]

Dot and Dab for plasterboard sticks like an electrician to a £50 note......

And is spot on for making good too.

 

[Pete999]

Well I'm going to show off now and say I have never had to do that

When I see the brick/stone crumbling behind the back box I do the following...

1. Panic.
2. Slowly stop panicking.
3. Slow everything down and become very gentle with the remaining brick.
4. Drill new holes in the back box itself if needed, where I know there is good brick behind.
5. Drill out new holes in the remaining brick, starting with a smaller drill bit and working up, preferably not with hammer action.
6. Huge sigh of relief when 2 of the screws take a firm hold!
7. Cup of tea.

Compo every time

 

[SparkySy]

I tend to use drywall mix for the odd issue like this, I find the thistle and the knauf stuff the best. The half hour set stuff is really good for quick patch too, low shrinking and you can finish it up with ease too!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Over time i have seen damp eat the back box .rising damp mr rigsby.

 

[buzzlightyear]

If you cant put a back box in correct
you has well may go on a beach to build a sand castle.

 

[SparkySy]

Had that the other day on an old cottage, rcd kept tripping low n-e insulation resistance found it on a badly corroded socket and box

 

[Rpa07]

Low expansion foam with a Fischer gun and a spray bottle to halt the expansion. Love the stuff.

 

[SparkySy]

I'm not allowed near expanding foam after an incident involving the Mrs and a considerable amount of it in her hair trying to do a camper van conversion

 

[buzzlightyear]

I'm not allowed near expanding foam after an incident involving the Mrs and a considerable amount of it in her hair

did your Mrs look like that ,LOL,a bad hair day or what .

 

[SparkySy]

Yeah that looks similar to what happened. My Mrs is a damn sight better looking though!!

 

[Rpa07]

Let’s hope so - I even think that might be a bloke!
Is that A+E or a hardware store?

Yeah that looks similar to what happened. My Mrs is a damn sight better looking though!!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Eastern European woman 'confuses builder’s foam with her hair mousse' | Daily Mail Online - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3253557/The-ultimate-bad-hair-day-Woman-ends-hospital-confusing-builder-s-foam-hair-mousse.html

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Compo every time

Sometimes Clegg

 

[buzzlightyear]

Sometimes Clegg

 

[ipf]

Could be but this Compo was nothing more than a strong Mortar mix.

Anything with more than one ingredient is a compound...as with pyro compound...….but don't use that cos it'll take an age to solidify
Get some long 3.5's.

 

[ipf]

Anything with more than one ingredient is a compound...as with pyro compound...….but don't use that cos it'll take an age to solidify
Could sort some bonding out......but only water, no gas.
Get some long 3.5's.

 

[telectrix]

Compo every time

 

[Rpa07]

That’s a nice selfie Tel - and what I always imagined you to look like!

View attachment 48590

 

[davesparks]

Well I'm going to show off now and say I have never had to do that

When I see the brick/stone crumbling behind the back box I do the following...

1. Panic.
2. Slowly stop panicking.
3. Slow everything down and become very gentle with the remaining brick.
4. Drill new holes in the back box itself if needed, where I know there is good brick behind.
5. Drill out new holes in the remaining brick, starting with a smaller drill bit and working up, preferably not with hammer action.
6. Huge sigh of relief when 2 of the screws take a firm hold!
7. Cup of tea.

8. Receive -------ing from the foreman/site agent etc for taking forever to fit one box.

 

[telectrix]

That’s a nice selfie Tel - and what I always imagined you to look like!

sadly, he's better looking than me. a bit greyer maybe, but al least i'm still alive. .