A Superior Old Work Electrical Box?

DEWALT XTREME™ 12V MAX* Brushless Cordless Oscillating Tool Bare Tool: Acme Tools:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[vicktorpatriot]

I have used this Arlington box several times. They are great. I have used a similar box in kitchen and bathroom that was to have tile on the wall. The difference is the box is hung during rough-in and then the screws can be loosened and the box adjusted for tile thickness.

[Brozek]

Ive used this box before when installing a 30 amp plug for a dryer. Its a game changer!

[Feldspar__]

The gray Southwire Smart Boxes are great.

[bahbarino]

Used South Wire for many year…very sturdy box, yet is only romex compatible. Arlington’s seems thinner, yet roomier and bonus features of 3/8 k/o…👍🏻

[chrisu]

That Dewalt DWHT20123 folding jab saw is great. It stores well in my tool bag and the rasp is handy.

[DGTelevsionNetwork]

This is what I already do to the Carlin work boxes, drill a hole in box, pilot hole into stud then screw it in. I still use the wings but on the other side just to make keep it level to the wall more reliably.

[donl]

I've seen, but never used them. Looks very useful for adding a heavy receptacle such as a 14-50R.

[anthonyelectric]

Screws vs a couple plastic wings? Those boxes are great option. Solid installation !!

[McmM-cvsb]

Very helpful thanks for the tips Sparky..👍

[kenbrown]

Arlington's traditional cut in boxes are also superior to carlon's. and the best cut pattern when you aren't sure of where the stud is, is to mark the top of your box within half a box width of the stud, cut to the stud, then mark the bottom, and cut to the stud, then cut long the stud to mark that side of the box. then you can use those three cuts as a reference to draw around your box for the rest of the cuts.

also, depending on the local AHJ, you can take a standard nailon box, cut off any external nailing hardware, drill pilot holes, and use screws without a sharp head, to get the same result.

[donaldlee]

I used the blue Carlin 2-gang old work box purchased from Home Depot. I glued 1/8 inch (or was it 1/4 inch) plywood strips behind the drywall so that the "ears" would be super tight and secure when pulling in the ears with the screwdriver. I wanted to try your Arlington 2-gang box but the cost is $6 plus $5 shipping. I'd love to test this at $6 but feel it's not worth the cost at $11 even though is screws into the studs, which I also think gives a secure fit over plain drywall without doing the "glue thin plywood" hack that only a DIY homeowner could do. Also a warning - the Arlington will not work if you want to add a GFCI because the 45 degree angle where the screws attach to the studs do not allow a thick outlet (for instance a Levington GFCI) to fit. I'll soon replace my bathroom mirror with an LED mirror and will need to add a new outlet behind the LED mirror.

[timdyer]

Thanks, Bill! Nice video and good advice for the installation of the boxes.

[HoosierRallyMaster]

I have used the Southwire/Madison/Romex Smart Box version and had problems.
I was upgrading some single gang boxes to 2-gang boxes (I like quad-socket outlets behind my computer desk.)

First there are little nubs molded onto the outside of the box at the front on the mounting side - I could never get the face of the box to be evenly flush with the drywall without shims between the box and the stud.

Second, there are separate entry points into the box for 12 vs 14 gauge NM. When installing a new box with existing wires I had to cheat and use the wrong clamp because there wasn't enough cable to stretch over to the proper knockout/clamp.

[scurve]

This is definetely a better solution then the Clarion box.

[TheSpatulaCity]

In a perfect world, Carlon and Southwire/Arlington would mate and have an offspring that would have the angled screws and a couple of wings on the opposite side.

[garydudgeon]

That is a good looking box. Good video Sparky.

[safetythirdified]

Either option works. Although id say there is a lot that could be done to redesign the wings on blue OW boxes.

[james]

I'd cut to the stud before marking and then mark once I forsure know where the stud is and electrical is generally attached to the stud with staples so be careful cutting around studs

[FixthisCD]

been adding this style box to my arsenal

[justsomeguy]

If you’re replacing a new work box and you know there is a stud, I’d agree this is better.