series_hybrid t1_iufkzal wrote on October 30, 2022 at 11:09 PM

Can you get a similar box made from heavy thick plastic? Whenever I am forced to work on any of the old junction boxes, I automatically pull it out and upgrade to plastic (I have an old house).

Whether metal or plastic, cut the box until its the right depth. If you can't cut the front because it has the threaded holes for screws from the ceiling fan, then cut the back off the box to make it the right depth.

If there is no integrated wood behind this (it sounds like there is wood behind the box), then add a wood back to the box.

If one side is up against a crossbeam, drill a couple holes on that side of the box to anchor it to the crossbar with deck sscrews.

Lots of options...

robosmrf t1_iuftbul wrote on October 31, 2022 at 12:12 AM

You're a hack

series_hybrid t1_iufutnp wrote on October 31, 2022 at 12:24 AM

The right thing to do is order a plastic box that is the right size an shape. Clearly this guy doesnt want to do that.

If he doesn't want to do it the right way, then he is going to do it the wrong way.

hicow t1_iufrk3i wrote on October 30, 2022 at 11:58 PM

> then cut the back off the box to make it the right depth

Fairly sure that would be a code violation.

series_hybrid t1_iufuoxe wrote on October 31, 2022 at 12:22 AM

The right thing to do is order a plastic box that is the right size an shape. Clearly this guy doesnt want to do that.

hicow t1_iufvgwr wrote on October 31, 2022 at 12:29 AM

From the sound of it, he couldn't find one until someone pointed him the right direction

series_hybrid t1_iufvr4v wrote on October 31, 2022 at 12:31 AM

I admit what I wrote was a bunch of dangerous hacks, but...he didn't ask if he should do it the right way, he asked how to get it to work.