Back box - removable clips??

thehairyone

Hi guys, doing a bit of painting and removed a few electrical faceplates. However a good few of the screw holes/clips are threaded and will no longer secure some of the faceplates tight to the wall. The clips are removable but I can't seem to find anywhere to buy them online. Anyone have any idea what they are called or where to buy them. See picture below. Thanks.

thehairyone

Picture attached.

autumnalcore

thehairyone wrote: »

Picture attached.

How old is the house? Hole could be for older imperial screws which are slightly larger than the 3.5mm metric ones that are standard now.

Few option squeeze the lug with pliers / vice grip this deforms the hole and done right can give enough purchase for the thread too much any you will need a 3.5mm tap to rethread .. Lugs aren't available separately but the boxes are only about a euro if you can find same brand/lug. Alternatively imperial screw might resolve it or 4mm tap and 4mm countersunk screws if the 4mm screw head will fit in the faceplate holes.

Lwaker.

3.5 by 40 (or 50 )pozi is the handiest

Just don't snag a wire

kramer1

Drywall screws

thehairyone

Cheers lads.. it's a new build.. will try the pliers trick, if that doesn't work I'll buy new back boxes for lugs.. I'm surprised to hear that while they are removable, they don't sell the lugs separately..

Bruthal

thehairyone wrote: »

Cheers lads.. it's a new build.. will try the pliers trick, if that doesn't work I'll buy new back boxes for lugs.. I'm surprised to hear that while they are removable, they don't sell the lugs separately..

They are not designed to be removable. One side is adjustable to help level the sockets as getting perfect level boxes can be tricky at times.

I've used varied methods to fix.
Rawl plug into wall through back of box in line with lug after bending or removing old lug out of way, screw in long socket screws.
Or take the lug off other box if it's the adjustable one that's damaged.
Once or twice if it's the fixed lug, I cut one off a new box and fixed it behind the bad lug after drilling its hole out to 4mm. Epoxyed new lug behind damaged one and held in place with short screw till it set.

All depends on the scenario.

alta stare

To be honest you would better off replacing it. Saves all the messing around. They are cheap as chips.

meercat

Put a piece of old stranded cable including insulation in the lug hole. Bend it over twice so there’s a loop to prevent it being pushed in. (.75mm)
Cut the socket screw sharply at an angle
Screw in carefully and don’t over tighten.

Bruthal

alta stare wrote: »

To be honest you would better off replacing it. Saves all the messing around. They are cheap as chips.

They are cheap, but are sometimes a nightmare to remove the old one.

Wearb

Is there room for these?

alta stare

Bruthal wrote: »

They are cheap, but are sometimes a nightmare to remove the old one.

True but nothing but a bit fiddling around with the back box wouldn't solve along with some filler and the likes.

Another thing to use would be self tapping window screws.

Bruthal

alta stare wrote: »

True but nothing but a bit fiddling around with the back box wouldn't solve along with some filler and the likes.
.

Sometimes. Other times its buried behind kitchen tiles etc.

Bruthal

Wearb wrote: »

Is there room for these?

Yes they look like they would work.

alta stare

Bruthal wrote: »

Sometimes. Other times its buried behind kitchen tiles etc.

But in this case it isnt so all is good.

Bruthal

alta stare wrote: »

But in this case it isnt so all is good.

Several posters giving 2 or 3 minute options vs digging the box out of the now painted wall.

Up to the op what they prefer of course.

alta stare

Bruthal wrote: »

Several posters giving 2 or 3 minute options vs digging the box out of the now painted wall.

Up to the op what they prefer of course.

If it were me id bite the bullet and chip away a small bit of the wall if it could not be coaxed out.

Lwaker.

alta stare wrote: »

If it were me id bite the bullet and chip away a small bit of the wall if it could not be coaxed out.

You can, but not many would