Cutting back boxes in plasterboard

[pc1966]

I find myself in the position of having to fit a few back boxes in to plasterboard. In the past for the odd one I just used a hand plasterboard saw to cut out a hole, but I wondered if anyone here has used something like the square/rectangular cutter adaptors you get for multi-tools to do this sort of thing. If so, how well did it work?

Suggestions for make/model?

TL;DR tips for cutting boxes in plasterboard

 

[HappyHippyDad]

As a few others have said... I use a multi tool rather than a jab saw. The plasterer politely (ish) suggested it as he said it was more likely to cut a smoothy, cleaner hole and he wouldn't need to return. He was right.

 

[pirate]

Fair point @nicebutdim However, the rapidity of the oscillation of a multitool or router creates much very fine dust which is rapidly airborne. A jabsaw is much slower and the dust is less fine, more "crumbly" and falls to the floor rather than becoming airborne.
That's my experience anyway...maybe I'm not skilled enough?
I always like the less intrusive approach for most tasks...yes, I still use buckle clips sometimes!
I always drill and screw rather than hammer, and I use a hole punch rather than a hole-saw to make holes in CUs and other accesories...gently does it!

 

[nicebutdim]

Fair point @nicebutdim However, the rapidity of the oscillation of a multitool or router creates much very fine dust which is rapidly airborne. A jabsaw is much slower and the dust is less fine, more "crumbly" and falls to the floor rather than becoming airborne.
That's my experience anyway...maybe I'm not skilled enough?
I always like the less intrusive approach for most tasks...yes, I still use buckle clips sometimes!
I always drill and screw rather than hammer, and I use a hole punch rather than a hole-saw to make holes in CUs and other accesories...gently does it!

Multi tool should be as intrusive as a jab saw, with a thin, clean line resulting from its use in pasterboard. There's no more skill involved in its use, than in using a jab saw - both involve following a pencil line. Both will, by their nature, create some airborne dust, but in both cases it should be minimal and not straying more than a very short distance from the cut surface. The only potential factor I could think of was excessive speed throwing dust a bit further. Perhaps its the tool itself or blade being used, but all I can say is my experience is very different from what you describe.

 

[pirate]

Happy to hear of your experince on this @nicebutdim
Maybe my technique is lacking! It probably is!
However, another reason I like the jabsaw is that you get tactile feedback, so if you hit an unexpected obstacle behind the plasterboard it's immediately obvious with the jabsaw...which can be useful feedback sometimes...
Plus, I am never in a hurry so taking 2 minutes more isn't a problem for me.
Guess I'm just old-fashioned...
I have every powertool imagineable, love using them, but if I can take a "gentler" route, I do that...
Not fast, not exciting, not fun...just gentle.
I use an electric screwdriver for face plate screws etc and it saves time and effort and my arthritic hands, but I like to do the final screwing back by hand...and I have never used a dugga-dugga in a CU...
I guess it's a case of what works for you...no wrong way really (except dugga-dugga in CU!)
No criticism intended for anyone who uses a multitool or router for backboxes in plasterboard...I do it too sometimes...all I was saying is that I like the slower, gentler approach, which is probably just because I am an old git!

 

[ipf]

I like the slower, gentler approach, which is probably just because I am an old git!

So never used a Stanley Yankee driver in years gone by?

What's a dugga-dugga?.......thought it was an Indian term

 

[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.