I have just got one of these:-I realise that's not a steel box, and you've only got one to do, but I
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often
difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really
needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands
don't screw right in.
I tried screwing a cable gland in to push the knockout but that just threatened to strip the thread on the box before pushing it out.
Am I missing some obvious technique?
Chris Green wrote:
I have just got one of these:-
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really
needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands
don't screw right in.
I tried screwing a cable gland in to push the knockout but that just threatened to strip the thread on the box before pushing it out.
Am I missing some obvious technique?I realise that's not a steel box, and you've only got one to do, but I
think what would be in most spark's toolbags would be one of these
<https://fusebox.shop/products/ssh020>
flared to stop it punching right through.
they do a 25mm version if that's the size knockouts you want to use
I have just got one of these:-
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often
difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really
needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands
don't screw right in.
I have just got one of these:-
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often
difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really
needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands
don't screw right in.
I tried screwing a cable gland in to push the knockout but that just threatened to strip the thread on the box before pushing it out.
Am I missing some obvious technique?
Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
I have just got one of these:-
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really
needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands
don't screw right in.
I see that's made by CED. I stopped buying Toolstation's CED socket boxes because the plastic was so crudely made that the knockouts on the same box went from being paper thin to being super thick and impossible to push out, or when you pushed out you'd shatter half the box.
However those are thermoset plastic and your box is ABS. But perhaps they share the same lack of quality control.
I'd guess the plastic is overly thick and needs to be weakened in some way. Knife, drill?
Theo
On 17/04/2025 12:44, Chris Green wrote:
I have just got one of these:-
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really
needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands
don't screw right in.
I tried screwing a cable gland in to push the knockout but that just threatened to strip the thread on the box before pushing it out.
Am I missing some obvious technique?
If this is M20 x 1.5 then a clearance drill of 18.5mm should turn inside
the threads.
What's wrong with a hammer and screwdriver on the knockout?
Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:
On 17/04/2025 12:44, Chris Green wrote:This will leave a 'not knocked out' rim that I suspect will still
I have just got one of these:-
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often
difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really
needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands
don't screw right in.
I tried screwing a cable gland in to push the knockout but that just
threatened to strip the thread on the box before pushing it out.
Am I missing some obvious technique?
If this is M20 x 1.5 then a clearance drill of 18.5mm should turn inside
the threads.
prevent the cable gland going in.
What's wrong with a hammer and screwdriver on the knockout?That did sort of work. I originally tried a hammer with a socket (as
in socket spanner) that fitted the hole fairly neatly but that just
broke the box. Using a screwdriver did at least punch through without destroying the box, it didn't punch cleanly though, it left several
jagged bits of plastic which had to be individually knocked off.
I think I'll steer clear of these boxes from now on!
Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:
This will leave a 'not knocked out' rim that I suspect will still
prevent the cable gland going in.
What's wrong with a hammer and screwdriver on the knockout?That did sort of work. I originally tried a hammer with a socket (as
in socket spanner) that fitted the hole fairly neatly but that just
broke the box. Using a screwdriver did at least punch through without destroying the box, it didn't punch cleanly though, it left several
jagged bits of plastic which had to be individually knocked off.
Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote in news:gqe7dl-n0a3.ln1@q957.zbmc.eu:
Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:
This will leave a 'not knocked out' rim that I suspect will still
prevent the cable gland going in.
What's wrong with a hammer and screwdriver on the knockout?That did sort of work. I originally tried a hammer with a socket (as
in socket spanner) that fitted the hole fairly neatly but that just
broke the box. Using a screwdriver did at least punch through without
destroying the box, it didn't punch cleanly though, it left several
jagged bits of plastic which had to be individually knocked off.
In a similar boat<nopun> I used an oscillating multitool to slice the end
off from the inside. It was quite neat.
fred <not@for.mail> wrote:
Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote in news:gqe7dl-n0a3.ln1@q957.zbmc.eu:
Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:
This will leave a 'not knocked out' rim that I suspect will still
prevent the cable gland going in.
What's wrong with a hammer and screwdriver on the knockout?That did sort of work. I originally tried a hammer with a socket (as
in socket spanner) that fitted the hole fairly neatly but that just
broke the box. Using a screwdriver did at least punch through without
destroying the box, it didn't punch cleanly though, it left several
jagged bits of plastic which had to be individually knocked off.
In a similar boat<nopun> I used an oscillating multitool to slice the end off from the inside. It was quite neat.
I gave up on cheap boxes and it’s a Wiska box evert time now
fred <not@for.mail> wrote:
Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote in news:gqe7dl-n0a3.ln1@q957.zbmc.eu:
Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:
This will leave a 'not knocked out' rim that I suspect will still
prevent the cable gland going in.
What's wrong with a hammer and screwdriver on the knockout?That did sort of work. I originally tried a hammer with a socket (as
in socket spanner) that fitted the hole fairly neatly but that just
broke the box. Using a screwdriver did at least punch through without
destroying the box, it didn't punch cleanly though, it left several
jagged bits of plastic which had to be individually knocked off.
In a similar boat<nopun> I used an oscillating multitool to slice the end
off from the inside. It was quite neat.
I gave up on cheap boxes and it’s a Wiska box evert time now
On 17/04/2025 23:50, Tricky Dicky wrote:
I gave up on cheap boxes and it’s a Wiska box evert time now
+1
The reviews for this box indicate it has more problems than the non
yielding knock out. The cover may not lock and some express the view
that it's unlikely to be IP66 compliment due to the sub-standard
manufacture.
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
I have just got one of these:-
https://www.toolstation.com/ip66-junction-box/p47979
... and no way can I knock the knockouts out. I know this is often difficult but this one is ridiculous. The trouble is that one really needs to get the knockouts properly out as otherwise the cable glands don't screw right in.
I see that's made by CED. I stopped buying Toolstation's CED socket boxes because the plastic was so crudely made that the knockouts on the same box went from being paper thin to being super thick and impossible to push out, or when you pushed out you'd shatter half the box.
However those are thermoset plastic and your box is ABS. But perhaps they share the same lack of quality control.
It says it's ABS but I don't think it is, it doesn't glue with the
sort of glue that normally welds ABS.
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