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Started By
Message
just replaced 2 1970s closet lights in my kids rooms
Posted on 7/25/24 at 4:57 pm
Posted on 7/25/24 at 4:57 pm
What in the actual frick.
i thought it would be a 5-10 minute job; how bad can a little ceiling light swap be right?
the fixtures were SCREWED INTO the brackets with slotted screw head and i had to work that screwdriver over my head taking out what must have been a 3 inch screw that fought me the whole way. i kept thinking "its almost out" or i would have gotten a battery screwdriver out.
then the brackets themselves had 2 DIFFERENT sized screws into the box; one normal and the other OBNOXIOUSLY oversized and screwed into a hole that is now so large i have to reuse that stupid screw they had in because a normal one would just fall out.
got the first light on then moved onto room 2. couldn't be any worse right?
oh it gets better. there's only ONE screw holding the fixture on and this time it was a rusted bastard of a 3" long screw and once i finally got that piece of shite out, i saw why: the box isn't even remotely attached to the ceiling. its just at an angle with one side so far up they couldn't get a screw to reach it at all so they just left it that way. just chilling cockeyed in the open space above the closet ceiling.
50+ years and nobody noticed.
so i had to not only go find extra long electrical screws (which luckily i bought a large pack at my last DIY house) but of course, the obnoxious rusted screw had hollowed out that particular hole in the box so normal sized won't cut it and i had to find an even larger screw to use. then i had to keep working at it to get the box to 'kinda' come down and lay flush against the ceiling.
anyway cad;dr but one day..just ONCE...ONE TIME..i'd like to go to replace a light or something and all i do is unscrew the old one and screw the new one on without surprises and a fair amout of FOUR LETTER WORDS which escaped my lips.
who fricking does work like that?
i thought it would be a 5-10 minute job; how bad can a little ceiling light swap be right?
the fixtures were SCREWED INTO the brackets with slotted screw head and i had to work that screwdriver over my head taking out what must have been a 3 inch screw that fought me the whole way. i kept thinking "its almost out" or i would have gotten a battery screwdriver out.
then the brackets themselves had 2 DIFFERENT sized screws into the box; one normal and the other OBNOXIOUSLY oversized and screwed into a hole that is now so large i have to reuse that stupid screw they had in because a normal one would just fall out.
got the first light on then moved onto room 2. couldn't be any worse right?
oh it gets better. there's only ONE screw holding the fixture on and this time it was a rusted bastard of a 3" long screw and once i finally got that piece of shite out, i saw why: the box isn't even remotely attached to the ceiling. its just at an angle with one side so far up they couldn't get a screw to reach it at all so they just left it that way. just chilling cockeyed in the open space above the closet ceiling.
50+ years and nobody noticed.
so i had to not only go find extra long electrical screws (which luckily i bought a large pack at my last DIY house) but of course, the obnoxious rusted screw had hollowed out that particular hole in the box so normal sized won't cut it and i had to find an even larger screw to use. then i had to keep working at it to get the box to 'kinda' come down and lay flush against the ceiling.
anyway cad;dr but one day..just ONCE...ONE TIME..i'd like to go to replace a light or something and all i do is unscrew the old one and screw the new one on without surprises and a fair amout of FOUR LETTER WORDS which escaped my lips.
who fricking does work like that?
This post was edited on 7/25/24 at 5:00 pm
9
Posted on 7/25/24 at 5:06 pm to CAD703X
I don't have anything of note to add, but I do want you to know that I know exactly the cathartic feeling you had writing that out. I've been there, probably with more cussing, though.
This post was edited on 7/25/24 at 5:07 pm
Posted on 7/25/24 at 5:10 pm to CAD703X
I suspect you did not use an electric screwdriver.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 5:53 pm to CAD703X
I hate when I come across those. 
Posted on 7/25/24 at 6:06 pm to CAD703X
Those 70's model single wides were just built differently.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 6:33 pm to Tiger in Gatorland
Ain't it the truth
Posted on 7/25/24 at 6:44 pm to CAD703X
quote:
OBNOXIOUSLY oversized and screwed into a hole that is now so large i have to reuse that stupid screw they had in because a normal one would just fall out.
Always, always, always keep some self tappers of varying sizes on hand.
It may not be code, but let's be honest, half of the rest of the shite ain't code either.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 8:27 pm to baseballmind1212
Posted on 7/25/24 at 11:25 pm to CAD703X
Maybe rub the screw on your pussy. Give it some extra holding power.
Posted on 7/26/24 at 8:02 am to CAD703X
Bruv, I replaced a ceiling fan in an old arse house once. These mfers had screwed it into the sheetrock... no box. As I'm removing this crap the sheetrock starts falling apart and I ended up with a 6"-8" hole. My simple fan swap turned into a weekend project that involved repairing the ceiling and installing a new junction box.
That house was a continuous nightmare. I have so many stories.
That house was a continuous nightmare. I have so many stories.
Posted on 7/26/24 at 10:19 am to terd ferguson
quote:
Bruv, I replaced a ceiling fan in an old arse house once. These mfers had screwed it into the sheetrock... no box. As I'm removing this crap the sheetrock starts falling apart and I ended up with a 6"-8" hole. My simple fan swap turned into a weekend project that involved repairing the ceiling and installing a new junction box.
That house was a continuous nightmare. I have so many stories.
i dont mean to laugh but damn this is so spot on. i remember the last fixer-upper we bought and coming on here asking people why simple things like lightswitch updates were such a nightmare.
i used to laugh at how much electricians charge to connect a black & white wire and run 2 screws into a box and now i'm not laughing anymore.
eta i feel your pain because i tried to install a new box above my living room ceiling one time and ended up with my leg sticking through the ceiling after i lost my balance in the attic.
to add insult to injury my wife was so tickled she felt the need to take pictures of my leg instead of helping me.
This post was edited on 7/26/24 at 10:21 am
Posted on 7/26/24 at 12:13 pm to CAD703X
You understand the next guy that replaces those lights is going to curse you and wonder why you used such big screws and other "make it work" fixes.
Whoever originally put them up was cussing and wondering why nothing was as simple as expected.
You are just one guy in a series dealing with house repairs....
We all are.
Whoever originally put them up was cussing and wondering why nothing was as simple as expected.
You are just one guy in a series dealing with house repairs....
We all are.
Posted on 7/26/24 at 12:19 pm to CAD703X
quote:The upside is your forearms look jacked now.
the fixtures were SCREWED INTO the brackets with slotted screw head and i had to work that screwdriver over my head taking out what must have been a 3 inch screw that fought me the whole way.
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