"Electrical junction boxes" Topic

A while ago someone posted an idea to cut down. I had a bunch of them sitting around and decided to give it a go. I went out the garage where I had a wood band saw and had at it. I was very pleased with the results. Be warned it requires a steady hand due to the sloping walls. After cutting a few of the rectangle ones, I put the round one on the saw.

Part one of this project is on my blog.

Gamin Daze: gamindaze.blogspot.com

AMAZING work on cutting those boxes. I guess it's all about having the right tools and knowing how to use them. Too bad I don't have a band saw or a reason my wife will accept for needing one!

Thanks a lot for the suggestion.

Jeff

Wow. Impressive. My own electrical junction boxes now whimper in shame :)

Nice blog BTW

Drakken52,

That looks amazing!!!

link

Thanks for posting.

Dan
TMP link

Looks great.

Wish I owned a bandsaw. I definitely need one, since I can think of a number of projects they'd be helpful with.

Love the way they cut down, so you can have single, and two-story structures.

The stronghold on your site is quite impressive too.

We need a "Band Saws R Us" (Copyright 2011), for those people who need work done, but don't own, or can't afford a band saw.

I imagine they'd make a mint, one cut at a time.

a coping saw will work as well, just not as fast, maybe even a hot utility knife, I am impressed, and glad I'm not the only one who looks at everyday junk and wonders what to use it in a game for

Yeah, only handsaws here, but I will see what I can fake.

might have luck with a fine toothed saw, a c-clamp, an d a miter box

I guess on the plus side, if I nick myself with a hand-saw, it just removes a bit of skin and creates minor blood loss.

Bandsaws do a little more, faster.

Be careful if using power tools.

@Mako- Not sure where you live, but you could check into a Techshop in your area or a Makerspace of some kind. Its pretty much what you just suggested.

For my home band saw,I made a special tall fence to insure a straight, even, and smooth cut. I will use a Roto Zip bit in a drill press to cut the the openings in the roof and sides. I guess that's the advantage to being an industrial maintenance person and have machining tools available.

Stay tuned for prices and availability.

I am currently working on a electrical box dress up set for the standard two gang blue boxes. IT will be some doors and little gleebies to dress them up cheap. will hopefully finish them up this week.
CW

I am going to pick up a few this weekend, but I am going to try the cut down with a jig saw. If I use a metal cutting bit and draw a good line it should be good enough. When it is done I will just rub the box on a flat sheet of sand paper to level out the cut.
Noel

Noelvh
Jig saw…… you might try a blade for cutting plastic if the metal one doesn't work out. I use a wood cutting blade on my band saw.
Please post results. I went to Home Depot to pick up more boxes and saw they now carry a brown fiberglass box. I would steer clear of these, very dense.

Well I ran out of money for the week, as my wifes cat is sick. Next week I will pick some up. As to the blade the metal blade has smaller teeth and should be a bit safe to use.

Noel

Looks good Draken52.
I've had a couple of these in a box for a while, perhaps I'll use this inspiration to do something with then now.

BTW: what are you using as bases for the 15mm figs?
Thanks

@CW – Cool idea. I'm glad that more folks are doing dress-up bits. I find them very useful in my terrain building. Sure i could sculpt my own doors and stuff, but that can end up being a lot of work.

What I really need are vertical and horizontal slit windows for putting high up on the wall of industrial buildings.

-Eli

That is a cool iddea! Can't wait to see what the bits will look like. I have also been working on mine over the weekend to take a break from painting. I may draw up some plans for the interiors.
captains-blogs.blogspot.com
I definately could use some bits to dress them up.
MA

ok should have these ready next weekend.
CW

Hurray!!!

Can't wait to see the greens or prototypes.

Dan

Anyone one know what they are called in the uk? I cant find them on any electrical store website?

Scally,

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Dan

You wont find the plastic electrical boxes over here in the UK we have different safty regulations.

That makes sense, wondered as to how something so easy to search on, would be so hard to find here. Shame

and double shame

my trip to houston next tuesday has just been cancelled….

to all our british brothers: I will supply you with boxes if you want them. they are bloody cheap at less than a pound a piece if i remember correctly and they weigh almost nothing. So for a couple a quid you can have a decent building.
CW

If you have not shipped my order out yet i may take you up on that offer, :) zac

Very eager to see what they look like.

Here is my recent go at such a junction box building.

-Eli

Very nicely decorated, Eli!

I think I have all those same components in a bin somewhere, plus some yo-yos:

link

QUESTION:

Has anyone used plastic non-slotted figure bases (square, round or hexagonal) to dress up their buildings? If so, I would love to see what you guys have done with them.

Dan

Dan,

It's not a slotta, but the front window on that building is a small FOW command base.

-Eli

Nice looking building emo202.
Bits can make or break the building. Nice use of the netting for fences.What adhesive do you use?
I have trouble cutting down that style of junction boxes. I prefer the stepped version, also I think the plastic resin is different, very easy to scratch. I plan on using that style for my 28mm buildings.
Have you seen the work Jason form Micropanzer has done?
TMP link
TMP link
Jason has an amazing collection of bits.

Jason's stuff is pretty cool. I have found that food containers are also really useful, as well as old printer cartridges, candy dispensors, etc.

I didn't bother to cut the box down at all. The basic box shape is right off the shelf. I decided to incorporate as much of the actual box design as I could, thus the raised patio.

I rationalize this by having the units as self contained with all of their works under the habs, so they are raised up. It also keeps them off the ground in case of weather. They are flood, snow and mud proof.

Storage is in the overhead along with ventilation and such.

A lot of PSB for a piece of terrain, but I figure I should have an answer before a player asks the question.

-Eli

The comments about the UK earlier reminded me of these round, domed junction boxes that are quite common over here:

Has anyone used any of them? They'd made great bunkers or civilian buildings.