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"Electrical junction boxes" Topic


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Action Log

29 Sep 2011 3:18 p.m. PST
by Editor in Chief Bill

  • Changed title from "Electrial junction boxes" to "Electrical junction boxes"

29 Sep 2011 3:19 p.m. PST
by Editor in Chief Bill

  • Crossposted to Terrain and Scenics board

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Drakken5229 Sep 2011 3:13 p.m. PST

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

JRacel29 Sep 2011 6:15 p.m. PST

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

Martian Root Canal29 Sep 2011 6:26 p.m. PST

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

Nice blog BTW

Cacique Caribe29 Sep 2011 6:38 p.m. PST

Drakken52,

That looks amazing!!!

link

Thanks for posting.

Dan
TMP link

Mako1129 Sep 2011 7:37 p.m. PST

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.

Mako1130 Sep 2011 10:34 p.m. PST

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.

14Bore01 Oct 2011 5:27 a.m. PST

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

Scorpio01 Oct 2011 6:41 a.m. PST

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

Psyckosama01 Oct 2011 7:47 a.m. PST

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

Mako1101 Oct 2011 10:10 a.m. PST

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.

Jeff W01 Oct 2011 11:12 a.m. PST

@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.

Drakken5201 Oct 2011 9:58 p.m. PST

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.

Drakken5204 Oct 2011 4:16 a.m. PST

Stay tuned for prices and availability.

combat wombat04 Oct 2011 5:39 a.m. PST

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

Noelvh04 Oct 2011 5:49 a.m. PST

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

Drakken5208 Oct 2011 8:43 p.m. PST

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.

Noelvh09 Oct 2011 4:54 a.m. PST

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

geekygamer09 Oct 2011 5:53 a.m. PST

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

Eli Arndt09 Oct 2011 6:38 a.m. PST

@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

malleman09 Oct 2011 6:19 p.m. PST

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

combat wombat11 Oct 2011 9:41 a.m. PST

ok should have these ready next weekend.
CW

Cacique Caribe11 Oct 2011 12:41 p.m. PST

Hurray!!!

Can't wait to see the greens or prototypes.

Dan

ArmybitUK11 Oct 2011 2:42 p.m. PST

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

Cacique Caribe11 Oct 2011 4:14 p.m. PST

Scally,

link

Dan

AVAMANGO11 Oct 2011 4:14 p.m. PST

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

ArmybitUK12 Oct 2011 1:57 a.m. PST

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….

combat wombat12 Oct 2011 6:12 a.m. PST

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

AVAMANGO12 Oct 2011 6:52 a.m. PST

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

Eli Arndt12 Oct 2011 7:06 a.m. PST

Very eager to see what they look like.

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

picture

-Eli

Cacique Caribe12 Oct 2011 8:39 a.m. PST

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

Eli Arndt12 Oct 2011 8:47 a.m. PST

Dan,

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

-Eli

Drakken5214 Oct 2011 3:35 a.m. PST

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.

Eli Arndt14 Oct 2011 8:05 a.m. PST

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. grin

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. grin

-Eli

Lsutehall17 Oct 2011 9:55 a.m. PST

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

picture

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

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