How to remove metal back box that's cemented in?

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I want to change the sockets in my conservatory, the new ones need at least a 35mm back box.
I just removed a socket and found out all the current back boxes are 25mm :(

It's a brick wall and the back boxes must have been fitted when it was built, so they're held in by the mortar.

What's the best way/tool to remove them?

Thanks.

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A Multi tool may help cutting them out with a Metal blade or careful use with a Hammer & Bolster Chisel. You might be able to use Tin Snips too with Pliers/Wrench
 
Bolster and hammer, to bend the outer walls of the box towards the centre. Once out, use an SDS drill or chisel to increase the depth.
 
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take out any screws first, then grind or scrape round the outside of the box to break the mortar bond. Once you have freed it all round, as Harry says, you can bend in the sides, top and bottom to loosen it.

Don't do serious bashing or chiselling or you may damage your brickwork, which is very neat.

Or

You could save yourself a lot of effort by choosing a more suitable socket.
 
take out any screws first, then grind or scrape round the outside of the box to break the mortar bond. Once you have freed it all round, as Harry says, you can bend in the sides, top and bottom to loosen it.

Don't do serious bashing or chiselling or you may damage your brickwork, which is very neat.

I'll go for the scrape and bend option, might even be an excuse to buy the DeWalt multitool I've got my eye on!



Or


You could save yourself a lot of effort by choosing a more suitable socket.

I was a numpty and bought the new sockets without checking the back box depth first.........
 
I'll go for the scrape and bend option, might even be an excuse to buy the DeWalt multitool I've got my eye on!




I was a numpty and bought the new sockets without checking the back box depth first.........

25mm is an unusually shallow box anyway, for a socket - bet it was a tight squeeze for whoever connected them.
 
AIUI 25mm was the norm for sockets for many years and is fine for normal sockets that don't have an excessive amount of wiring behind them.

It becomes a problem when people want to fit the fancy flat-plate sockets.
 
fitting an ugly spacer kind-of defeats the object of fitting fancy flat-plate sockets.
 
Both very true, and I hate the spacers,
but wanted to air the option before they find that cables are tight through holes in metal back box leaving little room to get cold chisel in to remove box and make hole deeper (my normal method too).
SFK.
 
...and of course it depends how deep into the brick the back box is fitted.
Oh yes... I went in on an AV job 2nd fix which had boxes mounted some 2½" into the blocks. [The thermal blocks had ½" vertical slots in them]Then a levelling coat which in places was 2" thick and a ¾" Fibron finish.
 
AIUI 25mm was the norm for sockets for many years and is fine for normal sockets that don't have an excessive amount of wiring behind them.

It becomes a problem when people want to fit the fancy flat-plate sockets.
I believe it was, I am sure in the 80's Mk made 2 types of Logic socket, Fat front and Thin front , the later thin front I quess became the normal when 35mm boxes started becoming more popular
 

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