Comments on: Cutting Drywall Around Outlet Boxes

By: joe t.

joe t. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:13:50 +0000

Hey Edd, Yes, installing drywall to a ceiling is much more difficult than to walls. Whenever I have more than two or three sheets to hang, I always rent a drywall lift; it’s well worth the added cost.

The lipstick trick will work on ceilings, too, but I’d recommend using a drywall cutout tool, which is similar to a small router. It eliminates having to put up the sheet, mark it, take it down to cut, then put it back up. With the cutout tool, you simply put up the sheet, secure it with a few screws, then run the bit of the cutout tool around the ceiling box to cut the opening. Good luck!–JT

By: Edd Lawhon

Edd Lawhon — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:14:59 +0000

Handy tip for locating a box for drywall… How do I do this for ceiling boxes??? I know you could use the same process, but holding that panel up is a little more tricky.
Any suggestions other than measure twice & cut once???
Thank you, Edd

By: Blake

Blake — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:15:04 +0000

When we bought our house a year or so ago, there was a mini-chest with odds and ends left in the shop by the previous owners. We found two tubes of lipstick in one of the drawers and came up with some wild explanations. Case closed.

Also, my wife always has a tube of lipstick she bought and never uses. Might as well use it for drywall and save a buck.

By: KurtRoedeger

KurtRoedeger — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:32:44 +0000

Look at a welding supply store or a plumbing supply store. Or an autoparts store might have it. Or go to amazon.com and search grease pen, you can get a new one for a little more than a dollar. Though an art store might have it as well, but I don’t know about that for sure.

–KurtRoedeger

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:39:06 +0000

Kurt where can you pick up a grease pen? Your local neighborhood art store?

I’m with you though about the lipstick. And if you get any on you try explaining that one to your wife.

By: KurtRoedeger

KurtRoedeger — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:04:03 +0000

They make grease pens specifically for this purpose. They cost less and are usually easier to remove extra if you accidentally mark something you don’t want to. As an added bonus, I don’t have to explain why I have lipstick in my toolbox or tool belt to my friends. Cheapest route to go is get some colored kids sidewalk chalk, that doesn’t mark as well, but is even easier to remove and the cheapest. One big chunk will last years in your toolbox. Or kids watercolor paints. A couple drops of water in it so it’s kind of sludgy and use your finger to transfer it.
You also only have to make a small mark at the four corners, no need to outline the whole thing.

I understand the idea and it’s not a bad one, but there are better ways to go.