How to choose and use crowns for socket boxes

The standard connector for connecting all electrical appliances is a socket. If the house has an external type of electrical wiring, which is extremely rare, then a socket of the same type is simply fixed to the wall. Most often, a hidden type of wiring is used, requiring the connectors to be buried inside the wall. But before you insert them there, you will need to install a special socket - a socket box. A crown for concrete sockets - a special attachment for an electric drill or hammer drill - will help you cut a hole for it in the wall. It is about the types of crowns that will be discussed further.

Classification of socket boxes

Before we get acquainted with crowns for socket boxes, let's find out the classification of the sockets themselves. There is a huge variety of rosettes, but they are not limited to the decorative trim seen on the wall. Under the cover itself there is a ceramic or made from special polymers terminal block for connecting wires. For each socket, this internal part differs in its dimensions, which affects the choice of the socket, and, consequently, the crown.

Each manufacturer adheres to standards, producing all round socket boxes. But the wall material can be very different, for example, drywall, concrete, wood, which determines the classification of nests.

There are 3 types of socket boxes:

• Concrete sockets are represented by round plastic cups without fasteners. They are fixed in the wall with gypsum mortar;
• sockets for gypsum plasterboard or PVC lining have the same plastic design, only equipped with a special clamping mechanism. It fixes the glass on the back side of the sheet material;
• nests for wooden walls are the same glass, only according to fire safety standards it is made of metal.

Now, knowing the types of socket boxes, we will determine which crowns to use to cut out the recesses for them.

Popular crown models

Crowns are produced by quite a few Russian, American and European manufacturers. Products (USA) are considered one of the most popular.

Including the manufacturer’s crowns are widespread in Russia. Tooling with a diameter of up to 80 mm is produced, including for processing reinforced concrete products.

Crowns “Diamond Diamond”

Diam Almaz is a domestic manufacturer that produces several types of crowns:

• Grade G. Optimal for processing concrete of the M100-M300 series.
• Grade S. For concrete grades M400-M600.
• Brand TOP. Suitable for processing concrete of increased hardness.

Bosh crowns

The German company produces crowns of various types and sizes. The equipment is popular due to its high quality, but is more expensive compared to domestic analogues. Products with a diameter of 68 mm are most in demand.

DeWalt crowns

is an American manufacturer of construction tools that produces drilling equipment in all standard sizes. The products are suitable for drilling to a depth of up to 80 mm. The instruments belong to the middle price category.

The most popular are 68 mm bits with a diamond-coated cutting part.

Crowns "Distar"

Ukrainian manufacturer of construction equipment. Offers inexpensive products of fairly high quality.

The most popular are diamond-coated crowns.

• The manufacturer offers diamond tools with diameters of 68, 72 and 82 mm.
• The tools have a fairly long service life and provide fast drilling.

There are models for both wet and dry drilling. The products have a special design for more efficient disposal of cuttings during the drilling process.

The range includes not only equipment for concrete and reinforced concrete, but also other hard materials - ceramics, cermets, granite and marble.

General idea of ​​the crown

The design of the crown is very simple. This tool is an attachment to an electric drill or hammer drill. It consists of a shank and a round cutting head. There is a pilot drill in the center. The crown can be collapsible or solid.

To cut a round hole, just hold the shank of the nozzle in the chuck of the power tool and start drilling the socket boxes. When the cutting part of the crown completely enters the wall material, drilling is stopped. The cut circle remaining inside the wall is knocked out using a hammer and chisel.

Diameter of crown for socket

Before you go to the store for a crown for socket boxes, you need to accurately determine their size and diameter. If the crown is purchased incorrectly, the technical hole made in the concrete wall may turn out to be either too large or, conversely, too small.

The most common size, which is considered standard, has a diameter of sixty-eight millimeters. This is what most switches and sockets are manufactured for. However, you can find sockets and switches with other diameters on sale, and therefore, even at the preliminary stage of repair, you should accurately determine what materials will be used and, based on this, purchase everything you need.

You should also pay special attention to preparing the cutting tool for work. The crown must be assembled in accordance with the instructions, otherwise you may cause serious injury during operation. Before starting work, it is recommended to carefully study the instructions that come with the crown. Assembly of the crown begins with the preparation of a pobedit drill.

It must be inserted into the cartridge and securely secured using the appropriate bolts. Next, you should strengthen the bowl under the drill itself along the thread. All elements of the crown should fit tightly in place and not dangle. If the assembly is not complete or of poor quality, then during the work you can break individual elements of the crown or cause serious injury to yourself.

Drilling process

When the drill bit is completely assembled and checked, you can proceed to the concrete work itself. It is best to do the main work using a hammer drill, and if you don’t have one, you can use a powerful impact drill. It is not recommended to use an ordinary drill, as in this case the work will be ineffective and will take a huge amount of time.

To begin with, certain marks should be made on the concrete base in given places, along which the centering drill will subsequently be positioned. After this, you can start drilling the base of the concrete wall with a crown. To do this, place the drill on a pre-made mark and start drilling.

The tool should be held as tightly and level as possible. Work must be carried out in a respirator and special construction glasses, since when drilling a lot of harmful dust is generated in the space. Upon completion of work with concrete, the cutting tool should be correctly returned to its original state.

To begin with, the nozzle should be given time to cool completely, otherwise, when dismantling it, its cutting tip may simply fall off. To do this, the cutting attachment is removed from the hammer drill, and all cement dust and dirt are removed from it. You should also pull out its middle part and this can be done most easily using an ordinary metal chisel or hammer.

This way the cutting attachment will be prepared for further use. When choosing a cutting attachment for working with concrete, you should not purchase cheap options, for example, those made in China. Despite their affordable cost, in most cases they fail after drilling the first technological holes in the wall.

Also, when working with cutting tools, it is imperative to adhere to safety requirements. Despite the fact that concrete is a fairly durable material, it is possible to make the necessary technological holes in it with a properly selected special cutting tool without much effort in the shortest possible time.

Main characteristics of crowns

You cannot select a crown for work based solely on the wall material. There are design features of the nozzles, which we will now consider:

• Sockets can have several types of shanks designed for the chucks of a specific tool. Hexagonal shanks are suitable for conventional electric drills. That is, it is an ordinary metal rod with edges. Rotary hammers require special shanks with two slots, called SDS. But they also differ in the diameter of the rod. For light household hammer drills, SDS-plus shanks with a diameter of 10 mm are suitable. Professional powerful equipment works with shanks thicker than 20 mm, called SDS-max.
• The diameter of the cutting part varies from 33 to 150 mm. For almost all types of socket boxes, standards specify a nozzle diameter of 68 or 70 mm.
• The depth of the hole cut at a time depends on the length of the cutting part of the nozzle. The shorter the length, the more times you will have to drill the wall. Typically, crowns range from 60 to 550 mm in depth. For standard socket boxes, a recess of 60–65 mm in the wall is sufficient. But there may be non-standard situations that require drilling holes with a depth of 40 to 80 mm.

It is better for an inexperienced person to drill in a concrete or brick wall with crowns with a diameter of 75–80 mm. This is especially true when installing several socket boxes side by side, that is, an entire block. The extra diameter will allow you to correctly place the glasses inside the holes. The resulting gaps can be easily sealed with gypsum mortar.

Socket box for drywall

Before installation, it is necessary to remove the plugs in the cable entry area. In this case, a wire with optimal parameters is selected in advance. The optimal dimensions of the element are also important, and therefore the diameter of the product is taken into account when choosing. The most common standard parts are with a diameter of 70 mm. They are suitable for simple sockets, but for a stove you should choose a special device.

In the field and other Sciences are constantly being developed. Every year scientists from around the world make a little opening, slowly moving humanity forward and improving our lives. Explores untouched by man places, first and foremost, of course, on our home planet. However, in the space constantly undergoing work. The distance from the slope to the first outlet in the group should be 150-200mm, and be the same in all rooms.

It is almost impossible to accurately measure these distances before leveling the walls with plaster, therefore the ideal option is to postpone the marking and installation of socket boxes to the moment when all the walls have already been formed. When placing only the socket mechanism in the socket box, you should choose elements with a depth of 45 mm for standard devices. If you plan to install electrical wiring in the socket box, then more spacious options are needed.

In this case, shape plays an important role. Round options are often used, which are easy to install. There are also square models that are optimal for installing non-standard mechanisms or for obtaining more space.

Types of bits designed for drilling in concrete

Walls made of concrete and reinforced concrete are considered the most durable. To drill holes in them, you will need special crowns and a powerful tool. It is inappropriate to use an electric drill here; it is better to give preference to a hammer drill with a minimum power of 800 W. For its cartridge you will need to select a nozzle with an SDS shank. Any concrete crown consists of the already mentioned shank, a guide drill and a round cutting part. Depending on the material of the cutting part, nozzles are divided into three types.

Diamond-coated nozzle

The most reliable and universal is considered to be a diamond crown for socket boxes, made by spraying diamond chips onto the cutting part. The nozzle can be used to drill holes in any durable wall material, even reinforced concrete. Diamond copes well with reinforcement, only when drilling reinforced concrete on a hammer drill it is necessary to turn off the impact function. It is advisable to select the power of the tool itself to be at least 1.5 kW.

Before you start diamond drilling, you need to pay attention to the markings of the crown:

• the abbreviation “M” on the product indicates the coating of soft diamonds, suitable for drilling heavy-duty concrete;
• average hardness of diamonds “C” is used for drilling reinforced concrete;
• Sputtering of hard diamonds “T” is suitable for drilling high grade concrete. Moreover, they work with such attachments at low rotary hammer speeds.

The high reliability and productivity of the diamond bit, as well as the pollination of the cutting edge, determine its high cost.

Carbide nozzle

Pobedite is used as a hard alloy in such crown designs. Moreover, not the entire cutting head is made of it. High-strength steel is used to make the glass itself, and soldering is made from the pobedit on the head. Working with such a nozzle is no different from its diamond counterpart, the only warning is that you cannot drill reinforced concrete with a pobedit bit. If the teeth snag the reinforcement, the attachment can be discarded.

The crown will work great on brick, concrete, cinder block, in general, on any hard material without the presence of metal inside. The cost of such a tool is much lower than its diamond counterpart, and it is considered a suitable choice for home work.

Tungsten carbide coated nozzle

In terms of cost and effectiveness, this crown is the best choice for home use. Its design is identical to the previous versions, only tungsten carbide chips are used as pollination on the head. The nozzle will take concrete, brick or any other material without reinforcement. It is very convenient to cut through tiles with a crown, but if there is reinforced concrete underneath, you will have to change the nozzle to a diamond one. You can work with a crown by clamping it in the chuck of an electric drill, the main thing is that the power of the tool exceeds 800 W.

What is a crown?

A crown for socket boxes is a special hollow drill that allows you to quickly and economically make large-diameter holes. The size of the drill we are used to is largely limited by the maximum mounting diameter of the tool (drill, hammer drill). There are, of course, drills whose working surface diameter is larger, but these proportions do not go beyond normal ergonomics, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of drilling, and durability of the rod. In order to drill a hole of about 68-70 mm (standard mounting size for a socket box) in wood, and even more so in brick, you need a specially shaped drill bit.

Types of crowns

A crown is a cylindrical composite drill, the end of which contains a cutting edge. Since this is a prefabricated tool, in its central part there is a regular drill (adapted for working with wall material), which first cuts into the wall and centers the main cutting edge.

The classification of crowns occurs according to the type and design of the cutting edge, design dimensions, as well as the material with which they have to work. Thus, it is possible to separate crowns for hard materials (concrete, brick) and softer or more pliable ones (wood, drywall, plastic, etc.).

Wood bit design

It will not be possible to drill holes for socket boxes in wooden walls using concrete crowns. Here you will need special attachments, the cutting edge of which resembles saw teeth. The crown consists of the same shank, a guide drill and a cutting head, which comes in two types:

• A one-piece glass, the cutting edge of which is equipped with sharp teeth. Such cutters are called crown cutters. Usually sold as a set of one shank and a set of cutters of different diameters.
• The design of the collapsible head consists of a round seat, into which a saw of a certain size bent into a ring is installed. Moreover, the ring does not close completely, that is, it turns out to be a cut cylinder.

A hand-held electric drill is suitable for working with this attachment. It is better to select the diameter of the crown corresponding to the size of the socket box, since it will not be possible to seal large cracks in wooden walls with plaster.

How and how to drill holes for socket boxes in concrete

It is necessary to make recesses in concrete quite often, including when performing electrical wiring. Furrows are made using wall chasers. But the places for switches and sockets are prepared in a different way.

Concrete crown - a piece of metal pipe made of tool steel

To determine the center, you first need to mark a cross on the wall using a tape measure and a pencil. Then you need to outline the intended circle, use a drill to make four holes at the intersection of the circle and straight marking lines, as well as in the center. After this, you will need a special concrete cutter, that is, a crown.

It is a piece of metal pipe, one end of which has teeth made of high-strength material, and on the second there is a flange with which the device is fixed to the rotation mechanism. The shank has a hole for attaching a centering drill, which ensures the desired direction of rotation of the crown. The drill always comes complete with a cutter. If it is necessary to make a through hole in thick walls, use an extension for a concrete crown. It significantly expands the operational capabilities of the device.

The advent of crowns greatly simplified the process of making holes. When performing work with a drill and then knocking out concrete with a chisel, not only a lot of physical effort and time is spent, but the recesses themselves turn out to be uneven.

The crown allows you to create technological holes of large and small diameters

Design of nozzles for drywall

The appearance of drywall bits is similar to wood bits. They can also be collapsible or non-dismountable. The cutting part of the head is equipped with sharp teeth directed at a certain angle. A single-piece crown with a diameter of 68 mm is considered narrow-profile, since it is used only for mounting socket boxes. Using a set of hole saws with a collapsible attachment, you can cut holes with a diameter from 33 to 150 mm in gypsum boards.

Drilling drywall is very easy, allowing you to use any low-power drill. It is important not to turn on the percussion function while operating the instrument. This will lead to destruction of the gypsum layer of the sheet.

Features of crowns for socket boxes on plasterboard

1. Material of manufacture: must be self-extinguishing plastic. If the outlet gets hot, the heat won't be able to transfer to the drywall. This will help prevent short circuits.
2. Individual sizes, when the distance between the wall and the covering is small. If the width is standard, you can purchase models of standard sizes with a depth of 50 cm.

In order for the installation of socket boxes in plasterboard to be successful, preliminary preparation of the walls should be carried out. At the preparatory stage you need: Crown - a special drill in the form of a cylinder with an edge that has small but sharp teeth. With its help, you can effectively drill material, obtaining perfectly straight holes. Standard product sizes are 68-70 mm, but there are nozzles with other parameters. After the tool and the hole itself are ready, installation work begins.

It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the electrical wiring plan, taking into account the arrangement and overall dimensions of the furniture. It is better to spend a little time and get the necessary information than to redo everything later. Modern devices have additional fasteners with which they can “clip to the installation cover, ensuring optimal fixation of the connector.

Features of drilling holes

Depending on the wall material and the type of power tool, drilling holes with crowns is performed in two ways:

• Impact drilling is carried out with a hammer drill or a powerful electric drill, if the latter tool has such a function. To do this, use a diamond or pobedite crown. But, as mentioned above, reinforced concrete, wood and drywall cannot be drilled using the impact method. This applies to tiles and other fragile materials that can crack from impact.
• Hammerless drilling is available for any of the two power tools, you just need to turn off this function before starting work. This is exactly the method used to drill into wood, plasterboard, reinforced concrete and all fragile materials such as tiles.

While drilling, experienced craftsmen feel how the crown eats deep into the wall. Do not press the tool too hard, especially when drilling reinforced concrete. The force of friction causes the crown to become very hot, and if not calculated correctly, the attachment will simply burn out.

Pros and cons of diamond surface crowns

This type of product has a rough surface. It is made of fine diamond chips. This type of spraying allows you to work with thick tiles. Upon contact, the nozzle gently cuts the ceramic base.

In construction departments you can find models whose diameter varies from 10 to 110 mm. Most often, such products are presented in the form of a small kit.

• The advantage of this option is the ability to use a conventional drill.
• After drilling, the surface of the hole must be refined with sandpaper.
• Experts recommend using the tool at low speed so that the nozzle cuts the tiles evenly.

For work, it is important to have an understanding of the structure of tiles and some experience. Professionals recommend using paper-based adhesive tape to prevent the crown from moving off the glossy surface.

The rough type of spraying on the surface of crowns is considered one of the most effective and improved. As for the disadvantages of this type of device, they consider the high cost of the sets, which contain from 5 to 10 models of different diameters.

Drilling holes for socket boxes

To cut holes for the socket box, it is enough to have a power tool and an appropriate crown on hand. First, mark all the nests on the wall, making sure to mark the center of the circle inside. This can be done with two intersecting lines. The nozzle clamped in the chuck of the power tool with a guide drill is installed in the marked center of the circle and drilling begins. Next, the remaining internal part is removed using a hammer and chisel. The depth of the resulting hole should be 10 mm greater than the height of the socket box. If the dimensions do not match, drilling is continued until a positive result is achieved.

All that remains is to install the socket boxes in the finished holes. The method of their fastening depends on the design of the product itself, as well as the material of the wall.

How to choose a drill

Ceramic tiles are considered a fragile type of decor that must be handled with special care. How to choose the right tool for cutting and drilling? We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the recommendations of professional installers who know all the intricacies of the work process.

They are as follows:

• Particular attention should be paid to the shank of the crown. Its diameter must fully correspond to the size of the connector in the electric drill or hammer drill. Elements with a thin leg and a glossy surface are regularly used for installation work. The disadvantage of this design is its minimal service life and fragility;
• Diameter of the structure. This criterion is considered one of the important characteristics of a tile drill. The size of the metal crown should be selected based on the parameters of the future hole. Professional installers recommend purchasing several options for tile crowns. This way you can select the diameter yourself;
• Shank length. For example, long ceramic drill bits will be able to reach remote locations. For example, for drilling miniature tile models, it is recommended to choose attachment options with a short shank;
• Method of drilling tiles. Today there are two options for tile crowns on sale. You can work with them dry or wet. In the first case, after drilling, it is necessary to remove tile dust using water. Using liquid helps prevent overheating of the ceramic base;
• Set of teeth. Budget models can be made without metal protrusions. During use, the crown will not be able to make a straight hole. For red clay tiles, it is better to choose models with tungsten carbide coating.

How tile crowns work

tile drill bit

The principle is based on a simple method of boring and drilling. The rim of the bit cuts into the tile and, under the rotation of the drill, gradually cuts off layers of material. As you can imagine, this friction produces a lot of energy in the form of heat. To prevent the material from cracking, you need to carry out all work at low speeds and press, but not hard, and evenly.

Due to its hardness, a diamond tile bit can use the same principle to “cut” more durable materials, including metal parts of the wall, if you need to lay a cable to bring it to an outlet.

Materials that can be “cut” using crowns:

• Tile;
• Brick;
• Porcelain tiles;
• A natural stone;
• Plastic;
• Faience;
• Concrete;
• Tree;
• Metal.

The diamond crown for tiles can be produced in various versions.
The photo shows a tubular version and a standard crown with teeth. For one-time use, you can purchase a set of tile crowns in large hardware stores, but most often their quality leaves much to be desired. It is not clear where buyers get these kits from, but most often they break down faster than you achieve the result; even the attached certificate does not in any way affect the life expectancy of such kits. It is best to buy such sets from well-known brands, and even better if the tools from these manufacturers have excellent reviews.

A tile drill bit with teeth is best used when drilling soft materials.

Do not work with tile crowns using an impact drill. With its help, you can only chip the slab, but you cannot drill it.

Crown structure

A standard crown consists of the following elements:

• Shank . Fastening for inserting equipment into the chuck of an electric tool.
• Centering drill . The main guide for creating holes.
• Cutting attachment . A cylindrical “blank” with a jagged end.

Core drills with countersinks allow you to deepen the outer edge so that the socket box does not protrude even a millimeter above the wall surface.

Manufacturers produce cutters of two design types:

1. Collapsible . All elements can be removed and any of them replaced.
2. Non-separable . If something breaks or wears off, just throw it away.

According to the type of fastening, cutter shanks are divided into: triangular , hexagonal , SDS Plus and SDS Max . Before purchasing, you should find out which ones your hammer drill can work with.

Diamond core drill

The diamond bit is reliable, durable, and allows you to work on reinforced concrete without coolant. Wear-resistant cutting segments consist of the strongest artificial diamonds in a metal bond. Drilling with a diamond core is performed in a non-impact mode, which allows you to obtain neat and geometrically accurate cavities for socket boxes that do not require modification. It is advisable to use diamond equipment for large volumes of work, but such a tool is not cheap.

How to choose the diameter of the crown for the socket box? The most common size of plastic cup for sockets and switches is 68 mm. In order for the hole to fit, it is necessary to choose a crown with a diameter of 68 - 70 mm.