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Topic:
Need narrow Decora cover plates
This thread has 12 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 19:45
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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Hi! We're wiring up a small hotel in Hollywood where poor planning has resulted in spaces for cover plates being about 1/2" narrower than standard.

Does anybody know of a manufacturer who makes such plates?

All was well until they told us that decorative wooden frames were being installed. We have likely 50 to 150 places where these are needed. I have a chop saw but I'd rather buy something already made.

Thanks!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 2 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 20:02
radiorhea
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chop saw is your best bet
Drinking upstream from the herd since 1960
Post 3 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 20:07
cma
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I know with every commercial job that I do you are required to send in a submittal that has every spec sheet for every item that is in your proposal. If the builder has this submittal why is there not room for a standard wall plate? If they have the submittal it is on them to deal with it and for you to charge an extra fee if you have to deal with it.

Submittal:
[Link: en.wikipedia.org])
Post 4 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 20:17
edizzle
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On February 26, 2020 at 19:45, Ernie Gilman said...
Hi! We're wiring up a small hotel in Hollywood where poor planning has resulted in spaces for cover plates being about 1/2" narrower than standard.

Does anybody know of a manufacturer who makes such plates?

All was well until they told us that decorative wooden frames were being installed. We have likely 50 to 150 places where these are needed. I have a chop saw but I'd rather buy something already made.

Thanks!

narrower than a standard sized wall plate or a midi-sized wallplate? if you need .5" off of a standard, you are in trouble.
I love supporting product that supports me!
Post 5 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 20:18
cma
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When they say they are making a frame around them are you sure that they aren't doing something like this so that it is possible to use a regular plate?



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Post 6 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 20:38
tweetymp4
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[Link: kyleswitchplates.com]

or these with the little hook on the side cut off:
[Link: amazon.com]
I'm Not an engineer, but I play one on TV.
My handle is Tweety but I have nothing to do with the organization of similar name. I just had a really big head as a child so folks called me tweety bird.
Post 7 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 21:45
Mac Burks (39)
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On February 26, 2020 at 20:38, tweetymp4 said...

This one says 2.25". That's a half inch smaller than standard 2.75" so exactly what Ernie is looking for.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 8 made on Wednesday February 26, 2020 at 21:48
P2P
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Tweety beat me to it for the Kyle link.

Or a belt sander.  A whole lot easier and safer than trying to go at it with a chop saw.
OP | Post 9 made on Thursday February 27, 2020 at 02:26
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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I'd hate to hold a cover plate while removing 1/4" of material with a belt sander. The chop saw is a better solution.

The main difference is that the chop saw will instantly remove all the finger that it's going to remove, while the belt sander would remove about a millimeter at a time.

The "frame" kind of thing is pieces of molding, about 2" across, making a rectangular pattern on the order of 18" high by 2 to 5 feet wide. It's nailed and glued to the wall.

The pity is that the electrical stuff was already on the wall when they mounted the frame pieces and they didn't even try to center the fram between the electricals.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 10 made on Thursday February 27, 2020 at 05:21
thecapnredfish
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February 2008
1,397
I’ve used a Dremmel tool with cut off wheel. Then sand to clean up edge with sand paper on a hard flat surface. Just move the plate over the paper. Takes about 2 minutes. You can do the math. The Kyleplates look like they are perfect except for the fact the frame work is not centered. So it’s safe to assume you will have to fit each one?
OP | Post 11 made on Thursday February 27, 2020 at 12:08
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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I'll have to fit each one, regardless. And of course the amount of "adjustment" needed won't be uniform, so I'll have to further adjust some of any product I find.

The dremel idea is just another variation on using a belt sander. Anything I come up with has the daunting challenge of holding the plates still while making the cuts.

I've seen a mini lathe for tiny projects. I wonder if anyone makes a table saw with a three inch blade.

See, no matter what I use, if it's a full-size tool I'll have to deal with holding in place a piece of material that's much smaller than the tool is made for, thus hard to hold still. There's also the fact that the back of any cover plate is not flat -- cover plates only lie flat due to the way the perimeter of the plate is made.

Lastly, your two minute estimate is, I'm sure, pretty accurate. That makes these "adjustments" a 100 minute to 300 minute (five hours) process. And it's a hotel: the rooms are on two floors, in two wings, each wing having fifteen rooms... that's a lot of walking to take the plates from where the saw is set up, or moving the saw around quite a bit!

And all of this results from the guys who are doing the massive remodel on this hotel having more money than sense, who found themselves unable to resist starting work on the hotel AFTER they had made all the design decisions.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 12 made on Thursday February 27, 2020 at 12:45
tweetymp4
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2,139
Done this before...

Use Lutron Claro plates... The vinyl material is easily cut and sanded yet they are more rigid than regular vinyl plates making them easy to cut and sand.

Get an inexpensive small band saw with a fine tooth blade. Make sure the band saw has a rip fence.

spray glue a piece of 100-150 grit sand paper to a piece of flat material for sanding/cleanup.

Set this all up on a cart so you can roll it from room to room, wing to wing etc.

Set the rip fence as needed, cut the plate, sand, install. Move on to next room.

This is a case where lack of planning on their part does constitute a profit opportunity to you.
I'm Not an engineer, but I play one on TV.
My handle is Tweety but I have nothing to do with the organization of similar name. I just had a really big head as a child so folks called me tweety bird.
Post 13 made on Thursday February 27, 2020 at 15:29
ShaferCustoms
Long Time Member
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March 2014
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This and a wood jig

I’m in. I’m out


[Link: milwaukeetool.com]


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