electrical box - cross block

easy one...i think

i want to mount outlet box on cross block...don't want to mount on king stud..

i go to Home Depot or Orchard HW store but can't find outlet boxes that can mount on cross blocks...they all mount to the side on king studs

is my only option to mount outlet box to drywall?

thanks
Frank

 

I think maybe the reason that you have not gotten an answer so far, is because of the use of the word "cross block." What the heck is it, I have never heard of it, not that that means anything."

Explain in a little more detail what you are talking about and maybe you will get your answers faster.

 

By cross block, do you mean a smoke/fire block, a member that runs horizontal in the wall about halfway up?
If so, use a regular side mount box and rotate it 90 degrees to attach to the block.

 

Are you talking about mounting the box on horizontal fire blocking?

 

How about this,,, run a screw thru the back of the box into the wood?

 

The only thing that you need to keep in mind about running a screw through the back of the box is that the box must have the holes in it to do this. You can't for instance, run a screw through the back of a plastic box as it voids the UL listing of the box. Also, you can't open a knockout in the back of the box and use a screw and a washer, this would leave the box open to a combustible.

 

sorry for the confusion.

what i mean by cross block is this....when framing, you build king studs 16" on center. (from floor to ceiling...

In between these king studs you frame cross block stud. Top of cross block will be 46" above floor....

hope this makes sense..i got it right out of the Black & Decker Home Improvement book....

i can screw the electrical box to the cross block but i don't really want to...i'd rather just buy the correct outlet box...

if anyone has seen these, please let me know

thx

 

You have a number of choices if you want a box other than where a stud currently is: (1) put in an extra stud where you want the box (no law says you can't have another stud between two 16" o.c. studs), (2) mount the box sideways so you can still nail it to the side of the cross block, (3) Use two cross blocks and put a short cripple between them and mount the box to the cripple. Or you can use your imagination to come up with other ideas. There are certainly surface-mount metal boxes that are designed to be mounted with screws through the back if that's what you want. There are also old-work boxes that don't require any framing member at all. I'm sure you can come up with even more ideas.

 

I think I know where the donger is confused, it is when he said he would rather use the correct outlet box.
All other replys are completely correct, I think you dont know the all the possible combiations available to you.

Lets say for instance, you are mounting a single gang recepticle box,(blue,plastic) I can see where you cant put it on your so called "cross blocks" because it would be sideways, like John N. said to turn the box sideways so you can use it, but you need a different kind of box. Use a 4"square 1-1/2"shallow or 2-1/8" deep box with bracket and screw it to the top side or bottom side of your "cross block". Mount it so the face of it is even with the face of the stud, after cable is pulled and trimmed out, install a single gang "mud/plaster ring", but the correct depth for the thickness of drwall you are putting up, probably 1/2".
The mud ring can be mounted on the box in any 90 deg. rotational way you want in this case, vertically.
Is my "for instance case" close to correct? Tell us what kind of box you wanted to use and why it wont work?
P.S. Use approved connectors for cable and metal boxes.

 

thanks MTgets....

that's a good suggestion. i never would have considered doing what you suggested here..

i thought those outlet boxes you suggested are specifically designed to mount directly onto drywall..but your suggestion is very creative..

i like JN's option of having anothe cross block with cripple stud..or i may just decide to just hang it on the drywall..

But, what i'm really looking for a single gang electrical box that nails down onto the cross block....i'm very surprised they don't sell those...i see a pictorial of one in my Black&Decker Home improvement book