electrical socket screw problem

[BufferParticipant @buffer]

Hi

I have just taken the screws out of an old looking MK twin electrical socket and now I cant get them back in.  The ends of the screws are all worn away and wont pull up tight.

It seems as though the old back box may have 4ba threads and someone has forced m3.5×0.6 screws in which is why they are chewed up.

I have tried new 3.5mm screws and they also get messed up and instantly tight so no hope there so my question is.  Do you think I could just tap the 4ba back box 3.5?  Or is it just wishful thinking?  Maybe I can tap 4ba onto a 3.5mm screw.

The other thing I’m thinking is to solder a piece of rod onto a shortened screw and thread the extension piece 4ba.

I don’t really want to change the box as it would involve knackering the plaster on the wall.

Any ideas or advice is greatly appreciated especially if you’ve also had this problem.  Thanks

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

What sort of female thread arrangement is inside the back box? Those thin bendy metal tabs or a brass insert inside the plastic moulding?

Assuming it’s the first, and you’ve got a supply of replacement M3.5 screws of the right length, you can use what’s called a back box saver. It’s a T nut basically.

For mangled examples of the second type, some trickery with JB Weld will be necessary, unless someone has got a better solution.

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