How to Chase a Wall and Fit a Flush Single or Twin Socket Box In a Plastered Brick Walls (Chasing)

[@stevehenke678]

As an apprentice you're limited in a sense by the knowledge / enthusiasm of the guy training you. I was lucky enough to have an amazing mentor, and I try to be one myself. You're a credit to our industry, mate. Thumbs up from me and merry Christmas!

[@GSHElectrical]

Wow thanks for taking the time to comment and your kind words... all the best and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year Gaz 👍

[@kateryder530]

Just finished recessing a power cable and aerial cable into the wall after following your video. Thanks very much, it gave me the confidence to have a go and I've done it.

[@dnetech5464]

You are an excellent teacher! I never did half the things in college you have shown in your videos. Please keep up the good work and keep the videos coming. Many thanks!

[@GSHElectrical]

+Dean Williams That's very kind words and it means a lot to me. All the best GSH Electrical

[@knowidea7485]

Dean Williams 2nd that , The way I was taught in college involved no methods of pragmatic implementation

[@alwynlobo8942]

Dean Williams

[@antden6218]

I agree college seem to cut out these important techniques, i have learned so much from this channel already

[@walt6360]

Fantastic video. I am an electrical craftperson by trade but went into nuclear facility maintenance so never done any domestic stuff except at the apprentice training centre. Watching this video has really given me the confidence to carry out my own electrical work in a house I have just bought! Brilliant teacher - many thanks!

[@MrAustinPowers]

Excellent videos just one note for learners is to use sprit level and tape measure to check squareness and level of box chase and box when fixing as there is nothing worse looking at a square door frame and wonky switch next to it 🤓

[@MrChunkymunky1988]

Brilliant video mate. I have just moved into a house which is brick and someone fitted light switches everywhere with trunking rather than chasing so i want to chase all the wires into the wall

[@justinholmes5614]

Many thanks ! I’m going to use these techniques to hide the wires when I mount my TV on the wall.

[@jefftupholme4585]

Excellent, thanks. First-time channeller here and it went perfectly. Like many things, easy when you know how!

[@jessechristensen6727]

I'm a first year apprentice and have become addicted to your channel, keep up the great work

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi, made up it’s helpful. Keep working hard it has its rewards. All the best Gaz 👍

[@ursamajor6546]

Excellent video as usual. If only all walls were that "soft".

[@GSHElectrical]

If only 🤣

[@dav01kar]

Good to see the old fashioned way with plenty of guts behind it

[@Zel0978]

Watching your vid has given me the confidence to give this a go for myself, thanks for the great content!

[@Cjrelectrical]

Nice video , real world scenarios you have rock hard render and concrete block.So grinder and chaser definitely have to come out .

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi. Totally understand that however my learners (16+) have to chase the wall I did so it was originally intended for them... totally surprised how many people have watched it. Thanks for commenting and watching GSH Electrical 👍.

[@gregmartyn1873]

Absolutely brilliant!! Very thorough and easy to understand professional demonstration. After watching this tutorial I now feel confident to proceed with my efforts in the bedroom. Thank you so much!!

[@alanlloyd7208]

Great video Gary, watching this to show my apprentice, why did you not line the capping up with the knockout rather than the centre of the box? Then you wouldn’t need to divert the cable at an angle once you get down to the box?

[@PaulaPatioOfficial]

This is EXACTLY what I want to do. EXCELLENT step by step. Keep on doing what you're doing! :)

[@KG84C]

From Perth, Western Australia - Most houses here are still full brick, as in double brick external walls, single brick internal. So I well understand having to chase if you want a power point etc on inside wall. I've done it that way once, then cheated with an angle grinder with masonry disc, and drilled holes around wallbox outline. Then I discovered it was well worth hiring a chaser with vacuum attachment. To east coast Australia, you will never know, framed walls and plasterboard, meh!

[@flyingwhiteindian]

How much did the chaser cost, Im in perth as well

[@endian675]

Thanks, gave me a lot of confidence to attempt this myself. Great video, very clear explanation!

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks for the positive comment Gaz 👍

[@brandonjones156]

Another Excellent video. I am currently studying C&G level 2 and 3 and then AM2, your videos are enjoyable to watch, and more importantly, very informative. I have learned a lot from your videos. I am learning through an adult learning company as I am 43 and still working while I train to be a Sparky.I would have loved to be one of your students. Keep up the good work

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks Brandon I totally appreciate your message and good luck with your training. Gaz 👍

[@josh214haigh]

I'm in exactly the same position. Love these videos. Now to consume his entire back catalogue!

[@KFUURE]

Is it me or did he say keeping to the white lines??😂😂 Am sure there green. An electrician that is colour blind, could end in tears😬.

[@dcpowered]

This was a top-notch video tutorial! Thank you so much! I hope you also consider being an instructor. Great skills and knowledge!

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@drcl7429]

Check the knockout position before you start the vertical chase. If the drop ever needs replacing it will be tricky pulling it through that chicane.

[@dav01kar]

oval tube is used for rewiring purposes, you might have a chance with capping not that its designed for that.

[@KS-ym4tq]

Just starting out, fantastic to watch

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks 👍

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Thanks a lot! That has given me the confidence to have a go at it myself. I uncovered the wall from pine panelling after many years. The cables are fine but just hanging, and the sockets are not sunk in suitably for my replastering.

[@paulquinn5260]

Great example. Will follow your instructions.

[@abdulrahiman812]

Great video. Well done and well explained

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks 👍

[@_El.Diablo]

Thanks for this vid! I’m currently considering doing this to my flat, awful cheap plastic electrical trunking all over the show. Is this something an educated novice could attempt? I’d be using filler instead of plastering over it too, as I can’t afford a plasterer. I respect electric, I have a current tester, and all the tools you recommended in this video. Many thanks

[@abdulkarimwajadi1759]

This was a very beneficial tutorial indeed sir

[@Casshern_Sin]

Great video, watched this many times before trying it myself. Seems like I came across multiple issues. One was I ran into some old diagonal metal conduit which I grinded through. Second was I found a semi void in the wall so I have nothing to screw the box into apart from some brick on the right side of the box... Just my luck, but guess this is how we learn. Cheers!

[@jodalry]

Great video! Only one point I might make though - I do take issue with encouraging anyone to balance a lump hammer and bolster/cold chisels on top of a (what looks like) four inch top rung of steps. Great way to end up with a broken toe. Ouch!😫

[@gingsta9922]

I finished college last year level 3 C&G and my 18th edition and had no luck what so ever finding work - Luckily I have a job elsewhere but I love watching videos for electrics... So far this morning I've watched this (Although I knew how to chase) And watched an hour of fitting consumer unit 😂 Anyway back to glossing a door i guess.

[@gedheaton1415]

keep at it young man, perseverance is key in these crazy times,good luck

[@adamsharp201]

R u qualified

[@gingsta9922]

@@adamsharp201 Nah, Different path now - Maintenance Manager in 4 star hotel.... So not too bad haha

[@mohammadtariq1541]

Very nice video, now a days people are using grinders for lines, which is I think is much quicker. What do you think?

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi, we had to chase this wall at college as per the demonstration. The video was originally to help my students 👍🏻

[@AmosMoses777]

Thanks for the great video! Couple of questions. Is there any reason not to offset the vertical chase so it's directly above the grommet hole in the back box? Then you don't have to put that sort of bend in the cabling. Is it a safety zoning issue? Second, how far under your finishing plaster does the top of teh capping have to sit. Assuming the whole lot is getting a skim coat (asking for a friend :P).

[@annashiegl]

Great tutorial for novice lady to do, so neat.

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks Anna 👍

[@daniboy0812]

Great video. Wall chaser and vacuum and a quad cut kit in a fraction of the time - great to go back to basics if tools fail though - or in my case batteries die. Never thought a 9.0Ah would 🤣👍🏻

[@oldskoolflash1]

Thanks for the video. Out of interest, if the pre drilled holes in the box is not in the centre is there any reason why you couldn't offset the chase to the left or the right and allow the cable to run directly into the box?

[@GSHElectrical]

I just link to come straight into the middle of the box. Your method works as well 👍🏻. Thanks for commenting and watching

[@oldskoolflash1]

@@GSHElectrical Thanks for the quick reply. I am not a pro, I was just wondering if it was an industry standard to go to the middle to minimise the risk of someone drilling into the cable after the plaster has been reinstated (having assumed the cable would run centrally)? Thanks again, really useful video.

[@PS-en7wn]

I'm 41yo now. Thus is how we used to chase back in the day. Now it's all power tools to make the job fast but I still prefer the traditional way. Apprenticeships are too easy these days. I've still got the odd scar here and there on my hands from chasing and what not.

[@GSHElectrical]

Nice comment 👍🏻

[@nocode1603]

Looks easy till you have to do it in situation wrangling the sockets out then hit black brick then your hart sinkis the fun begins that stuff is as hard as a coffin nail.. then the home owner says I didn't think that would be that much work needless to say its a joy to fit dryline boxes in gyp rock so for brick wrangling I now use battery grinder & Henry hoover good video gaz as per 👍 😀

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks for the great comment l. 👍Gaz

[@parkeerwacht]

We just hire a company to do chasing if needed these days offices use stud walls . Here we use PVC pipe in walls that goes straight into the box. This always gives you access to the cable

[@ja6onthom]

Great vid. Although in real life you'd use a spirit level/laser box, multi tool, srs hammer drill

[@CEO786]

Fantastic lesson - great teaching as always. Thank you

[@neilfiggs6188]

very good video, have done a bit over the years but always good to see a good clear instructional video.

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi. Thanks for watching and the positive feedback GSH Electrical

[@tomleeson8487]

Good video mate. I was taught the old school way, by some great sparks. Chasing by hand is a decent skill to have.

[@GSHElectrical]

Tom Leeson thanks 👍

[@antden6218]

Great vid, keep up the good work, wish all colleges taught like you do

[@GSHElectrical]

Many thanks Gaz 👍

[@jamesforte-mason8849]

Didn't know electricians did this old fashioned method still now there are chasing machines and dust extractors about that are pretty good. Personally I would stitch drill around the box outline and then gently tap the chisel into it. And you are lucky its light weight block, in the real would blocks tend to be 7.3Nm concrete blocks and harder or old houses where bricks are used indoors. Also I never use capping, I go the extra mile and use tube, oval or round, makes the job rewireable.

[@vgopalt4922]

Super, Excellent teaching. Here I want to know, how to identify wire / water pipes running inside the wall. Do we have any instrument / mobile app to identify running wires /pipes / metal rods inside wall before chasing wall.

[@TheDoosh79]

I had to do this recently, I just cracked out the SDS and went ham. Seemed to turn out ok.

[@ianstwaddle]

Your video is really helpful. I am going to have a small wooden box/cupboard behind my wall mounted tv, I am going to chase horizontally to a unit in the corner where various electrical equipment such as blue ray player will be housed. My question is, presumably I do this in the same way, however, I think that I may have a wire to a plug point to cross over or underneath about half way. Can you suggest how I can do this. Finally can you recommend a tool for locating electric wires /pipes and studs, I have spent a fortune in the past and none of them seem to work. Many thanks Ian

[@Bistonounou123]

Great video 👍🏻

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks 👍🏻

[@spark5244]

Do a demo with engineering brick next with a hammer and bolster ;) or better, a cob wall. Very well explained, and nice to see the 'hand' tools out :)

[@gabeerlazem7798]

What an a great teacher. Thank you 🙏

[@shannonj1000]

Excellent video once again, very informative...

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks for the positive comment Gaz 👍

[@rodrigoreyes2556]

Thank you, now I learned it the easy way..

[@twozzleweb]

Appreciate this is an old video but would you always place the cable first? I.e feed it, maybe tie the cable up then do the chasing,any a situation where you would chase then run the cable? I guess you may run into issues fishing the cable so the chase may be redundant? Just wondering best practice. Great vid.

[@offcuts4146]

A multi tool gives a good clean finish seen our sparky do it a few times

[@BillsAllotmentDiary]

Great videos at 53 ive had years of DIY and these videos are a good pointer for anyone who may not be a qualified Spark, but is competent to do electrical upgrades not installs because part P won't allow :-)

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi. We use my videos as training aids for the learners that attend the college I work at. Thanks for the kind words and watching Gaz 👍

[@BillsAllotmentDiary]

@@GSHElectrical saw your other video on permitted cable runs. Really good and concise information as for this video one thing it don't cover is old houses where when you chase out a run half the plaster falls off the wall lol however it then allows to dot and dab plaster board so not having to chase out for wires haha.

[@BarryCrawley]

Thanks for the lesson

[@GSHElectrical]

👍🏻

[@kevinhancock4064]

Good video I have to do thus soon fir our kitchen extractor (carbon filter not duct) layout wont allow for ducting one question with the correct junction box can I steal a live feed from a a feed under floor boards to a socket ? I dont want to go to fuse box as I want to use a socket lime to be sure I can isolate it from the socket trip switch obviously I'd be putting in a separate switch in kitchen for the hood with a 3 amp specified fuse thanks

[@rabuayya1]

Great video. Well explained. Thank you

[@douglasdeans2839]

Why didn't you off set the chasing so that it aligned with the entry hole in the wall socket?

[@kevinhancock4064]

I did wonder this too I did so on spuring an extra socked in kitchen makes sense then the chase protects all the wiring to the box

[@hectorheath9742]

Saved my asking the question!

[@stuzza76]

Because common sense isn’t that common!

[@OthmanAlikhan]

Thanks for the video =)

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@clarestokolosa]

Good video and informative. Must it be chased and in the wall to be to code?

[@markwilliams5733]

I use a grinder with a maisonary disc just to cut the initial profile to my finished depth to include a few cuts for my metal box and the main chase.Its a simple job after just to pop of the plaster with a hammer and chissel.Dustier but a lot quicker with cleaner cuts in the plaster work.

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi. This chase is an assessment for my college learners hence the video as they have to chase the wall as I have demonstrated. All the best and thanks for commenting. Gaz

[@HereForTheMusic-h5o]

Nice wall you are chasing there! What do you do when you're on the job and the plaster disintegrates and the brickwork crumbles when you hit it with a chisel?

[@sparx2391]

That's called the real world. I rember they had us measuring cable clips on twin n earth which would be normally hidden, no one does that in the real world, unless it's all on show.

[@cwuzii]

I’d love to be an electrician, wish I did it in college, too old now!

[@GSHElectrical]

Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@ajaysan2765]

Professionally done!

[@carlstaurt5773]

Hi !! The only thing I would different is cap the back box with a piece of cardboard to protect it for your second fix !! Keeps everything nice and clean!! You know what plasters are like !! The box will be full !!! Lol

[@birdbird895]

Great video, really informative with some good to know techniques.

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi and thanks 👍Gaz

[@andymaxigawa]

spirit level for the channel as it looks neater and for the backbox? ear defenders? i'm not picking but this needs to be on the video

[@GSHElectrical]

Hi. True dust mask, gloves and ear defence... I was thinking to much about shooting the video and not apply what I expect my learners to do. All the best Gaz

[@andymaxigawa]

@@GSHElectrical nice video though! 👍I have just started watching

[@djrobincooper]

No idea why I watched this, I have no need to do this at all - just came up on homes under the hammer and was wondering how you did it. Great video though, will definitely come back to it when I do need to!

[@PaulintheUK86]

I did this today, using the same tools, my lines were not as straight! The plaster came of around it a lot. I didn't hit hard (way less then you did) I wonder why my chase was much messier? Any tips would be appreciated (from anyone) as I have more to do!

[@deanallen5567]

Great video. The only factor I'm not sure about is the material used for the capping. Would common sense and safety precautions not dictate that this be metal not plastic?

[@PHealey1981]

Reminds me of all that ‘hammer rash’ as an apprentice!

[@richardwallace3477]

My question was answered - caping is there to prevent plasterer from damaging the cable, so if you re-instate yourself then you don’t need it.

[@spatel3783]

thank you so much, really helpful

[@soupflood]

The neighbors must have gone insane. Excellent job though. Also, if the chisel is dull, sharpen it then temper it by heating till red-hot and cooling in (automotive) oil.

[@Christosseventy7]

Would making the chase in line with the knock out of the box be better, or is there a reason why you made it central to the box where there is no knock out?

[@maxdensil5054]

That's exactly the way I do it. That way it looks neater and it is much easier to put the capping over the cable without having to struggle where the cable goes through the knock-out in the backing box.

[@ashleystirland]

great video altho I think a pair of gloves should be on your ppe list for this job

[@ADF-js9vi]

Why not use your marker pen to put a line on the chisel to the depth of the box you are fitting?

[@Sarcastix7]

Was thinking the same. Seems very imprecise. Even a piece of tape showing the depth so you don't have marker all over your chisel would work

[@jdickson242]

Im chasing out the cable routes for the spark for our sockets. What size channel / capping is used for 2.5mm2 t&e 37mm? Or is 25mm ok?

[@JasonStevenRyan]

20 years ago when i did my apprenticeship in tresham wellingborough. Mr Ord taught us to break the plaster with a stanley knife. then the plaster doesn't shatter. theres one for you

[@GSHElectrical]

Mr Ord was a phenomenal character at Tresham College 👍

[@jchattey]

Great video, haven't done this at college so really beneficial. One question - In the real world, if I'm asked to reinstate would I have to plaster the wall? If so I'd better learn how to do it!

[@GSHElectrical]

+Jake Chattey The trick is to make sure the wall is nice and wet. Use a bonding coating first and when it’s dry either a finish coat or a light weight filler. Remember we are electricians not plasters. You wouldn’t ask a plaster to re-wire your house so why would you ask an electrician to plaster it. Thanks for watching GSH Electrical

[@nocode1603]

Gazz good luck with that but back in the real world when we hit black brick yip you know it's a world of hurt we reach for the scutc chisel then the sds gun I've been in this game for over 25 years I've tried armeg cutters grinders & chain boring the box in Scotland most of my brick seames to be black brick my advice is chain bore box to 25mm or35mm box depth then set about it with sds chisel gun 👍

[@mlee6050]

Do you have others like this? I am on ground floor studio flat and wondering about internal (inside) corners how to get around them

[@kano0303]

Is there a video showing how to cover it up once finished. Also, did you have to break into the brick? Or was it only the plaster layer?

[@patrickcannell2258]

I must admire your use of a chisel. I normally cut the lines with a diamond disc on an angle grinder. Messy though.

[@GSHElectrical]

This is a training video for the learners at Tresham College 👍🏻

[@s-d-sdragons5525]

Brilliant video GSH keep it up 👍

[@sniffadoghq]

Got my sub thank you. Very thoroughly put together but easy to understand. Will be attempting this myself fingers crossed! Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@jackfrost3560]

Hears a tip from an old sparky if yo need to run a cable from unfinished basement or attic use a coat hanger long part cut it straight go to the molding with a drill go straight down with the coat hanger like a long skinny drill bit from open space drill over to center the cable then you can fish wire up to the cut in box little field tip I have used it for many hard places. I know it different here in the states but pulling cable is 75%of the job in most cases here anyway. Have fun and tell the students to study study study never say no.

[@tobybarker6808]

polite question: why did you not put the chase vertically above one of the holes in the back box? You put it right into the centre of the box...

[@littlefrog8389]

Surely using a wall chaser is going to make this easier though?

[@adventuresofanathan]

I've never chased walls before, but I've used a reciprocating saw to change a single box to a double... can this be done with a reciprocating saw too - would they be strong enough to break through?

[@noodlebrains]

If I have an electrical wire already boxed into a conduit along the surface of the wall and I want to move the wire inside the wall, do I need to remove the white cover first? Or just push everything into the wall? Also - if I have a cut wire that I want to extend - do you have a video for that?

[@grandreviewline5740]

You should measure the depth of the box against the chisel and draw a line with tipex so you know when you've gone deep enough

[@ifscale3]

I'm not an electrician so I may be unaware of something obvious to those in the trade, but why didn't you cut out the space for the socket box slightly offset from the capping chase so the cables could go straight into the box?

[@martinwatts9306]

You should have put the wiring chase inline with the wiring hole in the box, Which are always offset and not have bent the wiring to one side, Where it was not covered by the capping, And the capping is used to protect the cable from the product being used to fill the chase.

[@futurecarslondon1109]

Thanks a million for sharing.

[@dwilliams820]

Given the access is to the left or right of centre on the top of the metal box, having positioned the box, run the chase line up from there, and not above the centre of the box. That way there is no off-set kink. Equally that also allows for tubular conduit should that be preferred. Easy with a block wall. Would have been nice to see a brick wall.

[@Sidg2]

In my house there are no seperate conduit pipes for cctv cameras and fiber cables. I have to attach a dome camera along with LAN cable on ceiling (which is RCC Slab). But I want to install PVC conduit pipe (1 inch dia pipe & 10 feet long) inside the concrete slab. So is it possible to cut the slab for installing conduit pipe ? And How much time can take to cut the 10 feet long slab for pvc conduit?