EXISTING CONSTRUCTION: INSTALLING A BRACKET (CONTINUED)
4. Continue turning the coat hanger as you move it into the cavity to a depth of approxi-
mately 4 inches. If you feel an obstruction, fill the hole(s) with spackling compound
and repeat steps 1 through 4 at a new location.
5.
If the coat hanger moves freely in a complete circle, hold the supplied template up
to the wall or ceiling and level it in the horizontal or vertical position. Use a pencil to
outline the cutout on the surface and then drill the four corner holes with a 1/4-inch bit
(see Figure 14 on page 17).
6.
If you are cutting drywall, use a sheetrock or keyhole saw. Cut the outline with the saw
at a 45-degree angle. That way, the drywall section can be replaced cleanly if there is
an unseen obstruction behind the wall.
7.
If you are cutting into a plaster ceiling, use masking tape to outline the penciled open-
ing and use a razor to score the plaster down to the lath beneath. Then use a chisel to
remove all of the plaster within the taped outline. To actually cut the lath, consider the
following two professional methods:
• Use a saber saw with a metal cutting blade for the quickest cut. However, saw-
ing lath with a saber saw can easily vibrate plaster off the ceiling in a completely
distant location, thereby creating more patchwork.
• If you have the patience, use a pair of tin snips to slowly nip away at the lath
instead. There is little risk with this method – it is just more time consuming.
16
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