My freehand drilling days ended in an old house

I used to drill holes for outlet boxes by eye, thinking it saved time. Most guys use templates, but I saw it as extra hassle. Then I took a job in a hundred-year-old home with wavy walls. My first hole was off, and the box stuck out like a sore thumb. Fixing it meant patching drywall and redoing the run, which ate up my afternoon. The homeowner gave me that look, and I knew I messed up. Now I use a cardboard template for every box. It adds a minute, but I haven't had a callback since.

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3 Comments

hollydixon7mo ago

Totally, @mary_wells, learned that the hard way too.

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hugo_grant7mo ago

OLD houses DEMAND a template, no exceptions.

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mary_wells7mo ago

Ever notice how the slow way becomes the fast way after a screw-up?

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