Socket Back Box Cutter. Pattress Wall Socket Jig/Template

This is an excellent tool particularly for working in difficult walls in older properties, with soft lime plaster over hard stone walls as it keeps the edges of the hole neat and enables the drill depth to give a reference for chiselling out to the correct depth. It would also work very well in traditional gypsum plaster (pink) over brick or blockwork. Using this tool really speeds up the job, and makes a neat hole for either a single of double back box (pattress). Wish I'd had one 20 years ago!

It certainly helps for chasing in a socket. Biggest problem I found was it tended to rattle out of position when using an SDS drill but overall it helped me to chase in 3 plug sockets which were surface mounted. My tip is to gaffer tape a bin liner to the wall to catch the debris. It's a hellish job not for the faint hearted.

Doing a refurb of my son’s first house . Did 28 double sockets in brick in a weekend with this little beauty . 8 mm drill bit set to the right depth with tape and away you go . Make sure you drill all the holes and the brick falls out to exactly the right size . Made of aluminium and good quality this replaced a similar plastic one I used before . Well worth it and saved me loads of time

This I'd a great bit if kit. I've used it for both single and double sockets and for extending single sockets to double sockets. It's easy to use and makes simple and tidy work of an otherwise awkward task.

Not sure why I bought this really, it doesn't do anything that a pattress box and a marker pen can't do. If you're reasonably competent with a drill and a chisel just use them. The holes to place it just cause more holes and if you're drilling into old brick your entire world will collapse into filth. However, it looks lovely so I decided to put it in my Christmas tree. Not a complete waste!

You need to work out carefully where to place the template and mark out pilot holes for the screws to secure the template in position. Make sure you have a depth stop on your hammer drill and then get going. Very easy to knock out all the bits between the holes and you end up with a nice neat job.

I like this, its expensive and will probably only appeal to a trades person, but it good.

This design worked brilliantly for making the right sized hole. It was a quick and easy task with little dust and clean up compared to other methods