That first screwless panel cover took me forever to get used to

Remember when every cover plate had visible screws and you could just whip a flathead across them in 10 seconds? I hit a house in Madison last month with all screwless covers from some remodel back in 2018. Took me 20 minutes to figure out the little hidden clip on the first one without cracking it. Now every new build wants them. I get why they look cleaner but man, when you're doing a final trim on 40 receptacles, that extra fiddle adds up. Is there a trick to popping those clips faster or do you guys just carry a specific tool for it?

2 comments

2 Comments

webb.hannah21h ago

Did you catch that tip about using a plastic trim tool on the bottom clip? I read it in some electrician forum a while back and it saved me on those Leviton ones. The trick is to push the plate up and slide the tool in at an angle, not straight on. I still crack one every now and then but it's way faster than fighting with a flathead. Maybe it's just me but I also carry a small pry bar now, feels less likely to scratch the paint.

martinez.paul17h ago

Angle works for sure, but I still break one every third time.