I'm dealing with a problem I've had before: after I've done the wiring for a ceiling fixture, getting a tight fit to the ceiling.

I'm afraid I may not be familiar with terminology that would let me describe the type of fixture I'm dealing with more succinctly. When the top of the fixture is in the ceiling, the bottom, which contains the receptacles for the bulbs, contains two screw holes with oblong slots. The idea is that two screws go into those screw holes and are then screwed into two threaded holes in the crossbar until the fixture is tight against the ceiling.

The instructions for the fixture I'm dealing with now say to accomplish this in reverse: put the (two-inch) screws about a quarter inch into the cross bar and then the idea is that after the wiring's been done to lift the fixture up to the ceiling so that the bottoms of the screws go into those screw-holes. Then tighten.

But there are 1.5 to 2 inches of insulation in the top of that fixture and I'm finding it virtually impossible to lift the fixture so the protruding screw heads go through those screw holes. It's just as difficult to go the other way: put the screws in the screw holes of the bottom of the fixture and then try to get them into the threaded holes in the crossbar.

I thought I might have more luck with longer screws. I put 2.5 inch screws into the crossbar and succeeded in getting one the heads of those screws through the fixture's screw hole. But because of the extra half inch of length that screw will not turn sufficiently to get a tight fit.

Is it really this difficult, or is there some trick-of the-trade I don't know about.

Thanks,

Generally, there is a large hole and a circular slot. You put the screws in the box and attempt to insert the screws into the large holes in the fixture. Then you rotate so the screws are in the slot portion and tighten.

You can try I trick I used/invented for something else, but it might work for you.

Cut a straw or piece of heat shrink to about 6". Either friction fit the straw on the head of the screw or shrink the heat shrink tubing onto the head of the screw. Guide the straw into the hole and remove the straw or heat shrink when in place.

You can use a hair dryer to shrink the heat shrink.

Dental floss can also work, but you would need two people. Attach to screw. Thread through fixture. One person holds dental floss tight while the other guides the fixture in place. Cut the floss.

Thanks for the ideas. I've since realized that I have other problems with this job relating to the fact that the fixture I'm trying to replace was one of those recessed items in a (approximately) 9 inch square box.

But thanks again.