OATEY 38980 Metal, Plain Box, No Valves, or Tailpiece - Standard Pack

Either side works. The 38980 metal outlet box allows a left or right hand drain, so you can set it in the stud bay whichever way the waste line already runs instead of ordering a handed box.

The drain opening is 2 inches, and it accepts three connection methods: a rubber coupling, a solvent weld joint, or a threaded connection. That means you can tie into 2 inch PVC with cement, band-clamp to existing cast iron or ABS with a no-hub style rubber coupling, or thread it up, without changing the box.

No valves and no tailpiece. The 38980 is a plain box, which means you supply the hot and cold valves and the drain tailpiece to finish the rough-in. Plumbers buy the plain version when they are standardizing on a particular valve, using quarter turn valves already on the truck, or the job spec dictates the valve. If you want the valves in the carton, order a valved version of the box instead.

The box is formed from 20 gauge steel rather than plastic, which is why it gets specified in apartment laundry rooms, dorms, and commercial common areas where the wall takes abuse and hoses get yanked. It also ships with two metal support brackets so the box is fastened to the framing on both sides instead of hanging off one nail flange.

Two metal support brackets are included, so the box mounts to the studs on both sides without you cutting blocking. You will still need to secure the supply lines and standpipe behind the box the way your code requires, but the box itself does not need added framing hardware out of your own stock.

It is a rough-in box, not a trim swap, so the wall has to open up. Once it does, the 38980 works with what is usually already there: the drain opening is 2 inches and connects by rubber coupling, solvent weld, or threads, so an existing 2 inch standpipe can be picked up without redoing the waste. Because it comes with no valves, you can carry over or specify the valves you want the whole building to run.

Oatey 38980. That is the metal, plain box with no valves and no tailpiece, sold as a standard pack. Ordering by 38980 gets you the unvalved version; Oatey's valved metal boxes carry different numbers, so the part number is what separates them.

Listed at 8 pounds with a volume of 0.26, so it is a one-hand carry up a ladder. The weight is the steel: the box body is 20 gauge and there are two metal brackets in the carton.