If you re determined to remove it i would cut the drywall back and see if you can detach it from below.
Remove old ceiling light box.
Take out the screws or remove the nuts from the top of the old ceiling box if it is attached to a hanger bar suspended between the joists.
Remove the box from the ceiling.
Pull out the box when the.
Step 1 turn off the power to the fixture at the fuse box.
Unfasten the screws if the box is held to the ceiling joist with screws.
Take out the screws or remove the nuts from the top of the old ceiling box if it is attached to a hanger bar suspended between the joists.
Remove the box and pull the bars from the ceiling joists.
Video of the day.
As noted elsewhere your best bet is to put a box nearby to lower the number of wires then run only the needed wires into the box.
There s a few steps joe goes through when getting.
Rotating the bolts unhooks the anchors behind the box from the drywall.
Push the wires aside and insert a hacksaw through the hole in the ceiling.
Remove a remodeling box by turning the anchor bolts on the front of the box using a screwdriver.
If a bar hanger supports the box between two ceiling joists cut through the bar with a hacksaw.
As an alternative to removing the ceiling box you can cover it with a decorative plate and install the recessed light.
Remove stubborn nail on ceiling boxes by breaking the box into pieces with a hammer then removing the nails.
I ve done that myself and it helps a great deal when you have a box stuffed with wires.
The finished replacement of an old style pancake ceiling electrical box ready for a standard light fixture the box above is ready for a standard light fixture installation.
As you pull the box from the ceiling carefully remove the wires from the box.
If the box is nailed to the joist loosen the box by striking it with a hammer.
Push the wires aside and insert a hacksaw through the hole in the ceiling.