There’s a good chance you’ve installed an old work electrical box at some point. You cut the opening, slide the box in, rotate the flanges behind the drywall, tighten the screw, and it’s done. Fast, clean, no stud required.
Frame Frog’s Wing Tab works on that same principle. The motion is familiar, the logic is the same, and that’s intentional. This post walks through both so that by the time you get to the Wing Tab, there’s nothing new to figure out.
What Is an “Old Work” Box?
The term “old work” gets used loosely on job sites, but it has a specific meaning. An old work electrical box is designed to be installed into an existing wall where the drywall is already up and the original rough-in is complete. The name refers to the work that’s already been done, and the box is built to retrofit into it without opening the wall back up.
Despite the name, old work boxes show up regularly on new construction sites. If a box was missed during the original rough-in — say, at a door frame where a card reader needs to land — an old work box is often the practical fix. They’re also common for many other low-voltage devices throughout a building where an item gets added or adjusted after walls are closed.
The installation is straightforward. You cut the opening, slide the box in, rotate the clamping tabs into position, and tighten the screw. The tabs swing out and lock behind the drywall. No fasteners into studs, no drywall repair needed. Most installers have done it so many times it’s muscle memory.
The Wing Tab Works the Same Way
Frame Frog’s Wing Tab attachment method follows the exact same logic. Insert the unit into the hollow metal door frame, rotate it into position, and tighten the screw. The tabs compress against the back of the frame hem and locks Frame Frog in place. No welding, no shop equipment, no extra hardware.
The Wing Tab is a field installation method by design. Whether a prep was missed during fabrication, a hardware spec changed late, or you’re working a retrofit on an existing frame, the Wing Tab lets you get Frame Frog seated and secured on the job site without sending anything back to the shop.
It works with both the Frame Frog SHORT and the Frame Frog LONG, and fits hollow metal door frames with a depth of 5¾” up to 9¼”. Contact your rep to confirm the right configuration for your project.
What Happens After It’s Seated
Once the Wing Tab is locked in, you have a conduit pathway through the frame. Frame Frog’s four funnel-shaped connection ports let you attach and route ½” PVC conduit in multiple arrangements depending on where the wiring needs to go. The patented funnel design guides a fish tape into your chosen path with a push of a finger, without obstruction, every time.
Wire installation can typically be completed by one person. Frame Frog estimates labor savings of up to 75% per opening compared to conventional methods, which works out to roughly $600 per door opening. The system supports low-voltage wiring up to 30 volts, covering the full range of typical access control hardware: electric strikes, card readers, door position switches, and electric power transfers.
Because the pathway is built into the frame, future hardware changes don’t mean starting over. The conduit is already there. For more detail on how Frame Frog handles different frame types and configurations, the FAQs page covers a lot of ground.
Wing Tab vs. Weld Clip — Knowing Which to Use
Frame Frog offers three attachment methods, and the right choice depends on where and how the unit is being installed.
The steel weld clip is designed for fabrication shops, where Frame Frog gets welded directly to the frame before it ships. It’s a solid method in that environment, but welding burns off the paint at the weld point. Left untreated, that exposed metal becomes a corrosion risk, which means additional touch-up work before the frame goes out. For contractors who want to skip that step entirely, the Wing Tab is the cleaner option. There’s no welding, no paint damage, and nothing to touch up.
For FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) frames used in healthcare facilities, laboratories, and food processing plants, Frame Frog released an epoxy attachment method in January 2026.
If you want everything in one package, Frame Frog Prep Kits include the Frame Frog unit, PVC conduit, fittings, and all the hardware needed for a complete pathway. Kits are available for all configurations on single or double doors and are built for shop or field assembly.
The Wing Tab exists because frames get missed, specs change, and retrofits happen. Having a field installation method that installs the way something you’ve done a hundred times installs means less hesitation and fewer callbacks. To find a rep in your area or request a demo, visit framefrog.us/contact-us.
One of the main reasons contractors prefer wingtabs is they can avoid having to paint over the weld. Welding burns off the paint on the frame at the point of the weld and if not painted over the weld area, it will create a point of corrosion.