Best way to pull cable?

[jpollack]

I am having trouble pulling a cable through insulation. Does anyone out there have a trick. The walls have been setup with a "ring and string", but I keep getting stuck when using a fish tape.

Thanks,
John

 

[franklin97355]

What are you using the fish tape for. Is not the 'string' in place?

 

[jpollack]

I am using the fish tape, because I want to leave the string in place for possible future use. The cable was laid a few years ago. I am locating cable in the ceiling and rerouting to new offices/jack locations. Right now I am tying the string to the fish tape and pulling from the bottom to the top. This way I can send the string back down to the bottom when I pull the cable through that is attached to the fish tape. I am having a lot of trouble pulling through the insulation.

John

 

[skip555]

well I would tie the string to cable and string and do one pull up that would still leave you a string for future use .

be sure you tape the area where your string is connecting to your cable well and make it as streamlined as possible you can also squirt some cable lube on the taped juction to help it glide smoothly.

 

[Kwick18]

Just fish it again. The string is wrapped around something or is going thru a real small opening. I would re fish and re string it.

 

[phoneguy55]

Why not attach another string + cables to the existing string and pull. This way your cable gets down the wall and a string is left in the wall

 

[ISDNman]

I agree that the best approach is to use the string to pull through a new string as well as the cable.

However, if you want to do it wih the fish tape makes sure to put some black tape over the fish tapes "hook". Probably the hook is catching the insulation fibers.

Good luck

 

[jpollack]

I have been using electrical tape on the fish tape. What if the string breaks inside an insulated wall? Which it did happen to me. Is it possible to restring an insulated wall.

 

[skip555]

what is the insulation ?

try to run next to a sud you can usally get a clear path that way

 

[Jtodd]

If the string is gone, a plumb bob is great for refishing an insulated wall. Just slip it between the wall and covered side of the insulation and slightly jiggle it and down it goes. Just make sure that the string on you plumb bob is long enought. Since this has already been a difficult installation, I would recommend a heavier plumb.

Justin T. Clausen
Physical Layer Implementation
California State University, Monterey Bay

 

[skip555]

the fiberglas fish tape half way or so down the page is great for this type of thing.

http://www.lsdinc.com/cgi-local/sea...xt&template=templatekk2.html&output_number=20

 

[jpollack]

Thanks for all the tips.

 

[exverizon]

1/4" fiber sticks do it every time...they're flexible enough to get around corners while stiff enough to push through insulation. Fish tapes can go off track and arch over. I hardly ever use mine. But if the string's already there and not hung up, just tape another follow-up string to the cable and pull it through so you wind up with cable and new string in place. What I hate is firestops in the wall cavities. They're headache enough with no insulation, but when you have to contend with firestops and insulation, man...that's lousy. Anyone got a solution to getting past bracing in the middle of METAL frames? I can step-drill through metal top plates OK, but what do you use when you hit a brace half way down inside? Is there a long drill extension that fits a stepped bit?

 

[Trotski]

Cut a hole in the drywall at the "Noggin" and patch it after you have run the cable I have found it faster to do this than waste the time trying to fish

 

[mikeydidit]

These products would make it easy for you to do installs in metal studs exverizon and keep everything up to codes. To knock a hole in the top header plate use this.

http://www.uniquefirestop.com/cap_penetrator_pictorial.htm

If you run into a fire stop them this will work great.

http://edev.colorassociates.com/greenlee/holemaking.pdf

Mike Jones
Louisiana State University Health Sciences center

 

[mikeydidit]

See page 43 on the second link.

Mike Jones
Louisiana State University Health Sciences center

 

[jpollack]

Thanks so much for all the info I will put it use this week.

John

 

[aarenot]

http://www.pushpullrods.com/?source=overture

here you go, they go through insulation very well.