Re: Your Favorite Install Tool?

[JoeRaisin <joeraisin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don't use the egg beaters inside a wall.
They are for travelling horizontally

Sylvain Robitaille wrote:
> JoeRaisin wrote:
>
>
>>>Thanks for the link.  These look somewhat like thinner versions of the
>>>rods I use with my chimney brush.  Is that a fair description?
>>
>>Probably, but far more flexible
>
>
> Ok, then that's what I was picturing.
>
>
>>The creepzit rods are handy in most cases but for more flexibility
>>the 10', 15' or 30' fiberglass fish tape works best.
>
>
> I'll try to see what I can find locally, and if I have to I'll mail
> order.
>
>
>>Metal fish tapes aren't my favorite but I have seen one of the techs
>>I work with do wonders with them even in insulated walls.  He puts
>>a bend in the end and can "drive" it right up the wall around switch
>>boxes and end up with it right where he wants it...
>
>
> This is the part I don't get ...  If that were me, that fish tape would
> have headed straight for the first small gap between the switch box and
> the wall stud, and wedged itself in there real good, without my even
> applying any kind of force, which it would of course respond to by
> wedging itself in even further.  That's just how fish tapes are with me.
> :-(
>
> I even managed very recently to put in what must have been a nearly
> straight bend in a fish tape, simply by feeding it down a hole in the
> top plate (correct term?) from the attic, and trying to get it to come
> out a switch box.  I eventually managed, but only after cutting off the
> bend, putting in a new hook, and trying again.  And this is in an inside
> wall (no insulation)!
>
>
>>>How does the "egg beater" head work, ...
>>
>>It helps it bounce over obstacles and if your rods start to veer off
>>course you can spin them and it will "walk" you back onto your line.
>
>
> Got it, ok.  Like the idea.  Am expecting to buy backup "egg beaters" to
> replace those that will certainly unscrew themselves while wedged
> between a switch box and wall stud ...  :-)
>
>
>>Typically in these applications you will connect your wire to the back
>>of your last rod after you have the front end where you want it.
>
>
> ... and your wife/girlfriend/significant-other is up in the attic
> pulling the rod up from there then?
>
>
>>>  - working with fish tapes
>>
>>Helps to have an assortment of various kinds as they each have strengths
>>and weaknesses.
>
>
> I've only ever worked with the one kind, and it has never been a
> pleasant experience.  Thanks for explaining the others.
>