Re: Hole Diameter for running cable

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bob Bass wrote:

>Here's a link to a nailer plate image

Thanks.  I'm always reluctant to drill through joists and wonder whether
some of the engineers here could suggest what size plywood "cladding" would
offset the loss of structural integrity by drilling 2" holes in 8 or 10"
joists.  I've been laying out a CCTV upgrade and with RG6 going everywhere,
the holes add up.

I've seen main beam repairs where the joists are notched at the beam and the
damaged main beam member is then cladded with 2x4's along the length, but I
can say from experience that notching joists is inviting them to sag under
heavy loads or other bad conditions.  I just saw a This Old House rerun
where plaster cracking was attributed to a large steel beam that flexed
slightly when the roof was under an unusually heavy snow load.  That's when
every bit of stiffness counts.

I'd feel a lot better about running cable if I made up some plywood plates
to heavy up the joist right where I am drilling holes (and in fact drill
through the cladding on the drill press and use it as a template to drill
through the joists.  I've also seem termites run mud tunnels along the
length of Romex stapled to a wall and wonder whether every hole should be
plugged up.

Part of the reason to do things myself, at least for me, is to try to do a
much better job than a commercial installer could.  It's not an insult to
them.  It's more about having lots and lots of time to do the little things
that turn something from an average job to a showpiece one.   Ironically,
the web has forced me to be a lot neater because in the back of my mind I am
always thinking "I might want to post these how to pictures on the web."
That tends to limit my "do it fast" nature.

Thanks for the pointer.

--
Bobby G.

"Robert L Bass" <sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1164771529.906279.56550@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bobby,

Here's a link to a nailer plate image.  They're really simple to use.
Bang them in on the edge of the stud next to the hole or notch.

http://www.electrical-supply.net/images/products/SP-3(1).jpg

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass