Loading…
11
A trick for fishing wire through a tight corner in a finished basement
I was working on a retrofit in a 1950s house last month, and the only path for the sensor wire was through a corner where the floor joists met a stone foundation. My fish tape kept getting stuck. I tried taping a small magnet to the end of the fish tape and used another magnet on the outside of the foundation wall to pull it through the last 6 inches. It worked on the first try and saved me from having to cut a new access hole. Has anyone else used magnets to guide wire in a pinch?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
blake_martinez186mo ago
Nice! I've used string and a shop vac before.
4
wesley786mo ago
Yeah, magnets are a lifesaver. I had a similar spot where the tape kept snagging on a nail plate. Tied some steel wool to a string and used a magnet to drag it through.
2
the_pat5mo ago
Read about a guy who used a magnet on a string to pull wire through a wall with insulation. He said it beat trying to force a fish tape every time. That trick @wesley78 mentioned with the steel wool is basically the same idea, just a different way to get a grip for the magnet. Smart to use stuff you already have on the truck instead of buying some special tool. Those old houses have so many hidden blocks and nails that you gotta get creative. The magnet trick feels like a real game changer for tight spots.
2