Why is an easy repair never quick and easy? (with pics!)

[Industrial Toys]

When I used to do more alarm work, I could fish what I thought would be impossible, then spend half a day trying to fish a wire a couple of feet!

 

[dragoneggs]

When I used to do more alarm work, I could fish what I thought would be impossible, then spend half a day trying to fish a wire a couple of feet!

Boy, ain't that the truth. I recently ran cat 6 wiring throughout the house for outdoor security cams. Some of the runs were more than 50 ft but I already had BNC wire that I could pull back through and virtually no problems. One spot though which was about a foot through a wall above a suspended ceiling was a nightmare as I had to navigate around/under some structure in the wall that I couldn't see. Drilled two holes, one from either side and still couldn't figure out what I was dealing with... what I really needed was a trained spider to take a string from one hole to the other!

 

[dragoneggs]

I can't afford a "HF cherry picker", so would have needed to use my TLB to lift instead.
Would need to move my Mercedes first though, as it is parked in front of the TLB.:laughing:

This cracked me up! :drink:

 

[k0ua]

It seems like every project in one way or another turns into more work than it should be. ...either I need some new tool ...some other size nut and bolt, some other part that was not included, .....or something just plain won't fit. Nothing ...nothing is ever easy.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[k0ua]

Boy, ain't that the truth. I recently ran cat 6 wiring throughout the house for outdoor security cams. Some of the runs were more than 50 ft but I already had BNC wire that I could pull back through and virtually no problems. One spot though which was about a foot through a wall above a suspended ceiling was a nightmare as I had to navigate around/under some structure in the wall that I couldn't see. Drilled two holes, one from either side and still couldn't figure out what I was dealing with... what I really needed was a trained spider to take a string from one hole to the other!

A steel beadchain and a good magnet on the end of a stiff wire can do wonders... Drop the beadchain down the hole and then just shove the wire with magnet in and wave it around. It will often "find" the beadchain really quickly. Even in insulation situations. Pull down and out on beadchain and then tie on the wire. Pretty low tech as compared to fiber optic mini cams, but still works pretty well.

 

[dragoneggs]

A steel beadchain and a good magnet on the end of a stiff wire can do wonders... Drop the beadchain down the hole and then just shove the wire with magnet in and wave it around. It will often "find" the beadchain really quickly. Even in insulation situations. Pull down and out on beadchain and then tie on the wire. Pretty low tech as compared to fiber optic mini cams, but still works pretty well.

Thanks for that trick, James... I will have to remember that one.

Well 1st job finally done... took longer to replace the BMW emblem than to remove the bed of my F150 and fix the separated wall/floor joint! :confused3:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Labour saving devices makes all that stuff. You need quite a kit of weapons to tackle low voltage wiring on an on-going basis. Other things are like a slingshot with a fishing pole reel on it and a BIG honking magnet where you actually pull the target along on the other side of the drywall.

 

[k0ua]

Thanks for that trick, James... I will have to remember that one.

Well 1st job finally done... took longer to replace the BMW emblem than to remove the bed of my F150 and fix the separated wall/floor joint! :confused3:

View attachment 617082 View attachment 617083

Looking good! All is well that end well..

 

[k0ua]

here is another chain and magnet idea:

 

[k0ua]

Some more ideas and a bit of humor at the end: