Hobby What's the most useful tool for cable drawing

[mainline]

What's the favourite tool for cable pulling and why.

 

[mainline]

What's the favourite tool for cable pulling and why.

I haven't used rods for a very long time, as I find these will go where rods won't.

 

[littlespark]

Not got one of those in my toolbox....

Either 4mm rods, or a bit of mini trunking lid...

Stopped using fence wire a long time ago when the hooked end caught the only live cable above a suspended ceiling.

Tug, BANG!

 

[westward10]

Depends on what size of cable.

 

[mainline]

Depends on what size of cable.

I don't really know if rods would pull 16 mm Swa or T&E reliably without risking breaking a joint.

 

[brianmoooore]

Used a Jack Russel once. Got him to run the full length of a loft conversion, behind the two foot high vertical walls, drawing a rope behind him.

 

[James]

I use super rod kit , works well and if I need to pull some really heavy cables thrn I use them tu piYll

Used a Jack Russel once. Got him to run the full length of a loft conversion, behind the two foot high vertical walls, drawing a rope behind him.

i did once use an 8 year old boy.
(My grandson) was helping me fit a heater and trying to fit all 6ft of me in a small space to pass a cable through a hole was just not possible.
He did a great job, only took him 30 seconds to achieve something 10 minutes of my trying failed to achieve.

 

[mainline]

I not tried super rods but have a set of cheapo ones, very rare that i will use them.
I find that you can manipulate the steel to get in some places a rod won’t and everywhere a rod will plus they are cheap and lasts for years.
One tip is to cut off and make the loop smaller so that 1mm fits it snuggly never a need for any tape and very quick.
Great for downlights.

 

[Simon47]

I'd say it's a combination of what's suitable and ... drumroll ... what you actually have with you.
I've heard of using a cat under floorboards - my experience is you struggle to keep them out anyway !

 

[R-fur]

I dont like steel draw wires, reminds me too much of the old steel snakes we used to use for drawing wires into conduit, horrible things.
I just wish nylon snakes and super rods had been about in the 70s and 80s when I did a lot of house bashing.

 

[mainline]

I dont like steel draw wires, reminds me too much of the old steel snakes we used to use for drawing wires into conduit, horrible things.
I just wish nylon snakes and super rods had been about in the 70s and 80s when I did a lot of house bashing.

Have you ever used the amtec type one ? It’s not round it’s flat and quite rigid and pushes on quite well.

 

[R-fur]

Mine looks exactly like the one you posted a picture of but it doesn't say amtec on it. Bought it years ago but didn't like it.

 

[7029 dave]

For conduit I like my nylon draw tape.

Gosh they aint cheap these days

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I use super rod kit , works well and if I need to pull some really heavy cables thrn I use them tu piYll

i did once use an 8 year old boy.
(My grandson) was helping me fit a heater and trying to fit all 6ft of me in a small space to pass a cable through a hole was just not possible.
He did a great job, only took him 30 seconds to achieve something 10 minutes of my trying failed to achieve.

Did you then send him up the chimney?

 

[hassan izhar]

A fish tape is the favourite tool for cable pulling because it’s flexible, durable, and makes it easy to guide wires through conduits and tight spaces with minimal effort.