PVC capping and oval tube problems

[LlandrilloSpark]

Has anybody else had any problems installing PVC oval tube or capping?
I did a small kitchen rewire a while ago and used PVC oval tubing, the problem I had was basically the 2.5mm would not fit through it, it just kept getting stuck and I was using the correct size!
Then this week I'm doing a small shop so I decided to use PVC capping, it worked fine on the cable drops as I used a wall chaser to about 28mm then the capping pushes in nice and tight
The problem came when I needed to cap the cables running around the safe zone where ceiling meets the wall, the building is lime mortar and I couldn't get the capping nails to hold anywhere, I even struggled to fix the cables as I had to result to the large headed galv clout nails either side, nightmare.
Unfortunatly I just had to leave them exposed, they are at 20mm deep I'm just praying the plasterers go easy today.
I would of prefered to run everything in the ceiling but it's an old lathe plaster ceiling, very unstable and the client wanted minimum damage to it

 

[millwall ken]

Has anybody else had any problems installing PVC oval tube or capping?
I did a small kitchen rewire a while ago and used PVC oval tubing, the problem I had was basically the 2.5mm would not fit through it, it just kept getting stuck and I was using the correct size!
Then this week I'm doing a small shop so I decided to use PVC capping, it worked fine on the cable drops as I used a wall chaser to about 28mm then the capping pushes in nice and tight
The problem came when I needed to cap the cables running around the safe zone where ceiling meets the wall, the building is lime mortar and I couldn't get the capping nails to hold anywhere, I even struggled to fix the cables as I had to result to the large headed galv clout nails either side, nightmare.
Unfortunatly I just had to leave them exposed, they are at 20mm deep I'm just praying the plasterers go easy today.
I would of prefered to run everything in the ceiling but it's an old lathe plaster ceiling, very unstable and the client wanted minimum damage to it

For your horizontal runs you could try using a larger size capping and screw it down instead of using nails, also this gives you the option of clipping the cables to the brickwork and then putting the larger size capping over it.

 

[Darkwood]

Why so much chasing? the capping height is designed for plaster depth and be careful the customer dosen't take over your job just agree to be as neat as possible but explain damage is unavoidable this way your not wasting time and effort trying to please their every whim as everybody prefers minimum damage but its not always practical or cost effective.

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

The extra depth where posible was just to get my cables as far from the plasterers trowel as posible

 

[telectrix]

good argument for doing your own filling in and then let plasterer skim

 

[rocker]

Lime mortar is notoriously bad for this. I find if you put your nail right on the edge of the mortar and a brick you get a better fix. You could also use plugs and screws, and someone posted some 'nail plugs' on here recently. If all else fails, you can mix up some plaster, slap it on thick, wait till it's nearly gone off and then squash the capping into it.

 

[J@mes]

Nail plugs was my thread - either those, or drill 8mm holes and stick some modelling dowel rod in there and bang the nails in to them

 

[Coffeemad]

I tend to bang the nails into a block of wood first, to get the washers to travel up towards the head, pull them out then use them. They don't break the capping, the capping doesn't bounce around for the first few hits and generally go in fine. If it's really crusty walls, I use roofers ali nails

 

[Adam W]

I don't get on with capping nails at all - I prefer clout nails.
I've heard of people using t&e clips instead, but not actually tried them myself.

 

[High Tower]

Oval and crampets

 

[rocker]

I use 16mm T+E clips on smaller oval, it works nicely.
I'm not a massive fan of the capping nail either, then again I'm going right off top hat capping lately anyway

 

[millwall ken]

Lime mortar is notoriously bad for this. I find if you put your nail right on the edge of the mortar and a brick you get a better fix. You could also use plugs and screws, and someone posted some 'nail plugs' on here recently. If all else fails, you can mix up some plaster, slap it on thick, wait till it's nearly gone off and then squash the capping into it.

Hence the difference between a 'real' spark and a pretender fresh from school. Its little tricks like this, and using said plaster mix to spread onto the back of metal back boxes before you fix them to the wall that maketh a squared flush back box.

 

[cr_sparky]

i use twist nails from screwfix,about 30mm long,dont bend and the twist stops them poping out all the time

 

[olly w]

I don't get on with capping nails at all - I prefer clout nails.

I agree totally...if they go half way in you can still bend them over to get a good fixing and keep them well below plaster level.

 

[AlanWirral]

First post! Woohooo

On capping in the past and i haven't been able to get a good fixing with bigger clout nails i've used the 'pins' out of 2.5mm T&E clips! They did the job really well even though it basically wasted a few clips Wish someone would invent something that would make life easier.

 

[Mark_Burgess]

This is what is required Spit Pulsa looks like another addition to my "must have" list.

 

[J@mes]

This is what is required Spit Pulsa looks like another addition to my "must have" list.

I want that.

 

[Sintra]

We have a few of them absolutely brilliant. We even have one with an extension pole so you can stay on the ground and pop in rod hangers etc.