At Home In The Woods

[dcyrilc]

Rick,
That's a good idea that we can attempt if we can find the bottom end of the string in the hole cut through the 2x6 wall plate. There is no conduit, just a 1" hole cut through the bottom plate of the main floor wall (see the picture). From the basement, you can see the hole through the plate but the string is not visible.

However, the insulation workers went the extra mile. Apparently the workers pulled the string tight and cut it as close as possible to where it exits the hole in the 2x6 plate. After being cut, the string retreated up through the hole.

Obed

Again, I feel for you. For the ones under the windows, if the boxes are low enough you might be able to use an old metal coat hanger straightened out. Either go through the outlet box and feel/hunt for the hole in the plate or go through the plate and hunt for the outlet box. If you get through, you use plyers to pull a little extra, bend a tight loop and tape it shut so it doesn't snag insolation, then tie a new string to the hook and pull it back through.

For the taller ones, I've used the drill bits mentioned earlier but used the shaft end instead of the bit end and then taped the string to it. Still sucks.

 

[walleyed]

Again, I feel for you. For the ones under the windows, if the boxes are low enough you might be able to use an old metal coat hanger straightened out. Either go through the outlet box and feel/hunt for the hole in the plate or go through the plate and hunt for the outlet box. If you get through, you use plyers to pull a little extra, bend a tight loop and tape it shut so it doesn't snag insolation, then tie a new string to the hook and pull it back through.

For the taller ones, I've used the drill bits mentioned earlier but used the shaft end instead of the bit end and then taped the string to it. Still sucks.

These are good ideas.

I also use a 2 coat hanger method. I push 1 from the top with a loop in the end and try to snag it from the bottom with another.

Another method that may be easier in some cases is to use a recip saw with a metal blade and cut the nails holding the electrical box in. Just run the blade down the stud.Pull out the box and it gives you a lot more room to fish around in the wall. My wife can get her arm in those holes.

Just pull your wire or string into the box and reinstall it. There are boxes made to be screwed in from the inside with angled screw holes.

After that I would send them a bill for about $75-100 an hour for the time I spent.
What did they think they were? Why wouldn't they ask? I know I know, they didn't think or they don't care.

I went to install a kitchen today that has 99" high cabinets. The ceiling was only 96 1/2"... Ooops. The framers didn't think it mattered if they dropped the ceiling almost 3"? Again didn't think or didn't care. All too common these days. I'm sorry for the rant but this stupid stuff just burns my butt..

 

[tommu56]

From the top down if you can see the hole use steel sash chain push it down in the hole till you get a couple of feet in there then from the bottom fish around with a magnet and try and catch the jack chain


Or get one of these fancy dancy things.
YouTube - Fishing Down Insulated Walls with The Magnepull


tom

 

[walleyed]

From the top down if you can see the hole use steel sash chain push it down in the hole till you get a couple of feet in there then from the bottom fish around with a magnet and try and catch the jack chain


Or get one of these fancy dancy things.
YouTube - Fishing Down Insulated Walls with The Magnepull


tom

That thing is fancy dancy. Never heard of them before.
I just saw a price. ouch For $260 I'll risk the wifes arm...lol

 

[dcyrilc]

His biggest issue is going to be that his walls are insolated. Without insolation, things are much easier.

 

[Ranger Rick]

Ok if you can see the hole from the basement how about pushing either a fish tape or coat hanger up the hole with a bend to try to get it to go up the inside wall between the insulation and the drywall. Then go upstairs with a coat hanger with a small hook in the end try to hook the other coat hanger and pull it out the hole in the wall. Rick

 

[Obed]

My wife is building shelves for the linen closets in the hallway, hall bath, and master bath and for the small kitchen pantry. She decided to build the shelves out of plywood and finish them with polyurethane. She is attaching a piece of trim to the front of each shelf to hide the edge of the plywood. She temporarilly attached screws in the ends of the shelves in order to hang the shelves from the ceiling as the polyurethane dries. The shelves shown hanging in the picture do not yet have polyurethane applied to them.

We went with plywood because we don't really care for the wire shelving systems; in addition the wire shelves are expensive. All our shelves will be adjustable.

We are enjoying having a basement available for this kind of project. Although it's chilly outside, the basement is fairly warm and is much warmer than the main floor garage. My wife is making use of our slop sink in the basement to wash her hands. I'm still amazed that the sink, faucet, and countertop were free.

 

[medicshawn]

That thing is fancy dancy. Never heard of them before.
I just saw a price. ouch For $260 I'll risk the wifes arm...lol

You can buy a kit with everything for 100. if you search.

 

[dstig1]

Rick,
That's a good idea that we can attempt if we can find the bottom end of the string in the hole cut through the 2x6 wall plate. There is no conduit, just a 1" hole cut through the bottom plate of the main floor wall (see the picture). From the basement, you can see the hole through the plate but the string is not visible.

However, the insulation workers went the extra mile. Apparently the workers pulled the string tight and cut it as close as possible to where it exits the hole in the 2x6 plate. After being cut, the string retreated up through the hole.

Obed

That stinks, but you are (partially) your own victim here. Seeing as it is an insulated wall, you should have installed some type of conduit there. Could be non-metallic PVC or even smurf tube but fishing wires past insulation is a PITA. It can be done, but it will take time, patience, and preferably 2 people. Drilling another hole in the subfloor from below nearer the front of the wall cavity should help you line up the drop with the box and the front of the insulation to help you squeeze past it better.

Worst case, cutting out a piece of drywall below the box (from one stud to the next) and then patching it back in is not the end of the world. Too many people are afraid to cut into the drywall for things like this, but it is often far easier than the alternatives. Cut nicely and save the piece to go back in, if you do this.

In an interior non-insulated wall your string method would be OK, but with insulation, you really want conduit in place. I know...too little too late. Sorry, man.

 

[Obed]

Those are lots of great ideas for pulling the cat 6. I might use a combination of all the ideas, except for the $260 magnet. The LV box that is not below the windows may not be that difficult. I think I might be able to just push a fish tape up from the basement for that one. However, the two boxes below the windows may be tricky because the holes through the floor in the insulated wall is a few inches to the side of the boxes, not directly below them. I may try pushing the fish tape from the basement up through the hole then try to catch it with a coat hanger similar to Rick's suggestion. If it gets too difficult, I may have to resort to pulling out my drywall saw.