Changed my mind about using a fish tape for every drop

I always thought a fish tape was the only way to go for pulling cable through finished walls, but last week I had a job in an old house with plaster and lath. My boss said to try a fiberglass push rod instead, and honestly I was sure it would snap. I used a 12-foot rod from Klein and it went through a tricky corner way faster than my steel tape ever did. The flex let me feel around the blockage without getting stuck. Has anyone else switched tools for old construction like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

garcia.miles28d ago

Guess my fish tape is just my backup plan now.

keving932mo ago

That plaster dust is the real killer for steel tapes. It gets in the reel and gums up the works for months. A quick wipe down with a damp rag keeps the fiberglass rods running smooth.

beth7192mo agoMost Upvoted

Good point about the fiberglass rods, @keving93. Does that damp rag trick work just as well on the steel tapes, or is there a better way to clean those without rusting? I've ruined a couple tapes trying to keep them clean.