TIL you can use a zip tie to pull a wire through a tight spot

Honestly, I was in a crawl space in an old house in Tacoma last month, trying to fish a 12/2 through a stud with a tiny hole. My fish tape was too stiff and kept getting stuck. Out of pure frustration, I grabbed a heavy duty zip tie, taped the wire to the end, and fed it through. Ngl, it slid right in like butter. Has anyone else used a weird tool as a last resort that actually worked out?

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2 Comments

robinson.quinn4mo ago

Yeah that zip tie trick works great, I've used it plenty when my fish tape was too flimsy.

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lisa6714mo ago

Actually gotta disagree with you here @robinson.quinn. Zip ties are a bandaid fix that can cause more problems down the line. If your fish tape is bending or not stiff enough, you're better off just getting a proper fiberglass rod set or a steel fish tape. Those zip ties can snap under real tension and leave you with a nightmare in the wall. Plus they create these sharp little edges that'll shred your wire insulation if you're not careful. Seen it happen more than once where someone thought they were being clever and ended up having to tear open drywall to fix a short. Your mileage may vary but I'd rather spend the money on the right tool than gamble on a hack.

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