Wire-fishing gear
GLOW RODS
Glow rods are a staple for wire fishing. Just like steel tape, they can be pushed up walls and along ceilings, can usually be purchased in several lengths and can be screwed together for longer spans. Most come with a swivel eyelet tip and a hook tip. The luminescent rods glow in the dark, illuminating dark joist and stud bays. You can find them for $40 at home centers.
FLEX BIT
If you need to run wire across a few joists or studs, reach for a flex bit. They come in long lengths, and extensions are available so you can drill holes through several joists. They have an eyelet at the tip, so once you’ve made your holes, you can pull the wire back through with the same bit. One thing to note: Don’t drill through insulation with these bits. Expect to pay about $50 for a 54-in. flex bit at a home center.
HOMEMADE HOOKS
Some of my favorite fishing tools are ones you can make yourself. Small hooks made from cable or coat hangers let you grab cable just out of reach. Best of all, they’re economical.
90-DEGREE DRILL ATTACHMENT
This is the perfect tool for drilling holes between stud bays. About $18 at most home centers, it’s a lot cheaper than a dedicated angle drill and serves the same purpose. It can be a little tricky to use with larger bits, so hold on tight.
WIRE-PULLING MAGNETS
With a few options at different prices, magnets are cool tools for pulling wire along an insulated stud bay. This Magnepull ($125) consists of a steel leader and a roller magnet. You can even use it to retrieve lost bits and other tools from inside walls. Wire-pulling magnets, which range from $40 to $125, can be found at electrical supply stores.
LOW-VOLTAGE MUD RING
I use mud rings to prevent marring drywall as I pull cable. They also have markers in the corner to outline the perfect hole size and shape for single-gang boxes. When you’re done fishing, leave it in the wall and cover it with a blank faceplate to avoid patching (especially useful for hard-to-patch textured walls).
These mud rings are available for less than $2 each at home centers.
STEEL FISH TAPE
This long roll of stiff steel is great for pushing wire through insulated walls, up wall cavities and down long lengths of joists. A roll starts at $15 at home centers.