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Can we talk about using a fish tape versus a glow rod for tricky wall runs?
I used to swear by my old steel fish tape for everything, but after a job in a 1920s house with plaster and lath, I switched to a fiberglass glow rod. The glow rod bends around old pipes without getting stuck, but some guys say the fish tape is stronger for long pulls. Which do you grab first for an old building?
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grantthomas21d ago
My buddy got his steel tape jammed solid in a wall last month, real old place with all kinds of junk in there. He had to cut a hole to get it back, total mess. Ever since then he carries the glow rod first for anything built before like 1960. Says the bend is worth it to avoid the headache, even if the pull feels a little weaker. I guess it comes down to whether you want power or just to get through without opening up the wall.
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willowroberts21d ago
Ever try to pull a steel tape back and feel it hook on something, then your stomach just drops? I'm with @grantthomas's buddy on this one. My glow rod looks like a sad noodle after some jobs, but I'd rather fight a floppy rod than explain a new hole in someone's antique plaster.
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