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Found a trick for fishing wire through insulated walls

Had a job in an old house last week. Foam insulation everywhere. Couldn't get my fish tape through. Tried a glow rod, still got stuck. Finally I used a shop vac with a string and a plastic bag. Sucked the bag right through. Pulled my wires in 10 minutes flat. Anyone else done this?
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3 Comments
williams.luna
Thin grocery bag is key, learned that one the hard way too lol.
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the_hayden
the_hayden11d ago
That shop vac trick is something a lot of guys don't think to try until they're really stuck. One thing I'd add is that you want a thin plastic grocery bag, not a thick trash bag, because the thin ones balloon out better and seal up against the foam. Also, make sure you tape the string to the bag handle good and tight, otherwise it'll just pull loose halfway through the wall cavity. It's a real lifesaver on those retrofits where the insulation guys went wild with the spray foam.
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river_thompson
That thin bag tip is gold, I used a trash bag once and it was a disaster.
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