Wallfish Cable
How to Use Wallfish Cable to Run Electrical Wires Through a Wall
Running electrical wires through walls and ceilings can be tricky, especially if you don’t have the right tools. The trick is fishing wires through the wall without tearing it apart.
Luckily, there are plenty of tools and tips that can make fishing wire easier. Keep reading to learn about them and how they can save you time and money.
Flexibility
Wallfish cable is highly flexible and can be used for a variety of applications. It can be used to run wires up or down through insulated walls, and it is also a great way to hide cords that power appliances, TVs and other electrical devices.
It is important to choose a cable that can flex well, especially if you plan on using it for an application that requires frequent movement such as consumer electronics and industrial machines. In these cases, cables that are not designed to flex can break or malfunction due to the repeated movements.
A cable that can flex will be able to withstand the movement of a machine and prevent damage from tearing, friction, eroding outer jackets, etc. A high-quality flexing cable will have strong strength members such as steel or fiberglass rods. These rods allow the cable to flex while maintaining circuit integrity and function properly. They are available in various lengths and configurations, making it easy to find one that fits your application.
Durability
Fishing cable through a wall is an engineering marvel that can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The most popular option is to use a stiff steel cable sheathing called wallfish. This is available in a variety of thicknesses, starting at $15 per roll, at home centers. It’s the perfect material for pushing wires up or down long lengths of joists and through insulated walls.
The best part of this technique is that it’s also the safest and most effective. Because the cable sheathing isn’t subject to bending, you can push it through tight places without putting yourself or your family at risk. You can even run power cords through this sheathing if you’re installing a smart home device, such as an alarm clock or security system.
Getting the cable through a wall is the most challenging task in many homes, but it’s not impossible. Luckily, there are several tools that can make the job a breeze.
Safety
Fishing wires up and down a wall can be tricky, especially if the walls contain braces or insulation. However, if you choose the right cable and tools, this can be done safely.
The first step is to find the stud in the wall. You can use a stud finder to help you find one, or you can knock on the wall and listen for a hollow thunk sound. If you hear a solid thunk, itās likely that there is a stud on the wall.
Once you have found a stud, drill a hole through the wall cavity and extend the wires to the other end of the stud. Then, wrap the wires in electrical tape so that they donāt come apart or snag. Once the electrical tape is completely tucked into the hole, seal the wall with Fire rated caulk. Depending on the application, you may also want to rip the sheathing off of the electrical wires before tamping them down.
Organization
Whether youāre hiding wires from your kids or running cords down a wall for a mounted TV, there are some ways to organize a fish-shaped wire. You can use a large piece of heavy-duty, stiff steel rod to help push the wire through an insulated wall or up a joist. A roll of this long, thin stuff starts at $15 at home centers and comes in handy for a variety of projects. The most practical way to use it is by wrapping it in electrical tape, beginning at the end where the wire attaches to the hook and finishing just past where the wire sheathing starts. This will keep your wire from tearing drywall and other insulation as you try to feed it through the wall.
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