Can't say that I do other than a well-trained mouse! I've never lived / worked in a two-story house and never thought about some of the potential challenges until your post. I did live in a garage apartment once, but it was one that I built myself and I made sure that I could access the area under the second floor by removable ceiling panels made from T-111. My floor joists were not solid, either. They were repetitive-brace trusses. Still, I can't imagine fishing a wire or something through more than one or two of them through a small hole with much success.
Darrin Darrin Porter Senior Technical Engineer United Ocean Services, L.L.C. 601 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 230 Tampa, Florida 33602 (813) 209-4247 (office) (813) 744-0011 (cellular phone) (813) 242-4849 (fax) [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Scott Howell Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 11:31 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] installing a ceiling fan-the tricky part Well if I had the sense to think this through, I would have saved some holez. THanks for the tip for my next project. The only problem is I would have needed to make one hole close to the area where the switch was. I had no idea how to fish the wire up the wall, into the hole, and than pull it across through the holes I made with the long bit. Got any ideas for that one? tnx, On Aug 10, 2009, at 10:33 AM, Darrin Porter wrote: > Scott, > > My long drill bit (6-ft.) drills a ¾-in. hole. I have used it to > drill through three wall studs. That was a pain, but I managed to > get it done without punching out of the wall. It has a very sharp > pilot point on the tip which I can stab into each stud in turn. It > will not slip around when you start drilling because of that sharp > point. Also, just behind the point before the bit tapers out to ¾- > in. is a hole. What I do is, while the bit is still in the wall > connecting the two access points, I attach my Romex or fish tape or > even a piece of string to the bit through the hole and then pull the > bit out, simultaneously pulling in the wire, fish tape, etc. Works > like a charm. > > Darrin > > Darrin Porter > Senior Technical Engineer > > United Ocean Services, L.L.C. > 601 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 230 > Tampa, Florida 33602 > (813) 209-4247 (office) > (813) 744-0011 (cellular phone) > (813) 242-4849 (fax) > [email protected]<mailto:DARRIN.PORTER%40UNITED-MAR.COMM><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:DARRIN.PORTER%40UNITED-MAR.COMM>> > > ________________________________ > From: [email protected]<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > ] On Behalf Of Scott Howell > Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 8:33 PM > To: [email protected]<mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: [BlindHandyMan] installing a ceiling fan-the tricky part > > All, > > I have a minor problem, ok not a problem so much as I'm just trying > to find an easy way to do something that would be simple if I'd just > stop trying to make life difficult. > I cut a hole in the ceiling for the fan box and I should point out > there is no fan or light etc. so a new install from scratch. I also > have the added problem of fishing wire from where the switch is to the > center of the room and of course the joists have the absolute nerve to > be running perpendicular to the direction I need to go; damn builders > didn't bother to consult with me before putting the place together, > but ah well. Ok, so, yeah I could knock a hole every other joist and > bang a hole in each joist and I only need a hole large enough to fit > my hand in so I can fish the wire. Now because I'm such a clever > fool, I wasted my money and got one of those four foot rods with the > bit on the end, meant for drilling hole. Well first it seemed like a > fine idea, but controlling that sucker wasn't easy and I'm fairly sure > I piloted the bit under the duct that had the nerve to be in my way, > but then I hit something that took the drill out of my hands and smash > the hell out of my forearm. Now not to be out done by the drill, I > tried again and got beat up by the drill again, but since I lack the > good sense to stop, I did punch through to the other side, but I have > no idea where in hell I ended up. So far my wife hasn't found any > holes in the bedrooms upstairs and that must mean I made holes > generally in the right direction. However, because I do lack common > sense, I didn't realize that trying to pilot the fish tape through the > holes I made will be damn near impossible. So, I think the holes are > generally in line with each other, but has anyone any tips on driving > a fish tape um, well, ahuh blindly through the joists? I'm trying so > hard to avoid making anymore holes and trying to justify the cost of > the bit/rod deal. I mean it'll be useful in driving up the wall into > the whatever it's called up there, but seems I'd have to run the fish > tape up that way and not through the hole where the fan box will go. > Of course luck would have it that the hole I made is right against > the beam and I'm hoping it won't cause me a lot of problems. > Of course the real hoot to all this is if I end up making holes, I got > one of those ceilings with the popcorn stuff on it. Well it's more > like thick, sharp, knuckle-slashing popcorn stuff. So, patching the > holes and finding that stuff will be interesting, but I still have the > plug I cut out of the ceiling, so matching it shouldn't be to bad and > it'll be easier in the end to patch that then if it were all smooth. > See I'm trying to avoid making the lovely spouse unhappy with > additional destruction. She's not overly happy with the dust, but she > understands dust is a way of life in the construction business and > well I tried taping the shop vac to the drill and that sort of > worked. :) So, a little less dust. Well hey, any thoughts appreciated. > > ________________________________ > Attention: This email and any accompanying attachments constitute > confidential and/or legally privileged information. If you have > received this email communication in error, please notify the sender > immediately and delete the message and any attachments from your > system. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ________________________________ Attention: This email and any accompanying attachments constitute confidential and/or legally privileged information. If you have received this email communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the message and any attachments from your system. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
