Got a call for a tricky crawl space run under a house in Tacoma last week

The access hole was only about 18 inches wide, and the main line needed to go 30 feet across. I was about to start the long, slow belly crawl with my fish tape when I remembered an old timer's trick: I tied a small nut to some heavy fishing line and used a slingshot to shoot it across. It worked on the third try, saving me probably an hour of dirty work. Anyone have a better method for tight spaces like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora11014d ago

That slingshot trick is genius for sure, but I gotta say, using a nut on fishing line is risky. If that line snaps, you're leaving a metal bit in a super awkward spot. I've seen guys use a small bean bag or a rubber sinker instead. Same idea, but if the line breaks, it's not a huge deal to just leave a soft weight behind.

hannah_perry14d ago

Yeah, it's like how people will use a quick fix that could cause a bigger problem later. Always seems easier at the time, but then you're stuck dealing with the mess.

tylerj2213d ago

I always thought you needed the right tool for every job. But last year I watched a guy use a shop vac to pull a string through a 20 foot conduit in a tight attic. He taped a plastic bag to the string and sucked it right through. It was so simple it changed my whole view on stuff like this.