Went with a cheap fish tape over a fancy one and it paid off

Had to choose between a $8 basic steel tape and a $40 glow rod at Home Depot last week. Grabbed the cheap one and it actually got through a 50 foot conduit run with three 90s no problem. Anybody else find the budget stuff works just as good most days?

2 comments

2 Comments

nora_park17d ago

That 40 foot glow rod is a tool I reach for every time I hit multiple bends. My cheap steel tape got stuck halfway and shredded on the insulation in a similar run last month. A good tool isn't about price, it's about not having to go back and fish it again when the cheap one fails.

robinf5117d ago

Man that sounds so frustrating when a tool fails right in the middle of a tough run. Ive had that same thing happen with cheap steel tapes and it makes you want to throw the whole thing across the room. Nothing worse than having to redo work because your gear let you down when you needed it most. A glow rod that holds up through multiple bends is exactly the kind of tool you learn to trust after a few bad experiences. Your right that spending a little more upfront saves you from those time wasting trips back to the truck. Its all about having something that works when the job gets messy.