On 25/03/2017 13:54, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 25/03/17 12:03, F wrote:
It looks as though I'm going to have to thread a thin, so very flexible,
cable into the ceiling void from below and then out again a couple of
metres further across. I've used a straightened coat hanger in similar
circumstances before but the current stock won't straighten to the
required distance.

I can't get at it from above, but at least the joists run in the right
direction for me.

So what's the best way to do it?

Tie a small piece of iron, such as a 1" nail (insulated with tape if
necessary), to a thin, strong thread. Push through hole into ceiling
space and pull along with a neodymium magnet just under the ceiling.
Once the nail appears, pull through and tie the cable to the thread, and
pull that through.

Thanks, and it worked a treat!

2.5" oval nail taped to some nylon thread and eased along the 2M using a
large old aquarium cleaning magnet. It took longer to tape the nail to
the thread than it did to drag the it.

I've cut the thread at three times the distance between the holes so I
can leave it in and reuse it backwards and forwards should the need
arise later.

--
F