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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Getting cables under the floorboards
I would like to pass some cables across a downstairs room under the
floorboards. The last time I did this I lifted some floorboards in the corners of the room, and shoved some plastic rods through with string attached, pulling cables through with string and leaving the string there when I finished. I'm going from different places this time, so can't use the string. It was a bit of a faff though, so I wondered if anyone has any tips for making the job easier, or what tools to use, etc. Peter. |
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Getting cables under the floorboards
It was a bit of a faff though, so I wondered if anyone has any tips
for making the job easier, or what tools to use, etc. Well, I use garden cane and twine. I've heard of people using toy guns firing some sort of projectile attached to some despooled thread. This can be used to pull through the string and then the cable. If the ground below is smooth, I've even heard of cheap radio controlled cars, a mirror and a torch being used in a similar manner. I doubt either method would handle sleeper walls well. Christian. |
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Getting cables under the floorboards
"Christian McArdle" wrote in message t... It was a bit of a faff though, so I wondered if anyone has any tips for making the job easier, or what tools to use, etc. Well, I use garden cane and twine. I've heard of people using toy guns firing some sort of projectile attached to some despooled thread. This can be used to pull through the string and then the cable. If the ground below is smooth, I've even heard of cheap radio controlled cars, a mirror and a torch being used in a similar manner. I doubt either method would handle sleeper walls well. ============================== Hi Christian, I don't know if it's an urban myth, but I remember a tale which involved judicious use of a cat, some string, and a kipper. Cheers, Ian |
#4
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Getting cables under the floorboards
On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 20:07:34 +0100, "Ian Smeaton"
wrote: I don't know if it's an urban myth, but I remember a tale which involved judicious use of a cat, some string, and a kipper. We used tinned cat food rathe than a kipper, and the string was very light thread, partially cut so that it would break if it got snagged .... but we did exactly this to start the process of running a cable under the kitchen floor of a London flat :-) Julian -- Julian Fowler julian (at) bellevue-barn (dot) org (dot) uk |
#5
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Getting cables under the floorboards
In article ,
Julian Fowler wrote: We used tinned cat food rathe than a kipper, and the string was very light thread, partially cut so that it would break if it got snagged But then you wouldn't be able to pull the cat out. Suppose they're cheap enough, though. -- *Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.* Dave Plowman London SW 12 RIP Acorn |
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Getting cables under the floorboards
"Dave Plowman" wrote
| Julian Fowler wrote: | We used tinned cat food rathe than a kipper, and the string was very | light thread, partially cut so that it would break if it got snagged | But then you wouldn't be able to pull the cat out. Suppose they're cheap | enough, though. That Is Not A Nice Comment. The problem with cats though is that they're inquisitive and may not take the shortest route, so if they decide to have an explore all around under the floorboards before popping out to claim the kipper you might have to re-do cable length calculations. I can't see a suggested derating factor for "Below Floorboards Pulled By Cat" in the tables for mounting methods in the IEE regs. Owain |
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Getting cables under the floorboards
"Ian Smeaton" wrote in message ...
"Christian McArdle" wrote in message t... It was a bit of a faff though, so I wondered if anyone has any tips for making the job easier, or what tools to use, etc. Well, I use garden cane and twine. I've heard of people using toy guns firing some sort of projectile attached to some despooled thread. This can be used to pull through the string and then the cable. If the ground below is smooth, I've even heard of cheap radio controlled cars, a mirror and a torch being used in a similar manner. I doubt either method would handle sleeper walls well. I don't know if it's an urban myth, but I remember a tale which involved judicious use of a cat, some string, and a kipper. I've done the job using a pet rat (borrowed from a friend while on holiday) - tied a length of cotton loosely around its middle and it worked a treat (tied a length of string to the cotton, pulled that through, then attached the cable to the string. It was crucial that Ratty was constrained to operate within two joists, so didn't have the run of the entire house between the floors... David |
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Getting cables under the floorboards
David wrote:
"Ian Smeaton" wrote in message ... "Christian McArdle" wrote in message t... It was a bit of a faff though, so I wondered if anyone has any tips for making the job easier, or what tools to use, etc. Well, I use garden cane and twine. I've heard of people using toy guns firing some sort of projectile attached to some despooled thread. This can be used to pull through the string and then the cable. If the ground below is smooth, I've even heard of cheap radio controlled cars, a mirror and a torch being used in a similar manner. I doubt either method would handle sleeper walls well. I don't know if it's an urban myth, but I remember a tale which involved judicious use of a cat, some string, and a kipper. I've done the job using a pet rat (borrowed from a friend while on holiday) - tied a length of cotton loosely around its middle and it worked a treat (tied a length of string to the cotton, pulled that through, then attached the cable to the string. It was crucial that Ratty was constrained to operate within two joists, so didn't have the run of the entire house between the floors... Wasn't there a poster on here recently with a trained ferret earning a few hundred nicker a week of the wee beastie? -- James... http://www.jameshart.co.uk/ |
#9
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Getting cables under the floorboards
In article , Ian Smeaton
writes "Christian McArdle" wrote in message et... It was a bit of a faff though, so I wondered if anyone has any tips for making the job easier, or what tools to use, etc. Well, I use garden cane and twine. I've heard of people using toy guns firing some sort of projectile attached to some despooled thread. This can be used to pull through the string and then the cable. If the ground below is smooth, I've even heard of cheap radio controlled cars, a mirror and a torch being used in a similar manner. I doubt either method would handle sleeper walls well. ============================== Hi Christian, I don't know if it's an urban myth, but I remember a tale which involved judicious use of a cat, some string, and a kipper. Cheers, Ian How do you get the kipper to run so that the cat will chase it? -- Peter Ying tong iddle-i po! |
#10
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Getting cables under the floorboards
On Thu, 4 Sep 2003 22:42:28 +0100, Peter Twydell
wrote: How do you get the kipper to run so that the cat will chase it? Let me explain..... The kipper is dead, and has no ability to run. What you do is pull the kipper through using a piece of string from the place where you want your cat to run to. Attach a piece of string to the cat before it sets off, then you can collect the string from the cat when it comes out the other side. Job complete. Hmm, I'm sure there's a problem with my logic somewhere, but I can't see what it is PoP |
#11
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Getting cables under the floorboards
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