How do I put in cable outlet box in the wall?

[needin4mation]

Should I run the wires through the crawl space or through the attic? How do I get the wires down the wall to the hole I have to drill in the wall? Thanks for any help.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

What would be easier? Whee do yo want to mount the box? Above or below the fire stops ithe wall? If it is going to be below, it will be easier to go up from the bottom.

Put the wire into the drilled hole while your helper looks for it through the hole cut for hte box. Snag with with a coathanger bent to make a hook.

[Joseph Meehan]

It depends. Experience helps when trying to guess what is going to work best. Outside walls usually have insulation in them, Inside walls may have fire stops (not a fatal problem, but it can make it harder). Where is the wire now? How easy is it to access each area? How easy will it be to work in each area? Will you be able to get directly above or below the spot you would need?

I would say use the crawlspace for first floor applications and the attic for the second floor applications.

Good Luck

[barbarow]

Measure carefully and locate the headers directly above where you want to drop your cable then drill a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter and drop a string with a nail on it or use a wire clothes hanger and push it down through the hole until you can see or feel it through the opening in the wall .

Attach the cable and pull it down and out the hole in the wall.

[keith]

Either way. In addition to the other's suggestions here, I've used a specialty drill bit to fish wires (in my case cable and CAT-5). They make a *long* flexible shaft drill bit for this purpose too. One cuts a hole for an "old wiring box" and inserts the bit into that hole and drills up or down, as the case may be. The "plan" is then to hook a mesh widget around the bit, tie a fish-line to the eyelet at the end of the mesh thingy, and pull the fish-line back with the bit. The latter part didn't work so well for me though. I used a fish-tape to find the hole and snake the line back up. The drill bit worked like a champ though. I bought a

4' one at the BORG for about $20.

[needin4mation]

Thanks. I figured for the actual hole in the wall I might use a key hole saw and cut the circle and then cut the square for the square box and plate. Maybe I should just drill a hole in the floor.

[keith]

Cutting a hole in the wall (sheetrock, anyway) is relatively easy. I don't particularly like keyhole saws because they tend to be a bit on the coarse side. I've used saber saws with metal (24-32 TPI) blades with musc success. I now use a Roto-Zip. ;-) BTW, "old wiring" boxes come with a paper template to get the hole right. Make sure it's in the one you get (sometimes the fall out).