Snaking romex in exterior wall?

[trader4]

I'm doing some electrical work and need to snake a new romex from the basement up to an existing wall switch box. It's an exterior wall with fiberglass insulation. From the bottom plate in the basement, I can see where the existing cables go up to that switch. I can drill a new hole or maybe use the existing hole. Question is, are they any tricks or suggestions on how to do the snaking? I've done it from the attic down before, but never had to deal with an exterior wall with insulation.

[RBM]

Drill an extra hole or two in the plate, lined up as close as possible with the box, then drop a steel snake from the box down until it taps the plate. Keep tapping it on the plate while spinning it in small amounts, until it pops through one of the holes... if your lucky

[bill allemann]

Most people are hesitant to cut into a wall, but if you have paint to match a repair, it isn't a big deal to make a hole near the switch box, and then patch it back after the electric work. The work of the patch is usually worth it in order to do the electrical work correctly.

[Pat]

The only luck I have ever had was to get a very stiff, very thin shaft that's a couple of feet longer than you have to go. Drill you hole from the bottom and get the shaft between the wall and the insulation. Snake it up to the hole for the switch. After you get the shaft through the top hole, tape a string to the bottom. Pull up the shaft until you get to the string. Then tie the wire to the string and pull that through.

[Jesse]

For remodelling old houses electrical, especially on the old war time

1 1/2 story sloped ceilings I have a roll of 100 ft. fine chain that I drop down from the outlet. The chain behaves like sand and will eventually find the hole that was drilled in the plate. jesse

[RBM]

Not through insulation, though

[Jesse]

You are right. Those old houses didn't have much insulation. jesse

[kv888831393ster]

[chevelless]

MAYBE you can use the existing wire as a pull wire. Connect the new wire AND a pull wire, pull thtem down, disconnect the new wire and pull the original back up.

snipped-for-privacy@> I'm doing some electrical work and need to snake a new romex from the

[John Grabowski]

Some of the younger electricians at the supply house finally convinced me to try the fiberglass rods for fishing wires. I have found them to be an excellent choice for snaking past insulation as they do not flex and bend as easily as a fishtape. One technique that I have used successfully a few times is to take some monofilament fishing line and make a few 2" - 3" hoops on the end of the snake or rod. I tape the hoops on tightly with electrical tape and push the snake or rod up the wall until it is not quite up to the top. Then I go to the other end with a short fishtape with a good hook on it. After a few minutes of twisting and pulling I was able to hook onto one of the hoops and pull the fishtape or rod through the other end.

[David Nebenzahl]

chevelless spake thus:

Unless someone put a staple over it, of course.

[mm]

If you had tto do a lot of this stuff, there are four and six foot flexible drill bits. From the attic, it's easy to find the place and drill down, and you have already foudn the hole in the basement, but if you hadn't, you can drill down from the place where the switch, outlet, etc. will go.