Hook Removal Tool for Fish Tape

7111 Views 39 Replies 11 Participants Last post by 480sparky, Jan 13, 2014

DemRem

Discussion Starter · Dec 28, 2013

Had a thought today that one of these would be great for grabbing a fish tape...

http://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Stain...=1388268977&sr=1-1&keywords=hook+removal+tool

What do you all think?

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Inner10

· #2 · Dec 28, 2013

Could be handy but fish tapes and rods like to hide in tight corners, I use a piece of piano wire with a hook on the end.

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TNTRenovate

· #3 · Dec 28, 2013

a few feet of wet noodle on the end and a flexible magnet always works for me.

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Tinstaafl

· #4 · Dec 28, 2013

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TNTRenovate

· #5 · Dec 28, 2013

Tinstaafl said:

Never had much success with that when the rod or tape gets in the corner, especially if it's on your side of the wall.

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TNTRenovate

· #6 · Dec 29, 2013

You can bend the retriever around and around.

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Tinstaafl

· #7 · Dec 29, 2013

TNTSERVICES said:
Never had much success with that when the rod or tape gets in the corner, especially if it's on your side of the wall.

I never actually tried one, but I think it'd work better than a fish hook tool.

I just use a piece of wire with a hook bent on the end.

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DaVinciRemodel

· #8 · Dec 29, 2013

I just cut the hole big enough to get my whole arm in to grab it. Drywall’s cheap to repair :laughing:

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480sparky

· #9 · Dec 29, 2013

TNTSERVICES said:
a few feet of wet noodle on the end and a flexible magnet always works for me.

Best way there is!

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TNTRenovate

· #10 · Dec 29, 2013

DaVinciRemodel said:
I just cut the hole big enough to get my whole arm in to grab it. Drywall’s cheap to repair :laughing:

No drywall repair is cheaper than any drywall repair. And I can fish the wire a whole lot faster than you can repair and paint the hole.

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480sparky

· #11 · Dec 29, 2013

TNTSERVICES said:
No drywall repair is cheaper than any drywall repair. And I can fish the wire a whole lot faster than you can repair and paint the hole.

And not all surfaces are plain-jane drywall. You don't get a second chance with tile, marble, wood, etc.

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DemRem

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 30, 2013

480sparky said:
Best way there is!

That's a great setup! I guess I was thinking more of using the pliers for simpler wire runs (than corners etc). Most of the time on those I can get the tape close enough to grab I just need something that can reach in and get it.

Is that chain made for tapes (i.e. higher quality)? The reason I ask is because I was wondering if the regular chain like that could handle being pulled on?

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480sparky

· #13 · Dec 30, 2013

DemRem said:
That's a great setup! I guess I was thinking more of using the pliers for simpler wire runs (than corners etc). Most of the time on those I can get the tape close enough to grab I just need something that can reach in and get it.

Is that chain made for tapes (i.e. higher quality)? The reason I ask is because I was wondering if the regular chain like that could handle being pulled on?

It's plain old steel beaded chain, like for a pull-chain fixture. I has to be steel for the magnet to grab. Stainless, aluminum or brass is out if you want to use a magnet.

I don't use it to pull in anything like NM. Maybe bell wire, but nothing larger. If I need to pull in something larger, I'll use this to pull back some mule tape and use that for the heavy pull.

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Inner10

· #14 · Dec 30, 2013

I never had success with a ballchain on a rod as the rod is stiff and the chain is delicate, you try to bend the rod and you snap the chain.

Instead I put a 3-4 foot piece of quad on the tip and hook it with piano wire.

If I use a ball chain it's in a hollow wall, drill a 3/8 hole, insert a straw, feed chain, receive with wet noodle like TNT posted.

But let it be known that ball chain that comes with the wet noodle is complete garbage.

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CarpenterSFO

· #15 · Dec 30, 2013

Snips and needle-nose. You cut off the eye and as much of the shank as possible, then pull it through from the barb end.

... Oh. Fish tape. That's different. Never mind.

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480sparky

· #16 · Dec 30, 2013

CarpenterSFO said:
Snips and needle-nose. You cut off the eye and as much of the shank as possible, then pull it through from the barb end.

... Oh. Fish tape. That's different. Never mind.

Who fishes wall cavities with a fish tape? :blink:

Tapes are for conduit & raceways. Fish sticks are for walls & above ceilings.

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Tinstaafl

· #17 · Dec 30, 2013

480sparky said:
Who fishes wall cavities with a fish tape? :blink:

I often do when the wall's full of insulation and I'm fishing from one spot on the surface to another. Pretty tough to keep a stick on this side of the insulation facing.

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Inner10

· #18 · Dec 30, 2013

Tinstaafl said:
I often do when the wall's full of insulation and I'm fishing from one spot on the surface to another. Pretty tough to keep a stick on this side of the insulation facing.

No it ain't.

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480sparky

· #19 · Dec 30, 2013

Tinstaafl said:
I often do when the wall's full of insulation and I'm fishing from one spot on the surface to another. Pretty tough to keep a stick on this side of the insulation facing.

Isn't the facing, like,.......... kraft paper? :blink:

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Inner10

· #20 · Dec 30, 2013

480sparky said:
Isn't the facing, like,.......... kraft paper? :blink:

Not here, 6 mil poly only. Haven't see kraft since the 70/80s.

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