Had a real mess with a 100-foot coax run in an old Denver apartment building

Honestly, I was sure I could fish it through the existing chase, but the plaster walls had metal mesh inside that shredded the jacket. Tbh, I ended up having to surface-mount a new line along the baseboard, which took an extra two hours. Has anyone else found a better way to deal with those old lath and plaster walls without going external?

3 comments

3 Comments

carter.mila10d ago

Ever try a fish tape with a bullet tip?

kellygrant10d ago

Metal mesh inside plaster is the worst. That stuff turns a simple fish tape into a metal cheese grater for your cable. I've had some luck with a fiberglass rod instead of steel tape, but even then it's mostly about luck and a lot of swearing. Once that lath grabs you, the only winning move is to admit defeat and get the surface mount clips out.

the_brian9d ago

Ugh, bullet tips just snap off in that mess. I keep a fiberglass fish stick and a whole lot of patience for those walls. Sometimes you just gotta cut your losses and go around.