Can't find post on trick to marking where you're drilling?

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bjp_ne_elec

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Thought I remember reading a post that talked about tricks used when trying to figure out where to drill up from the basement. One or two of the posts talked about using some wires that are used to hold up insulation - and I wish I could find it - as I want to figure out what type of wire they were talking about. I have a situation, where it's not clear where the bottom plate is - and I've got to drill a hole up to feed an outside light next to the entry door.

Update - did find post - but still not clear on these "insulation rods". Are they used to hold up insulation in floor joists? I've only seen fine wire zig-zag'd back and forth between the joists - not rods.

Thanks,

Brett
 
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That was my posting on insulation rods. In our area they use a a thin stiff "rod" about the diameter of a #14 or 12 gauge wire to support insulation in the basement. Similar to wire coat hanger material. It is made for this application, and is the only thing I've ever seen used to support insulation in a basement. I guess it's not used everywhere.

In any event, we sometimes use them to drill down next to a baseboard to locate a spot in the basement.

You could also use a cut piece of wire coat hanger. We just find piles of these insulation rods on sites after the insulaters leave. Usually on top of the foundation where they must set them while they're working. We also use them to "probe" before cutting in recessed lights old work. It's handy to keep a few dozen in each truck.
 
I use galvanized T-bar wire for this, if you can't find them on a jobsite you can buy them @ HD. I also use the wife's kabob skewers & hope I don't get caught sneaking out of the kitchen.
 
Think INSIDE the box :D The job/gang box that is....

Grab your 1/8" snake, cut off a 12" piece or so.
On one end of that short section, cut it again at a 45? - this is the "tip" of the bit.
Take the section and put it in a drill...and drill away :)
 
77401 said:
Master Celtic
I one up'd you again!
Try this 1/8" X 12" drill bit

 Grasshopper 77401
Click to expand...
Ah yes Grasshopper...but mine is FREE where as yours is $6.99 + S/H.

fortune28.gif

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If you are going to be doing some of the work thru the hole in the wall where the new or existiing switchbox is...
I have pretty good sucess using a six foot installers bit in this particular circumstance.
 
As long as your flooring is carpet, I have always used this method: Run a 3" GOLD deck screw through the floor into the unfinished crawl or basement. Measure the distance to the face of wallboard from your screw, mentally noting N, S, E, or W. Go into unfinished area, find your screw (it sticks out like a sore thumb),measure where the center of your wall is, drill into your wall, then fish cables.
 
Hurricaneflyer - I like your approach, except my situatoin involves opening up a hole for the coach light on the front of the house - a hole I don't care to make unless I get a clear shot up to that point - and can actually cover the hole with the new light. (This reminds me of a story - I was working with an older Journeyman in a guys barbershop, and the JM had drilled a hole in the wall to access a wire he was snaking up the wall. When the barber asked the JM how he planned on covering the hole, the Journeyman proceed to tell him that a picture of himself hung there would be nice. The guy was a real "card".) I'm concerned about a fire stop being somewhere in the path - other than that - I would expect nothing else to be in there. The interior wall is in a closet, and there is no sign of any plumbing being anywhere close to this area.

Thanks,

Brett
 
I never cut a hole unless I can "feel" the snake behind the wall first. That's the approach I was taught. I do have some guys who will break that rule, and I remind them that it might come back to bite them (and therefore me) someday.
 
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