Stuck Fish Tape

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Somehow I don't think it's the rags by themselves that are holding the tape. Either you caught on something or maybe your "eye" opened up and wedged itself in the pipe? Like an area where there is no pipe left? Did you try rotating the tape- though it's probably too late for that now that you pulled the hell out of it. You need to apply pressure in the opposite direction- pushing. Best way is an air compressor or water pressure.

I don't think Roto-Rooter will touch it with that fish tape in there unless they use a water jet.

-Hal
 
RotoRooter has things called cameras........ that they can sent down the pipe........... so you can actually see what's going on...........:cool:
 
Nardie said:
I have a fish tape stuck in a 3/4" embedded RGS conduit. I believe it is stuck roughly 43 ft from the end. From discussions with the E&I mechanics, they wrapped three small cloth rags to clean the conduit out once we removed the existing wires. I know the guys used to many rags, so please don't tell me. The wires had to be replaced due to internal short. I know the tape is stuck due to the rags. We have been able to remove some of the fish tape today, but now it won't budge. So we used other fish tape to determine the location its stuck thus the 43 ft. At this point we have left tension on the tape overnight to see if it might break free. Due to the location I don't believe we can get any soap to the location. So I am asking for any ideas? Thanks
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Pour gas in the pipe and light it. It will burn up the rags.
 
Gas wouldn't work, the fumes burn, at 40+ feet after the gas burns off it won't have oxygen to burn at the rags.
 
sameguy said:
Gas wouldn't work, the fumes burn, at 40+ feet after the gas burns off it won't have oxygen to burn at the rags.
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So send propane gas and an excess of oxygen down the tube with a cutting torch. If it'll burn steel, it'll certainly burn rags.

Oh, wait. If it'll burn steel, maybe it's not the best thing to use in a steel conduit.

I'd love to see how you phrase the hot-work permit for that one.
 
Andy1845c said:
I'd be *really* hesitant to put acid in the pipe. Muriatic acid is terrible stuff and without being able to flush the pipe out afterwards i'm afraid you'll end up with a caustic slimy mess. Not to mention what residual acid could do to the insulation on the conductors when you pull new ones in. Im not sure it would even dissolve rags.

I'd be tempted to try the power drain snake as someone else suggested. See if you can't get it to tear up or dislodge the rag. The compressed air isn't a bad idea either if you can get a good seal and aren't at risk if having something explode and injure someone.
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You do realize that you are swimming in the stuff in a public pool? After we dissolve the concrete, we flush it out with a water hose. The residue is no more than what you're swimming in the pool... Now, will it dissolve the rags? Who knows. I know this stuff doesn't like my tee shirt when it gets on it...
 
sorry but every one gets their berries busted here boss... code for pools is between 7.2 to 7.6ish depending on other factors and if its for dirty kids or "cleaner" adults- which is on the alki side of things... i wish i didnt know that :/
 
Fulthrotl said:
you need a fish tape puller, and a come along. i've also cut off the fish tape, made an eye,
and pulled it out with a come along.
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The labor on a job like this will add up so quick that cutting a fish tape and maybe having to buy a new one will seem small.

You can hook up a come along, fork lift, back hoe or anything other than my back to apply pressure to the fish tape. Now it either breaks the head off or it comes out.

It's really hard for me to believe that rags are what's holding this fish tape in the conduit. Rags pulled through a rusty conduit should have started to disintegrate and be shreds. If the head of the tape ever spreads then the more they pull on it the tighter it will be caught until it breaks. If that's the case then maybe they can blow the plug created by the rag out with high pressure air after the tape is removed.
 
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