Carpenter Needs Electrical Help

[-Brent-]

I'm very frustrated. I've got a short run of BX inside my wall between brick and my new mosaic tile backsplash (which is on top of plaster) that's got a broken wire at the end I need to tie onto.

What are my chances of either A) pulling the wires out of the BX or B) pulling the BX out whole?

The run is probably three feet or less.

 

[mrb]

i highly doubt you will get the wire out of the bx. is the bx embedded in the plaster?

 

[-Brent-]

i highly doubt you will get the wire out of the bx. is the bx embedded in the plaster?

Not sure if it's embedded or run through the block. It's taught when touching it but it's also in a difficult spot to be gripping it, too.

I've heard that BX is pretty darned impossible to pull the wires from but it's such a short run (with no significant bends), I'm wondering if that's an option. Other than that, I'm feeling screwed... with a twinge of hatred for the guy that rewired the house.

 

[matt151617]

What about somehow tying a piece of new bx to the old piece and pulling it through (if it's not embedded)? Although unlikely, you can pull like hell with pliers on the broken wire. If its already no good, what do you have to loose?

Otherwise your only real option is to cut into the walls and start drilling...

 

[ert01]

I'd try to fish a new piece of bx down the wall or try to tie into the old one and use it as a pullstring to get the new one in. I highly doubt you'll get the wires out and new ones in...

 

[-Brent-]

Cutting is NOT an option. The switch is one of the pair, near the door.



Since there's no secret trick, I'm going to attempt pulling the wires, one at a time. If that doesn't work, then I will figure out how to get the BX out and do no harm.

 

[mtne]

If you can get to both ends, pull it back and forth to saw a little if there's overall movement. If you can work it back and forth a bit your odds of pulling a new line through is better.

 

[-Brent-]

I can get to both ends. I'm hoping, as well, that there may be some access behind the door molding to help facilitate that.