Old spring tip/leader fish tape

[rick carpenter]

I picked up an "old-timer's" fish tape yesterday from my M-I-L's husbands stuff (a 1963 patent by Louis D. Bostick is supposedly an improvement over this particular tape leader if I've read the description right). It is a no name 3/16" x 15'-6" steel tape on a 7" reel. The working end has a 2" tapered spring leader attached with a little phillips screw in the end but originally had a rounded tip.

I can easily daub a little bead of epoxy on the screwhead, and wrap electrical tape around the attachment point to prevent snagging. Yeah yeah I know new 25' and 50' Klein tapes are relatively cheap, but so am I.

 

[bonneyman]

Very cool!

Hmmm, can't think of a solution for the tip. I'll have to stew on it for awhile.

 

[rick carpenter]

Yeah, I guess I don't know how to attach cable to that directly either, maybe just tie some pull string to the post and push them both through? I know with the flexy spring tip this is for conduit but I only need to run lo voltage security cam or outdoor lighting cable without conduit up through exterior walls. I'll bend a regular tape loop on the other end and use that so I won't be pushing a flexy tip where it shouldn't go. This, or my fish sticks, with some pull string and some cussing and some beer will work out just fine.

For anything more I'd buy the right stuff... and more beer.

 

[Packard V8]

I've used that same design for many years with no problems.

It once even unclogged a drain when a snake wasn't available.

jack vines

 

[rick carpenter]

I've used that same design for many years with no problems.

It once even unclogged a drain when a snake wasn't available.

jack vines

How have you attached pull string or wire to it?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Hmmmn, I think that might be a plumbing snake. I have a large one and a small one I have had for 35 years. However, no reason I know of why it could not pull wire if the wire is attached properly.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Yeah that would be a plumbing snake. Not a fish tape.

 

[Packard V8]

Yeah that would be a plumbing snake. Not a fish tape.

From someone who's successfully used it, it's both.

jack vines

 

[kctyphoon]

Klein makes a spring tip leader for their metal fish tapes.. I would not wanna use that in occupied conduit.. there's too many things that can get caught on something when you pull it back..

You can make a much better holder and payout system for that with about 2 feet of corrugated innerduct.

 

[rick carpenter]

Hmmmn, I think that might be a plumbing snake. I have a large one and a small one I have had for 35 years. However, no reason I know of why it could not pull wire if the wire is attached properly.

Yeah that would be a plumbing snake. Not a fish tape.

From someone who's successfully used it, it's both.

jack vines

Hmmm, I never thought it might be a plumbing snake as the spring tip doesn't open up to bore into a blockage.

But I'll follow Occupant's and Jack's lead, I'm going to call it a multi-tool!