Around the House

#46 · Guide cables through tight gaps

Thread a wire or cable through a narrow gap in a wall or piece of furniture using a chopstick as a guide rod.

Feeding a cable behind a skirting board, through a desk grommet or down the back of a cabinet is a two-handed job that needs three hands. Taping the cable to a chopstick and pushing that through first turns it into a one-handed job.

How to do it

1. Tape the cable end to the tip of the chopstick, wrapping the tape right around both rather than sticking it on top.
2. Taper the tape so the join is smooth - a stepped edge is what catches on the far side of a grommet.
3. Push the chopstick through the gap first, leading with the bare end.
4. Pull it out the far side, drawing the cable behind it.
5. Untape and dress the cable properly.

Why it works

A cable is a tension member: it will pull perfectly well but it cannot push, because it buckles as soon as you apply any compressive load. A chopstick can carry compression along its length, so it converts a push into forward motion. This is the whole reason cable rods exist, and a chopstick is the same idea over a much shorter distance.

If it isn't working

• The tape peels off inside the gap: not enough of it, or the cable was dusty. Wipe and use more.
• It jams halfway: something is catching on the tape join. Pull back, re-tape it smoother, and try again.
• It won't turn a corner: rigid rods can't. Fish from both ends towards the corner instead.

Tips & warnings

• Two chopsticks taped end to end doubles the reach, at the cost of some stiffness.
• For long runs through walls, proper fibreglass cable rods cost about £15 and are the right tool.
• Never push anything into a wall cavity without knowing what is in it. Cables and pipes are exactly where you would want to fish.