Replacement rods in cable fishing kit

[SUNRAY]

The point was when you use them at least twice a week,you’re more likely to snap one if you’re rodding up a cavity …as I’ve done with the super rods ….

Oh yes these are vulnerable as by definition we shove them into places where we can't see what's happening to them

Fair play. I did once buy a cheapo set from Toolstation. I was feeding coax cable through ceiling voids. I found the cheap cables to be vastly inferior, by that, I mean that the lack of flexibility meant that I had to fashion a wire coat hanger to pull the rigid cable down from the void. I wouldn't have (necessarily) needed to do that with my Super Rods. The floppy bit on the end of the super rods can often be grabbed using the hook included with the kit.

I disliked the cheap kit so much so that when a barman in my local asked to use them to push through the glass washer waste pipe, I told him to keep them.

For it it is worth, I don't have a dog in this "fight". I am tool snob when it comes down to certain tools, eg Festool sanders but not when it comes down to cable rods.

I would not usually pull a cable with the rods, generally I pull a draw string in then pull the cable with that. I've has a short flexible rod, maybe 150mm long with every set I've purchased.

Personally I've found the cheaper rods better, less bulky and certainly easier to use across a suspended ceiling. I've probably managed 15 or 20m which I couldn't have done with more flexibility.

 

[opps]

I would not usually pull a cable with the rods, generally I pull a draw string in then pull the cable with that. I've has a short flexible rod, maybe 150mm long with every set I've purchased.

Personally I've found the cheaper rods better, less bulky and certainly easier to use across a suspended ceiling. I've probably managed 15 or 20m which I couldn't have done with more flexibility.

I misspoke. I meant that with the cheaper rods, I need to use a coat hanger to grab the rod (not cable).

I can see how rigid rods would be better suited to a suspended ceiling.

I am more likely to being to feeding my rods through the smallest possible hole in a domestic ceiling and trying to feed it to the smallest possible hole at the other end. I find that the the more flexible rods will allow me to arch the cables at the entry point such that it is touching the top of the plasterboard, as opposed to a more rigid rod which will end up touching the underside of the floorboards.

 

[SUNRAY]

I misspoke. I meant that with the cheaper rods, I need to use a coat hanger to grab the rod (not cable).

I can see how rigid rods would be better suited to a suspended ceiling.

I am more likely to being to feeding my rods through the smallest possible hole in a domestic ceiling and trying to feed it to the smallest possible hole at the other end. I find that the the more flexible rods will allow me to arch the cables at the entry point such that it is touching the top of the plasterboard, as opposed to a more rigid rod which will end up touching the underside of the floorboards.

Ah yes, now then...
The smallest possible hole, If I'm doing that sort of job I drill a hole at a steep angle, obviously heading in the direction the rod has to go, which results in an oval hole which I find much easier to fill as the filler has a platform to lay on.

So how do you fish for your super rod?

In that situation would normally tie a piece of string on the lead rod and fish for that. If the holes are bigenough I'll add a piece of chain to hear it moving on the ceiling, not the piece that comes with the super rods, that broke and vanished in a void very quickly.

 

[opps]

Ah yes, now then...
The smallest possible hole, If I'm doing that sort of job I drill a hole at a steep angle, obviously heading in the direction the rod has to go, which results in an oval hole which I find much easier to fill as the filler has a platform to lay on.

So how do you fish for your super rod?

In that situation would normally tie a piece of string on the lead rod and fish for that. If the holes are bigenough I'll add a piece of chain to hear it moving on the ceiling, not the piece that comes with the super rods, that broke and vanished in a void very quickly.

Yeah, I try to drill at an angle.

The exit hole is often a tad larger than the entry hole, large enough to use the Super Rods hook to grab the SP short flexi bit. I put the bullet end on the short flexi. Sometimes, the hook bounces off the end though as I pull the rods back, meaning that I play a back and forth game.

From a productivity point of view, on reflection, it might make more sense to make a larger exit hole.

Sometimes I am my own worst enemy. I (occasionally) get a greater sense of satisfaction from proving to myself that I can perform an awkward task, even though I am losing money because cutting a larger hole would have reduced my time.