Question about using a fish tape on old plaster walls

My uncle, who did this job for 30 years, always told me to just push the fish tape hard on old plaster and lathe walls. Last week in a 1920s house in Columbus, I tried that and the tape got stuck behind a wood slat. Another installer at the supply house said you should always use a glow rod and a magnet in those walls to feel for the studs first. Who was right? What's your go-to method for those tricky old walls?

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3 Comments

the_oscar6mo ago

Man, I feel your pain on that one. Stuck fish tape in old walls is the worst. Honestly, your uncle's advice works until it really, really doesn't, and then you're in for a bad time. I've learned the hard way that a little extra time with a glow rod to find the cavities saves so much headache later. That other installer wasn't wrong, but man, who has time to use a magnet on every single run?

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drewsullivan6mo ago

Is this really that big of a deal?

1

oscarwilson6mo ago

Depends on your setup, drewsullivan. In my experience, it can cause weird lag if your system isn't expecting it.

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