Debate: Do you pull cable to the box first or fish from the box out?

Last week I had a job in a new build near Chicago and the lead installer insisted we pull all the coax to the box location before running anything through the walls - his method took an extra 2 hours. But my old partner always said to fish from the box outward so you don't fight slack in tight spaces. Which way do you guys think saves more time on average?

3 comments

3 Comments

viola_ward9d agoMost Upvoted

Does your method change at all when you're working with old lath and plaster walls?

hayden1449d ago

Old lath and plaster is basically its own beast, you know? My method turns into a lot more gentle poking and listening for hollow spots versus just going at it like drywall. I swear, even looking at it wrong can make a chunk fall off, so I'm way more careful. Most times I end up just using a small piece of backer rod and some mesh tape before mudding, just to be safe. It's a total pain (and messy as heck), but way better than patching a hole the size of your head.

wadem897d ago

Pull to the box first every time. You avoid a ton of headaches with slack management and fighting stubborn cable loops in tight stud bays. Fishing out means dragging all that extra weight through every hole and it gets tangled way easier. Plus if you mess up the run you gotta pull it all back anyway. Save the headache and just do it right the first time.