A homeowner in Tempe told me my wall fish looked like a toddler did it with a coat hanger.

I switched to a 3/8-inch flex bit and started checking for studs with a $30 scanner from Harbor Freight, so what's your go-to method for a clean pull through a finished wall?

3 comments

3 Comments

wren_thomas169d ago

Switched to a neodymium magnet and never looked back.

barbara_hall99d ago

Ugh, that stud scanner is going to give you a heart attack. I trust a strong magnet to find the drywall screws way more than those beeping gadgets. Once you know where the stud is, use the flex bit to drill your pilot hole, then tape the fish tape really well so it doesn't snap back. Go slow and keep the tape flat against the back of the drywall, or you'll catch on insulation.

jones.mason9d ago

Right? Those scanners are so jumpy near outlets. I had one scream at me over a pipe once, scared me half to death. My old magnet from a speaker just slides right onto the screw heads, no guesswork. And you're totally right about the fish tape, I learned the hard way when mine whipped back and put a nasty dent in the wall.