My fish tape trick backfired on a 3-story apartment run in Phoenix

I used to just push the steel fish tape through conduit and hope it didn't snag, but last month I had a run through three floors where it twisted up so bad I lost 40 minutes pulling it back. A older guy on the crew, Mike, watched me cuss at it and said "stop forcing it, spin the drum as you feed." He showed me how to keep slight tension and rotate the reel in sync with the corners, and now I can clear a 200 foot path in half the time without the kinks. Has anyone else had luck with lubing the tape before a long pull, or do you just rely on the spin trick?

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phoenix_grant346d ago

Wait, have you tried spraying the tape with silicone before you even start? That spin trick works, but on a 3 story run that tension builds up fast. I've had the tape snap back on me twice in Phoenix heat, and it's not fun. Lube the first 50 feet and keep the drum turning slow, that combo saves my ass every time. Just don't overdo it, too much lube makes the tape slip out of your grip.