Had a 200ft pull turn into a nightmare because I skipped the fish tape lube

Was running a bundle of 4 Cat6a lines through a commercial drop ceiling in an old office building downtown. Thought I could save 10 minutes by not lubing up the tape since it was a straight shot. Got about 150 feet in and the tape seized up solid. Took me an hour of back and forth, cussing, and finally climbing up on a ladder to free it. Never again. Any of you guys ever cheap out on prep and pay for it later?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannah3201mo ago

Wait wait wait... you actually tried a 200 foot pull with NO lube at all? On a commercial drop ceiling? Oh man I felt that seize up just reading this. I had a similar thing happen on a 150 footer last year with 6 cat6 cables and I still remember the sound of the tape stopping dead like it hit a brick wall. That ladder climb to free it is the worst part cause you're up there covered in dust and drywall grit wondering why you thought 10 minutes was worth an hour of misery. You probably had that moment of pure panic when you realized you couldn't push or pull anymore. I bet your arm was killing you the next day too.

blair_nguyen1mo ago

That ladder climb covered in drywall grit is the real punishment, man. @drewr15 nailed it about the "cartoon record scratch" sound but I swear my tape actually vibrated for a second before it locked up solid.

drewr151mo ago

The sound of the tape stopping dead" - man I felt that in my soul. That noise is like a cartoon record scratch but way more expensive. Ten minutes of "saving time" cost me two hours and a bruised ego.