How to run cables through a wall without cutting drywall
Wall cavities often contain hidden staples or obstructions that block the fish tape, forcing you to choose between cutting open the drywall or finding an alternate route. This makes simple cable runs frustratingly difficult without damaging the wall surface.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using a flexible fiberglass rod or glow rods
- 2Using a steel fish tape
- 3Attaching a small steel washer to fishing line and guiding it down with a magnet
- 4Cutting a temporary access panel through the drywall behind the baseboard
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I thought this was going to be an easy fish!”source ↗
“However, it seems the coax is stapled inside this small run inside the wall, meaning I can't do that without opening up the wall, which I don't want to do unless necessary.”source ↗
“Anyone know a better way? I don't want to remove and patch drywall or drill a hole through the floor.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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