Tips for snaking wire through a wall

[eric]

Anyone have any clever tips or tricks to snaking a wire on the inside of a wall?

I'm adding an outlet underneath a cabinet so I can hide all equipment and wires. I've cut a hole for the new outlet, cut off the circuit I'm extending and trying to snake the extra length of wire down.

It's only about 3 feet, but off center (not directly below the existing outlet) In hind sight I would have tried directly below to eliminate that aiming. But on top of it all, it's an outside wall so I've got insulation to deal with. And I've just been unable to find the other end/hole.

I just wondered if a stud finder would pick up the wire so I could trace where it actually is? My solution in the past was always just make my hole larger and if I could avoid that I'd like to.

[SaltyJim]

you can try that...but you could also use a clothes hanger if you know what side of the hole you ended up on. Just to try and hook the fish tape. A stud finder might work to locate it, if so, then you are in better shape knowing at least where it is.

[jaded]

use something ridgid, like a coathanger or of course a wire snake... you run the ridgid line up from the new hole then tie/tape the wire to the ridgid line pull through... done

[Tim Marvin]

Good idea Joshua, also try taping a string to an aquarium magnet and see if you can pull it down the wall. Then you can use the string to pull your wire. Make sure the string is attached well though in case you lose the magnet you can pull it back out of the wall.

[eric]

That's the kind of stuff I was looking for. I like the magnets. I've got some of those rare earth magnets I never knew what they'd be useful for. Thanks guys.

[newhomes4reef]

Eric,
One thing to keep in mind is that builders often do mid-span blocking that you may have to drill through. Especially true if you have 10 foot or taller ceiling height. I had some speaker wires dropped and the guy that did it had to use what looked like a 5 foot long drill bit!!!
for what it's worth.
good luck!
Jeff