Cable puller / mouse

[wooslehunter]

I need to route a new cable down the mast. I'm forever borrowing a thin stainless steel puller / mouse from my dad but he's 100 miles away so I though I'd get one.

But, I've looked around on the web & can't for the life of me remember the proper name to look for.

I guess I could always use an existing cable as a mouse but rather not. Mast is stored flat over the winter too so can't use gravity.

Any ideas?

 

[damo]

Search for "cable puller" on eg screwfix, toolstation etc. I got one on a reel for £12 at toolstation a couple of years ago

 

[VicS]

As suggested Screwfix www.screwfix.com My rather out of date catalogue has three. One is a set of rods, called "cable access kit" but only 6m the others are a nylon "cable an flex draw tape" (30m long) and a "spring steel fish tape" that's 50' long.

Screwfix have lots of branches now, could well be one near you! See the branch locator on the website.

 

[cpedw]

I don't know why but it's also known as a fish; see here and here for instance.

Derek

 

[theforeman]

if your mast is down why can you not use your back stay. shove it up the mast, attach whatever you wish to pull through and haul away.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
can you not use your back stay. shove it up the mast

[/ QUOTE ] Couldn't you have worded that differently. Sure made my eyes water.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[oldsaltoz]

Standard fence wire, single strand, cheap, will go up or down a mast and last many years, also handy for other emergency repairs.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[cjepearson]

I have just finished that self same job, using a Screwfix Cable Access set....it comes in 10 x 1m lengths, the rods are 4mm diameter, and are a wonderful bit of kit. Screwfix Catalogue #88 item number 82483. The 5 piece spares kit (25578) is also good quality. Highly recommended.

 

[Robin]

I have a plastic one bought 25 years ago from Radiospares (RS now?) but this works best in a conduit. If you are threading through a larger tube like down the inside of the mast, the skinny plastic or metal ones can actually turn round half way and go back to the start! Better then to use something stiffer and an old bit of rigging is perfect.

 

[wooslehunter]

Thanks all. Got one from CEF in Havant. I would have like to use the backstay but I only have an 8mm hole to pule the cable through - good obvious idea though.

 

[pete]

I have used my old ss wire rigging with the ends cut off and the wire ends silver soldered to stop them splaying out.
pete

 

[fisherman]

Seen it done with a rag on a string and a compressed air line.