Anybody ever try to fish wire under carpet?

[Kevin R]

In preparation of setting up my rear channels I am thinking about going about this route so I don't have to run wire around the baseboards. However, I've never done it and don't know how much of a pain in the ass it actually is. I'm thinking that the steel line would be much easier then the fiberglass snake but again never really done this so I'm debating if I should however, I want a clean install. I can't install in-wall because my system is on the first floor of a two story home. Thoughts?

[Jason]

I didn't fish it, I did it when just after the pad was laid. But it's a WAY cool way to do it. I ran wires to my sofa position and installed tactile transducers.

I know it's off subject, but I did it a kinda cool way....a lot of us don't use the back surround channels, so I configured them as a 2nd room setup. They I used an rca y cable and ran the inputs back into a spare input on the AVR. Then when I wanted the shakers, I just turned on the 2nd room operation. Had seperate volume control for the shakers and everything. Super cheap way to add tactile transducers..

[Mep]

If it is a short distance then a stretched out clothes hanger works well. Otherwise you may need to rip the carpet up and tack it back down. If you try to snake anything that can flex then it will.

[Kevin R]

I'm thinkin about getting a steel snake to get through the carpet. It's about 10 feet that I'd have to snake... Something like this I'm about to order the Dark Side of the Moon SACD and was going to include the snake in my order. Gotta $4 overnight shipping. :)

[Jason]

I'm sure you thought of this, but there will likely be a raise in the carpet where you lay the wire. Monster cable used to make a nice flat wire, that would minimize this. Also, if you go under the pad, it will be lessened

[Kevin R]

I have and where it's going it's only going to be about 3 ft that I would even notice.. The couch, coffee table, and console are on the same path... So I'm not really sweating it.. It'll look much better then having the wires around the trim IMHO.

[SnowmaNick]

I've done it several times in various apartments I lived in where I couldn't run the cable through walls/attics. As stated above on short runs a coat hanger and some tape will work fine. I would advise using smaller gauge cable ( you won''t notice a difference in surrounds) and as small of a fishing device as possible to keep the run from pulling the carpet too much. I would also advise you to be careful of the padding under the carpet snagged on your run as it can be a PIA to flatten back out. Additionally, I am sure you have a route planned out bu running the cable along the walls between the tacking and wall is easy to do and creates very little noticeable bumps or other issues. If you can I would run it allong a wall as far as possible as opposed to just running it straight down the middle of the room.

[koa]

Maybe a vacuum cleaner or shop vac that can be hooked up to blow might help by putting nozzle at the edge of the carpet to lift it a bit.

[Kevin R]

I'm actually going to run it to the edge of the tile in my kitchen. I'll have to take a pic but I think I can pry the carpet up where I need to and snake it through. It's going to be a bit of work but I think I can get away with it. Was also thinking I could cut an 'X' in the carpet to get access and then super gluing it back together once I have the wire out. Don't think I can go around via the baseboard like Nick suggested it would be a long long run and a C run if that makes any sense.. I'll have to take a pic of the room that I'm working with.. but I think direct is the only way to go.. I'm also going to have my buddy kinda pull the carpet up as I go along meaning that he'll be pulling the carpet up an inch or two as I'm fishing the wire.

[Jason]

Dude....do it the Mancave way.....go rent a DitchWich:tanks alot:

[Kevin R]

Ha! Don't I wish.. Unfortunately, tearing up the whole first floor of my two year old house doesn't work.. :D

[Jason]

Ha! Don't I wish.. Unfortunately, tearing up the whole first floor of my two year old house doesn't work.. :D

Sure it does.....you can add a bank of 8 18" IB subs....get you flat to 3 hz!! Think big picture here, silver lining and all that:toilet:



Ps....don't tell your wife that was my idea....:angel:

[Kevin R]

Sure it does.....you can add a bank of 8 18" IB subs....get you flat to 3 hz!! Think big picture here, silver lining and all that:toilet:

Ps....don't tell your wife that was my idea....:angel:

That's the thing I'm single I could if I really wanted to! How do you think I am able to buy all this gear and not have to worry about WAF? :D:mr-t:

[Jason]

You know...and I don't know the exact situation, but you could carefully lift up around the edges and tuck it inside the tack strip. Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but I thought you were wanting to run them under the carpet more in the middle of the room and not along the sides.

I gotta say..the idea of fishing it sounds problematic and a frustrating one. You need look at ANY and ALL possibilities before trying to do that. Hell, I had problems just trying to pull that wire that I routed inbetween pads when it was time to move....I can't imagine trying to fish it.

If you pull up the carpet a little at a time, you shouldn't lose the stretch, and even if you so, go rent a knee kicker for a few bucks to tighten it back down.

[rumonkey2]

Good Lord Man!!

That's the thing I'm single I could if I really wanted to! How do you think I am able to buy all this gear and not have to worry about WAF? :D:mr-t:

You're single and worried about hiding cable???:rolleyes::fryingpan::dizzy: :raspberry: :poke: :neener: ;);)

I've had to do it several times "around the perimeter" and pulling back the carpet a little bit at a time works best...and not that painstaking....just my .02:cool: