this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2025
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Pulling network cable, joist along top of wall (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 3 weeks ago by Grass@sh.itjust.works to c/diy@slrpnk.net
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I'm not really sure how to proceed nicely here.

I have a hole in the wall of the top floor going down into the space between floor/ceiling joists. Middle floor wall is about 2-4 inches offset and not directly under, but the joists turned out to be parallel to that wall and a joist is on top. Is there a sensible way to route the cable?
In a different house the joists went the other way and I was able to just drill up from the lower wall with the flex bit and just grab the dangling wire from a ceiling cutout and reach in between and hook it on the puller in the lower wall but I'm not sure how to handle it this time.

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[–] Sarcasmo@piefed.social 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm not sure if I'm seeing it exactly but it sounds like you might need a bigger hole for downstairs. Maybe use a hole saw so you have more room to fish and can get the cable through looped if you can grab it.

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I'm mainly worried about damaging the joist that runs along the top of the lower wall. If I drill up from the receptacle cutout with the flex auger it will maybe go behind the joist but if they are doubled it will just go through one, probably at a weird angle.

The upper wall puzzles me a bit because it is offset and seemingly just sitting on the plywood then air, but I've been looking for the endoscope I could have sworn I accidentally stole from work to get a better idea of whats going on. I might just take down more drywall if I can't find it.

[–] bryndos@fedia.io 1 points 3 weeks ago

If you don't have wallpaper- I'd cut some more holes with a hole saw or even just a knife to see whats going on in there from different angles, easy enough to patch them back up.