A fish tape (also known as an electrician's snake or draw wire) is a specialized tool used to route new wiring through walls, ceilings, and electrical conduit. It is essential for navigating wiring in finished spaces without tearing down walls.
The tool consists of a long, thin, flexible band coiled inside a circular plastic reel with a handle.
- Feeding: You push the stiff but flexible tape into a conduit or wall cavity. Its natural curvature and rigidity allow it to be guided around bends and corners.
- Attaching: Once the "head" (usually a hook or loop) emerges at the destination, the new wires are securely attached to it using electrical tape.
- Pulling: The tape is then reeled back in, "fishing" the attached wires through the confined space to the starting point
