I'm installing a volume control in an outside wall. The wall is very close to the front of the house. I've tried drilling down from the attic. The area is so tight, that I had to use a 4 inch bit. The problem is, that there are multiple 2x4s. I have a cutout for a double gang box about 50 inches from the floor. All that being said, what can I use to drill up into the attic? I'm trying not to do anymore cutting than needed.

TIA,

Anthony

I am by no means an expert, but I have seen LONG (3-4 feet) drill bits at Home Depot, Lowe's etc. They're a little flexible and they might work.

Don't look where the normal drill bits are, look in the elecrical area. I usually see them around the area with cable strippers, testers, etc.

SamG

I've seen those bits also, was just on the phone with a friend discussing it. The bit will want to not follow a straight upward path. If I could keep it straight it would work fine.

You can get a stiff 18" bit, and a flexi-bit will follow a straight path if you want it to. In a worst case scenerio, you can drill up into the cieling right against the wall and then notch from the cieling down into the wall cavity. Staple the wire in place and plaster over your notch. Thats how the pros do it when there are no other options.

Labor Saving Devices makes long drill bits with Guides that will allow you to keep the bit as straight as posible

Anthony, if you look here, you'll see the stuff Impaqt mentioned. Click on the Spear-Zit sizes for the various lengths each comes in. I've used them and the HD/Lowe's types a lot. They work well.

The Directional Tool allows you to, by hooking the shank and inserting the "fore-arm" inside the wall, pull the end of the bit back towards the inside of the wall, which makes it less likely that you'll pierce the roof, and the wire will be easier to reach.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Ahhhhh... Couldnt remeber the web site off hand... Thanks Larry

Long drill bits in an insulated wall is no easy task. What type of siding/soffit does the house have? Maybe you can remove a piece of siding or open the soffit.

John

Does the house have crown-molding? If you are careful you can go through the ceiling sheetrock, then the wall sheetrock, the crownmolding will cover both holes.
You mentioned multiple 2x4's, if they go lower than the bottom of the crownmolding,this wont work.

CB1

House has no crown molding. The exterior of the house has aluminum siding. I'm going to try the flexible extension with the bit. If that doesn't work, I'm cutting the wall.

Like previously mentioned, LSD (labor saving devices)
has a tool called a "walleye" It allows you to look inside the wall and guide the long drill bit to the center of the top plate in side the wall. Then drill slowly until it pops through. Then use a glowrod or a snake to push down from the attic. These tools are gifts from the gods. They really help.

WooHoo!
I stopped past lowes and purchased a 51 inch bit and the directional tool. It took several attempts to get through. The insulation was being a pain in the butt. I decide to lay the bit against a stud which avoided the insulation. Within 1 minute, I was done. Finding the whole afterwards was a different story. Having a second person would have made it a lot easier.
I just like to thank everyone that replied with info and tips.

Anthony

Anthony, a little trick (yes, a helper helps) is to leave the bit in the hole until you locate it. You'll also notice that the bit has a hole through it near the tip for attaching a wire so the bit can act as a pull-rod.

However, it's usually a tight fit pulling back out, so I will leave it chucked in the drill and slowly spin it forward and reverse (watch the chuck and keep the spin to a single revolution or less) while pulling back, until the head of the bit comes back through the plate.

Many of the long bits also have a hole near the drill end, so a wire can be pulled in the same direction as the drilling, but under a roof near the eave, there's usually not enough bending room for that.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

If the house has vinyl siding on the outside then I gently pull up a section of the siding using a siding "side wipe" tool then I cut a hole with a 4 inch hole saw in the plywood toward the wall top plate to where it meets the roofline. I will then either snake it to the location I need or I will bring it out and tuck it behind th siding and "J" channel or vinyl cornerposts and then back into the house. I normally don't use anything thicker than 14-4.

A 4" Hole? Wow! We normally won't make any holes bigger than 1" unless it's absolutely necessary. Does anyone else make holes that big? My boss would kill me.