Hi Tom! *(waves from Australia)* I'm a capable machinist and general metalworker now thanks to you (and Stefan and Robin and Tony and many more) but 7 years ago it was your videos that inspired me to go back to trade school in my 40's
That is a cool piece of gear, especially with the leader on it! I've only done a few conduit jobs, thankfully fairly straightforward, but can totally see how that power feeder would be a Godsend on a bigger plant job.
I used one of these at the last company I worked for. We used for some long underground runs. It worked ok, but if it gets hung up at all DO NOT manually grab the line and try to push/pull to get it going again. We got 3 of our 7 runs done before the tool wouldn't extend anymore. I'll buy one when they refine it a bit more. Also if you get any dirt or crud on the line you're screwed.
Just ordered one prior to seeing this video , I ordered the 100 ft Nylon leader drum after seeing this im going to order the steel and do this hack . Always enjoy your videos thanks for posting.
The nylon may push through easier, please let me know your results. The only thing I don't like about plastic fish tapes is, when the eyelet breaks off or gets damaged, there is no good way to re-attach it.
You just sold 100 of those power fish tapes for Milwaukee. When I saw them at the supply house I said what will they think of next and I thought that it was some sort of a gimmick. Guess now I will have to inquire about one. Thanks for your videos.
It would be interesting to know how it dose in that coiled plastic crap. conduit that is for lines buried in concrete know idea why it can't be smooth at least on the inside ?
Number of years ago I sold Speedi-Leaders which was the predecessor to Klein's Speed Leader. It looks like a nice improvement. The original one had to be soldered to the fish tape. Couldn't believe how many so called electricians could not solder. Great demo by the way.
Greenlee's is still solder on. Haven't used theirs in ages since it's the only one i've broken. They were a little sneakier but the trade off was that they weren't as strong as the Klein.
Nice, compared to trying to do it all manually when working as a one man show. How does it go through the conduit in lays in concrete, or the (typically sharper) glued 90 degree elbows and the like in plastic conduit, does it get stuck on the joints? Looks like it could potentially be a big time and hassle saver with those leaders!
We had a problem running it in PVC. Should be fine in concrete. PVC was kind of a nightmare, the thing ended up breaking and we finished the job manually. Good luck
I had a similar leader on an Ideal tape in the '80s when I was doing alarm work. Worked a treat. Have you tried one of the Klein 50351 swivel eyelets? Same idea, but without the flexible leader. Seems to me the leader will make it work better.
A buddy of mine designed a prototype of this back in '77 - he sold the patent to a Chicago investor for 50,000 . . . & spent the next year as a beach bum in Hawaii ! His machine weighed in @ 12 pounds , & had a 1 ton pull . . . the case was machined from nylon , with the inside gearing made of delrin . It's not a 'new concept !
Speed leaders are the way for sure. That powered fishtape almost seems like cheating. Yeah, nothing like feeding into or out of a live panel. So far I've managed not to weld anything besides a couple of screwdrivers.
I am a safety officer and working in Ft Mac Murray Alberta the industrial electrical contractor I worked for had a set of rules that if you where caught doing thease it meant immediate firing one of them was never push fishtape to any panel ever a few other rules was lieing, not being tied off above 10"/3m and a few more they also only used fish tape as a last option they preferred to use a line called spider wire that had a parachute like thing on one end and with a compressor would blow the line sometimes unbelievable distance and with a kline lineman with ele tape on the jaws would pull the multiple lines back through I was told they could even pull in a line through a exsisting conduit with as menny as 4 wires in allready and not need to add a new Condit run.
Something else I need now....... Speed leader.
Cheers,
Tom
Payback for all the money I have spent after watching your vids :D
Hi Tom! *(waves from Australia)* I'm a capable machinist and general metalworker now thanks to you (and Stefan and Robin and Tony and many more) but 7 years ago it was your videos that inspired me to go back to trade school in my 40's
It’s so cool that new tools continue to be developed for the trades. This one looks like a game changer. 👍👍😎👍👍
Thx. Always enjoy seeing these
That is a cool piece of gear, especially with the leader on it! I've only done a few conduit jobs, thankfully fairly straightforward, but can totally see how that power feeder would be a Godsend on a bigger plant job.
I used one of these at the last company I worked for. We used for some long underground runs. It worked ok, but if it gets hung up at all DO NOT manually grab the line and try to push/pull to get it going again. We got 3 of our 7 runs done before the tool wouldn't extend anymore. I'll buy one when they refine it a bit more. Also if you get any dirt or crud on the line you're screwed.
Just ordered one prior to seeing this video , I ordered the 100 ft Nylon leader drum after seeing this im going to order the steel and do this hack . Always enjoy your videos thanks for posting.
The nylon may push through easier, please let me know your results. The only thing I don't like about plastic fish tapes is, when the eyelet breaks off or gets damaged, there is no good way to re-attach it.
That leader makes a difference for sure. I pushed many miles of fishtape. Thanks for sharing Stan!
I even have speed leaders on a fiberglass fish tape/rods. Game changers.
Thanks for all the information and video.
You just sold 100 of those power fish tapes for Milwaukee. When I saw them at the supply house I said what will they think of next and I thought that it was some sort of a gimmick. Guess now I will have to inquire about one. Thanks for your videos.
It would be interesting to know how it dose in that coiled plastic crap. conduit that is for lines buried in concrete know idea why it can't be smooth at least on the inside ?
Man the times I could have used one of these!
Ha ha! You said "pulling wire".
But seriously, I'm ordering a few of those right now.
AKA .... solo jerking!
Number of years ago I sold Speedi-Leaders which was the predecessor to Klein's Speed Leader. It looks like a nice improvement. The original one had to be soldered to the fish tape. Couldn't believe how many so called electricians could not solder. Great demo by the way.
We used to make our own with a speedometer cable, silver solder was the only way.
Lol. Well there is a reason they are electricians.
Greenlee's is still solder on. Haven't used theirs in ages since it's the only one i've broken. They were a little sneakier but the trade off was that they weren't as strong as the Klein.
Nice, compared to trying to do it all manually when working as a one man show. How does it go through the conduit in lays in concrete, or the (typically sharper) glued 90 degree elbows and the like in plastic conduit, does it get stuck on the joints?
Looks like it could potentially be a big time and hassle saver with those leaders!
We had a problem running it in PVC. Should be fine in concrete. PVC was kind of a nightmare, the thing ended up breaking and we finished the job manually. Good luck
cool video thanks Stan
Man, oh man, when I think of the miles of fish tape I've reeled out and back in........................... Very handy tool!
I had a similar leader on an Ideal tape in the '80s when I was doing alarm work. Worked a treat. Have you tried one of the Klein 50351 swivel eyelets? Same idea, but without the flexible leader. Seems to me the leader will make it work better.
Pulling gell works magic when wire is attached.
We called them flexi leaders when I started as an electricians apprentice in 1982.
It might come in handy to have a counter so you know how much your paying out when you 100% blind to the conduit line
The tape has measurements on it, at least the klein tape does
Nice review and upgrade
Back when I was in the IBEW I thought someone should build something like this....bout time..lol
A buddy of mine designed a prototype of this back in '77 - he sold the patent to a Chicago investor for 50,000 . . . & spent the next year as a beach bum in Hawaii ! His machine weighed in @ 12 pounds , & had a 1 ton pull . . . the case was machined from nylon , with the inside gearing made of delrin . It's not a 'new concept !
Can you please add a link to the Klain’s attachment?
cool .
Neat mod👍🏻
I would be happy to not have to reel it in when I'm done haha
What size conduit is that? 3/4?
1/2
Speed leaders are the way for sure. That powered fishtape almost seems like cheating.
Yeah, nothing like feeding into or out of a live panel. So far I've managed not to weld anything besides a couple of screwdrivers.
I am a safety officer and working in Ft Mac Murray Alberta the industrial electrical contractor I worked for had a set of rules that if you where caught doing thease it meant immediate firing one of them was never push fishtape to any panel ever a few other rules was lieing, not being tied off above 10"/3m and a few more they also only used fish tape as a last option they preferred to use a line called spider wire that had a parachute like thing on one end and with a compressor would blow the line sometimes unbelievable distance and with a kline lineman with ele tape on the jaws would pull the multiple lines back through I was told they could even pull in a line through a exsisting conduit with as menny as 4 wires in allready and not need to add a new Condit run.