[TowerTalk] Putting a pull rope in conduit.

[Chris BONDE]

What would happen if you used a shop vacuum at one end?
Would it do the string through by itself or would it have helped you to use less 
'pushing' air?

Chris opr VE7HCB

From:           	"Jack Myers" <jackqm at oregontrail.net>
To:             	<towertalk at contesting.com>
Date sent:      	Sat, 15 Nov 2003 11:41:21 -0800
Subject:        	[TowerTalk] Putting a pull rope in conduit.

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Thought I would pass this along as it worked very well for me.
Earlier this fall I buried 350 Ft of conduit out to my two new towers
and just got around to putting a pull rope in them today. I decided
that instead of the fish tape method I would blow a string through the
conduit as I have seen done once with the local power company. I used
masons string for the shoot through the conduit. I made a cap for the
end of the conduit with the lid off of 3m #33 tape container. I
drilled two holes in it, one about 1/8 diameter the other just big
enough to squeeze the nozzle of my air blower in it. I then threaded
the masons string through the cap and then poked it through a red
mechanics rag (the ones you get at the auto parts store) and to keep
it from pulling back through the rag I tied a #12 washer to the end of
it. I took my air compressor (nothing special about it) out to the end
of the conduit with a full tank of air (20 gal). I stuffed the rag
loosely in the conduit then stuck the cap on and put the nozzle in 
and let her rip. The main thing is to have the masons string able to
feed easily and it will shoot through fast. I ran out of air about 1/2
through and had to wheel my compressor over to an AC outlet and air up
again. Second tank I got it through no problem. I then pulled a larger
(parachute cord) through. The second conduit I decided to try it with
just my hand cupped over it instead of the cap and it worked just as
well and was less fuss. I was not sure if it would work but it worked
great! Took me less than an hour from start to finish to get my pull
ropes in place. 73 Jack NK7J
_______________________________________________

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