As an industrial electrician for 40 years and now retired never knew about this trick. There were many times where it could have been handy. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, I had over 20 years experience in the remodeling business and never came across this tip. Not even with electricians. Thanks HK!

I am an electrician. Used to teach at the union hall. Just cut the end with your pliers on a 45 deg angle. I had a bet with my students that I could drill a PT 6 x 6 and it did it with no problem. I took their money, but it went into the Pizza fund. Also useful when you have to drill through a rug. Works like a charm. I have also done it with welding rod when I didn't have a coat hanger. Just take a hammer and beat the flux off the welding rod.. But coat hangers used to be the fix when I locked my keys in my truck.

I was in remodeling business as well. I was remodeling a house for a guy who was a retired but had a ton of knowledge. He showed me that trick early in my career and I have used it many times. This is great for anyone in the trades, but yes the wire ones are getting harder to find lol. Great job !

A very good tip to use, been using this for years now! Learned it from an uncle who wasn't an electrician by trade. Just revamped my kitchen lighting and used this method. Works like a charm! And like you said these types of coat hangers are harder to get so I always keep a half a dozen or so of these for this reason.

Wait. What? Amazing. Had to watch twice.

When I saw the title I was thinking about an electrical probe and wondering what you had in store, when you said locating for a switch I smiled for then I realized what you were referring to, as I have also used this many many times to locate positions in an attic or crawlspace. Thanks for sharing.

Brilliant! Only the thoroughly experienced would know! Regards from far north California.

The probe will go through anything, including drywall, lumber, wires and cables, water and gas piping, what a wonderful tool

I was fully expecting this to be a vid of you drilling into a wall and "accidentally" hitting a wire, thereby locating wires in the wall! 😄 Nice to see this info!

@herrickkimball

6 ай бұрын

That is always a possibility, but I never had it happen, fortunately. 👍

I would not have believed anyone but you. Nice video. Thank you.

Awesome, I love it when you show me something that is completely new to me never heard of that one before

Darn Herrick. Learned something today. I’m gonna buy every metal coat hanger I see at garage sales and flea markets from now on

@herrickkimball

2 ай бұрын

Good idea. 👍

An HVAC friend showed me this 35+ years ago. He made a cradle stand for his drill so the wire wouldn't bend when he went downstairs to see where it came out. I've used it many times and prefer wire insulation supports to hangers. They are stiffer and sharper and seem to drill better.

Thank you that was incredible. Hello from Texas 😊

This is why I like houses with conduit, usually you can find the wall where the switch is cause the conduit is coming through the top plate.

This a good trick. I used it all the time with 3/32 brazing rod. On Amazon a 1/8" bit x 12" is what we used when hiting wood. Good video thank you.

I saw an HVAC guy use this just last week with wire used to hang the ductwork. A coat hangar would be even more MacGyver-ish. Pretty slick!

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keep your videos coming please.

I just learned this trick myself from an electrician. He likes to use those spring steel wires made for insulation support. They’re stiffer and they make a smaller hole. Pawed plenty of insulation aside looking for wires going down through plates.

It’s such a handy trick!! Thanks for getting it out there for the masses!

Just my two cents. I use an aircraft bit so it has a cutting tip. If that's not long enough, I shove some wire through. Works great for me.

Hi Kerrick, that is one of the best tips I've ever seen. I always keep wire hangers because they are so useful apart from their intended purpose so that is another one!! 😊 Thank you so much for sharing.😊 Regards, Ralph Street.

COOL thanks for sharing.

Use one for years. Only I hold the "Locator" with a leather glove. Like he said, it won't hurt without a glove, I am chicken. Keep one in my toolbox with other electrical tools. The only thing I worry about is hitting a "Hot" wire. Have an idea what maybe on the other side.

THAT’S INSANE ‼️ 🎯

In that situation I drill a hole a few inches from the wall to avoid hitting framing, then push a wire through the hole to locate in the attic.

i'm a diyer and i figured this out years ago. no one showed me. i keep multiple length 1/8 inch jobber biits for this. something else- by using the 1/8th inch bits you can use those marker flags making them way more visible

The wires that hold up insulation between joists work better. They are spring steel.

another amazing tip

It goes considerably faster if you DONT file the end. Just cut it then drill it.

It's fine as long as you don't hit existing plumbing or wiring.

I think they make long twisty things that make holes too. An electrician carrying one. Now that would be a trick.

How hot did wire tip get? Also, seems like you could start with a drill bit to get it started and have those first few inches be like a drill guide for the wire. I think if you push too hard and don't guide it with your hand well enough, it will try to go in a curve. HK has years of experience in that guiding hand.

@herrickkimball

6 ай бұрын

Probably pretty hot. I've never really grabbed onto the end to see. 🙂

Thanks Herrick

An insulation lightning rod works great.

What works a lot better is the real stiff wires that the insulators used to put insulation in ceiling joy and under floor joy you can also get them 22 1/2 inches long. They work like a charm. Forget that cut hanger.😂😂😂😂😂😂

It’s great for bird seed too

Why do I smell bacon? Was that smoke that came off your finger? That was a HOOT...

what is the purpose of this 'probe'? Stud finder?

@PatrickPease

6 ай бұрын

You drill up through the ceiling right next to the wall, and then you leave that probe sticking into the attic so that you can see it. From the attic you can see the probe and you know where the wall is and you can run cables down that wall.

Just think of the projects that this could be used as securement. You could build wood projects with this method.

Just put it on your shirt.

This guy is a zero just loves to hear himself talk

@PatrickPease

6 ай бұрын

This episode was really useful. Your comment wasn't. If anyones a zero you get my vote