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Talking to a retired lineman at the hardware store made me see my fish tape in a new light
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noah91715d ago
Wow, @charlie_roberts87 is right, I made that exact same mistake with my fish tape last year!
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charlie_roberts8715d ago
That's actually a common mix-up. Fish tape is for pulling wire through conduit, not for working on power lines. Linemen use something called a "shotgun stick" or hot stick for live line work. They're fiberglass poles that keep you safe from the voltage. Your fish tape would just get fried up there.
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daniel5111d ago
Yeah and the fiberglass itself has to be kept totally dry. If it gets wet or even just too humid, it can start to conduct. I saw a safety briefing where they showed what happens to a damp hot stick, it's not pretty. That's why crews will bag them up or store them in climate controlled trucks. It's not just about having the right tool, it's about keeping it in perfect shape.
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