PSA: The difference between a cheap fish tape and a Klein one is real

I used a bargain bin fish tape on a long pull last week and it kinked on me halfway through a 50 foot run. Had to cut it out and start over. Switched to my old Klein model and it fed smooth as anything. The thicker steel and better reel made all the difference. Anyone have a good brand for pulling through conduit with a lot of bends?

3 comments

3 Comments

nathan_shah1mo ago

Used to think it was all hype until a cheap one twisted up like a pretzel on me. Now I get why the good ones cost more.

dakota_burns831mo ago

Cheap tools always cost you more time.

emmag221mo ago

Absolutely, a cheap fish tape is just asking for trouble. I had a no-name one snap clean off inside a conduit, and the fight to get it out wasted an entire afternoon. The steel on those budget tapes is way too thin and brittle. Once you use a solid brand like Klein or Greenlee, you can feel the quality in your hands. It's not worth the headache to save a few bucks up front.