Steven Taylor,
Precision Network Cabling Inc.
Problem
When you route cables through a steel-stud top plate, the cables can easily snag or tear against the sharp edges of the hole drilled into the plate.
Solution
You can use the cap from a cable box as a grommet in the plate to prevent snagging.
Procedure
1) Drill a 3/4-inch hole into the top plate, through which you will route the cable.
2) Place the cap from an old cable box into the hole.
3) Using a knockout punch or a screwdriver, punch a hole into the cap.
4) You can now route cable through the top plate without concern about the cable`s snagging or tearing.
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The cap fits neatly into a 3/4-inch hole drilled into a metal-stud top plate. With the grommet in place, cable can be routed through the hole without snagging or tearing.
Steven Taylor is a project manager with Precision Network Cabling Inc. (Culver City, CA). This tip was a runner-up in the Installer Tips Contest at Cabling Installation Expo `97, held last October in Charlotte, NC.
