atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring friction reduction devices for pulling cable over long lengths

I have just worked for a company that pulls network cable though conduit for new construction. They did not use any friction reduction devices and the way the pulled the cable was squirly at best. One thing that made me question there training, even if it was amp training, was the instructor said "do not use any lubricating fluids/greases for cable when pulling" I have always used slip to pull network cable. What is the big deal in not using slip on cat6 cable?

Anyway, what friction reduction devices "shoe horns, pullies and so on" can be used for pulling cable though conduits that would reduce labor time and cost with fewer people?

I have been on jobs (back in the 1980's) and ran out of cable grease , so I went into the washroom got a piece of paper towel and filled it with hand soap it worked remarkably well and was free.

And the cable is clean & smells good, too!

We used to use D&L hand cleaner. Now, I just grab the small bottles of Ideal or Klein clear stuff.

Carl

Apparently cable lube with a water base is now bad for telecom/data cables if you believe a study from American Pollywater.
https://www.polywater.com/cat6.pdf

They are a vendor of lube products so the study may be a bit skewed towards their product.

All the more reason why Copper TP for data has to go and be replaced with fiber. As bandwidth goes up copper gets to be more and more of a PITA for any number of reasons and this is yet another. Fiber is easier to install and you do it once and forget it.

-Hal

WE ran A cat 6 cable thru a 3/4 inch conduit and used lube and it failed attenuation. I figures I pulled too hard and replaced it. It too failed so I called fluke and they said the lube will make it fail. I scanned it a few days later and it passed after the lube dried up a bit.

Ah, so what Polywater is saying is true. Just goes to show that what they are trying to make UTP cable do is beyond it's capabilities.

-Hal

A couple invaluable items if you do a lot of pulling through EMT.

LB "shoehorn" https://www.rack-a-tiers.com/product/25/LB-Wire-Guide-Wire-Shoe-Horn

4" square box guide https://www.rack-a-tiers.com/product/187/Wire-Vortex-Wire-Pulling-Guide

That company also makes a metal one with rollers on all four sides but I've found it will sometimes nick the jacket on the smaller diameter cat5.

The key to pulling through EMT is not to have too many 90s in point A to B and adding 4" square boxes for extra pull points.

And.....6A Plenum just sucks to pull anyway, no amount of lube or tools/toys will make you not hate yourself for taking that job --- until the check clears!

Fluke's Take on the subject.