Notching timbers instead of drilling....

[Andy78]

I never notch unless I have to. Personally my battery combi and self feed drill bits fly through joists in seconds. Notching would take much longer and wiring would require more daffy dressing with notches.

If I had a huuuuuge rewire to do I'd treat myself to something like the Milwaukee hole hawg ?

 

[stevethesparks]

Mark up the joists perfectly in line before drilling and the cables will glide through from one end to the other.

 

[richy3333]

I will break the chisel out!!

A hole hawg is a great tool if you don’t have one. Eats through the wood like butter. Get their bits also.

 

[telectrix]

Mark up the joists perfectly in line before drilling and the cables will glide through from one end to the other.

except when the joists are too close together so you need to drill at a bit of an ange. in this case, my way is to drill first joist from 1 side, the next from the other side and so on alternate joist drilled left-right, right - left, etc. makes pulling a lot easier.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Been thinking about this , I’m thinking once a row of say 2 inch wide notches are cut into the joist , the cables can all be run and then simply laid into the notch. Then cover plates put over them.
If you had a lot of cables , laying them directly into a notch will be quicker than pulling in cables through holes one by one.

i still would opt for a row of 2 x 25mm holes
but that’s just me

 

[davesparks]

Notching is allowed, but holes are preferable where possible.
I have notched joists in the past for running SWA or 16mm T&E because getting that stuff through holes ain't no fun sometimes.

 

[TJC1]

Out of curiosity why is making notches quicker than say making 2 x 25mm holes using a decent angle drill...?

The install time of cables would be a lot faster!

 

[Zerax]

Having notched and used holes... I reckon, if you're organised, it's far quicker with holes... would be fun to have a race !

A laser level, hole hawg and a combination square would be my weapons of choice.

 

[littlespark]

If you’re feeding through a lot of holes, an apprentice is a good help, guiding the cable in.

 

[LastManOnline]

Good morning all

Is there any reg to say about drilling cables into joists instead of notching?

I have been an electrician for 12 years now and have always drilled out timbers, we are starting a HUGGGGGGGGGGE rewire with long runs. It would save a lot of time i think to notch the top of the timbers and use a protective metal plate to go over after the install

Thoughts?

Notching over holes wins hands down. And laying the cables in rather than pulling through holes in joists is, nt just a great time saver, it's kinder on the cable Insulation. My only problem with it is I don't get to "notch" often enough. Ideally I try to first fix before the upstairs flooring goes down. In agreement with the builder I " notch" the joists where they are resting on a stud or wall. I never do it otherwise. To avoid waking joists
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Notching over holes wins hands down. And laying the cables in rather than pulling through holes in joists is, nt just a great time saver, it's kinder on the cable Insulation. My only problem with it is I don't get to "notch" often enough. Ideally I try to first fix before the upstairs flooring goes down. In agreement with the builder I " notch" the joists where they are resting on a stud or wall. I never do it otherwise. To avoid waking joists

Sorry "weakening"