Securing Sky cable around outside of house?

[Andehh]

I have stuffed the Sky Box & AV gear under the stairs, and as a result re-routed 2 x new Sky Cables round the outside of the house. The problem is, I can't for the life of me tack the cables clips to the wall.

The brick is too damn hard, and the mortar they just fall out/pull out with the slightest bit of effort. I have tried 2 different types of clip, some from screwfix and some from Maplins.

Is there a technique I am missing here!?

[R1 Indy]

Pull nail out of clips, screw thin screw into clips, drill 5mm hole in wall, insert yellow plugs into holes, screw clips into plugs.

[Andehh]

R1 Indy said:

Pull nail out of clips, screw thin screw into clips, drill 5mm hole in wall, insert yellow plugs into holes, screw clips into plugs.

Not a bad idea, but with about 9m worth and 2 cables...that's a helluvalot of faffing around, and I imagine complete overkill! Will see if there is anything quicker, then use that as my fallback.

Cheers

[Matt_N]

Replace the nails supplied with the cable slips with masonary ones?

[Pooky67]

We use these 'pin plugs' at work

http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-cable-pin-plugs-...

You put your 5mm bit in your hammer drill, pop a small hole in the masonry, then hammer the cleat into it. Drill all the holes first, then do all the plugs then all the hammering. Easy!

[C0ffin D0dger]

I too fking hate those cable clips. Never seem to be able to hammer them in without either the nail bending or the mortar falling out. The little plugs linked to above look interesting though.

Another alternative is these: http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/d190/Ca...

Drill hole, knock in mount, cable tie cable to mount.

[megaphone]

Some bricks are rock hard. I find the only way to get a nail/clip in is to use lots of short rapid hammer blows, I find the nail will eventually go in, however it is a bit hit and miss.

[SlidingSideways]

Andehh said:

and 2 cables...

These will cut down the number of clips you need to hammer in..
http://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-shotgun-coaxial-...

[DrDeAtH]

SlidingSideways said:

Andehh said:

and 2 cables...

These will cut down the number of clips you need to hammer in..
http://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-shotgun-coaxial-...

5mm clips... Bit on the small side

[chimp427]

Get yourself some cable band and drill and screw it, you only need one hole for every clip and it is available in black too. Its far easier and you wont need many clips.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/galvanised-band-12mm-x-1...

[dirty_dog]

We use some fixings that you drill a hole and knock in so no plugs required, you then cable tie the wires on.

[anonymous-user]

dirty_dog said:

We use some fixings that you drill a hole and knock in so no plugs required, you then cable tie the wires on.

That will look a right mess. Many moons ago I worked for Sky, circa 5 installs a day & never once had a problem with the clips we were supplied with. If the mortar is that soft a re-point maybe the order of the day. I'd wager you are smacking them in too hard though. Another thought, can the cable be run in the gutter or cable tied to any down pipes? Not the best method but can help in circumstances like these. Failing that the drill & plug fixings are your best bet.

[speedyman]

Put the cables in plastic conduit which glues togeather its cheap. The conduit saddles could be metre spacings. Quick and easy and offers the cables protection from accidental damage.

[h0b0]

Dave_ST220 said:

never once had a problem with the clips we were supplied with. If the mortar is that soft a re-point maybe the order of the day.

Same here. If the mortar is crumbling that much you may have an issue that needs to be addressed.

[hoppo4.2]

We use a 5 mm rawplug drilled into the brick. Then just tap the clip into that.

Very rare that you can't cetera a clip to stay in with a bit of patience

[Andehh]

Finally got around to trying to sort this, and looks like I am drilling the holes, using the nail plugs & then nailing into it. Due to B&Q being a huge faff to get to, does anyone know where I can order the below on line?

Tried googling various forms of the name, but not coming up with anything & B&Q want £5 for home delivery of them

http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-cable-pin-plugs-...


thanks

[hairyben]

Worth trying tower branded clips if you havent already as they have hard masonary nails rather than naff soft nails. Another option is the good old fashioned "buckle clips" as you can select some proper hard nails and bundle several cables together

But yeah, 20 years in the trade and cable clipping is still one thing that can infuriate.

[bimsb6]

It's a bit of a pain but i usually take the longer pins out of bigger clips and use those in the smaller clips , the hardness range does vary wildly from brand to brand as well.

[x type]

Andehh said:

Finally got around to trying to sort this, and looks like I am drilling the holes, using the nail plugs & then nailing into it. Due to B&Q being a huge faff to get to, does anyone know where I can order the below on line?

Tried googling various forms of the name, but not coming up with anything & B&Q want £5 for home delivery of them

http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-cable-pin-plugs-...


thanks

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Pin-Plugs-for-fixing-cable-clips-into-hard-surfaces-/260520616023

Edited by x type on Sunday 22 November 12:32

[hairyben]

x type said:

Andehh said:

Finally got around to trying to sort this, and looks like I am drilling the holes, using the nail plugs & then nailing into it. Due to B&Q being a huge faff to get to, does anyone know where I can order the below on line?

Tried googling various forms of the name, but not coming up with anything & B&Q want £5 for home delivery of them

http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-cable-pin-plugs-...


thanks

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Pin-Plugs-for-fixing-cable-clips-into-hard-surfaces-/260520616023

Edited by x type on Sunday 22 November 12:32

£9 for a box of 100 raw plugs???