Changed my mind about cheap fish tape after a crawl space in Tulsa

For years I insisted on buying the expensive steel fish tape, figured you get what you pay for. Then a buddy from the union, Dave, told me to try the fiberglass ones that cost about $18. I laughed at him, said they'd snap on the first 90. Last month I had a run under a house in Tulsa, tight bends everywhere, and my steel tape kept binding up. I grabbed Dave's spare fiberglass one out of his truck, and it flexed right through like it was nothing. That cheap tape has been in my bag for three weeks now and I've pulled four lines with zero issues. Anyone else had better luck with the budget fiberglass tapes over the pricey steel ones?

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valwest5d ago

Ran into the same thing doing old work in a house from the 40s. Steel tape would kink at every tight bend and I'd be cussing up a storm. Picked up a cheap fiberglass one at a supply house for like $20 and it slides through like butter. Only thing I'd say is don't yank on it too hard when it gets stuck, they will snap, but for normal pulls it holds up fine.

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