I need to wire in a new speaker volume adjuster and box into an existing stud wall. My worry is I am not sure if the speaker wire will be able to get to where I need it to go. This is because I am worried that the stud wall wood will get in the way.
If this were not yet plaster boarded, I could pre-drill any needed holes. The wall is freshly painted, so the less cutting the better.
How likely is it that the cable will be able to drop vertically down the wall if I insert it at the top of the wall? If not, what do I do to get the cable where I need it?
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What are your suggestions?
Best Answer
If you have access to the top plate of the wall and the wall has no insulation, that's super easy:
If the wall is insulated, the procedure differs based on what kind of insulation you have. If the insulation is soft, such as blown-in cellulose or batting, then instead of just dropping the wire in you need to use something stiff to push through the insulation. The proper tool would be a fish tape or similar, but if the distance isn't too long you could use a hanger or similar.
If the insulation is rigid foam or sprayed in foam then you will need to carve a channel through the insulation. The easiest way to do that is with a long drill bit designed for drilling through cross-members inside a wall. The only difficult part is knowing where the drill bit ends up because they don't always travel straight. I've had success drilling the initial hole through the top plate almost adjacent to a stud, and aiming the long drill bit towards the stud. (Not at the stud; towards and long the stud.) The drill bit can then follow the stud down the wall. That should make it easier to locate the cavity you've drilled out.
And don't forget that repairing drywall is pretty easy in the grand scheme of things. If you need an extra hole(s) then don't worry about it.
When you're all done, make sure to fill the hole you drilled in the top plate with fire stop caulk or foam.