A homeowner in Boise said my wall fish looked 'like a rat chewed it' and now I always use a 3/4 inch spade bit instead of a 1/2 inch.

I used to think a smaller hole was always better, but after that comment I realized the bigger bit gives cleaner edges and less wall damage, so what's your go-to bit size for a clean finish?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery192mo ago

Oh man, that's brutal! I'd be so mad if someone called my work rat-chewed. I stick with a 5/8 inch bit now, it's the sweet spot for most cables and leaves a really clean hole without being huge.

the_cameron2mo ago

Seriously, a 5/8 bit is such a solid choice. Do you ever run into trouble with that size when you have a really thick cable with a big connector head, or does it always fit through clean for you? I've had a few times where I had to step up just for the plug end.

carter.terry2mo ago

Just a small point, but a 5/8 inch bit is actually 0.625 inches. Most common low-voltage rings and grommets are sized for a 3/4 inch hole, which is 0.75 inches. The 5/8 bit can sometimes make it a real fight to get a bushing seated properly in the hole.