While trying to re-wire an old brass chandelier, I attached the new wire to the old wire, bound the attached area with friction electrical tape and began to pull it through. The two wires came apart and the tape is now stuck inside the arm. How do I remove the tape? The arm has two curves .

Thanks

Buddy552

A relatively stiff wire and a hook. Friction tape really should not be used. Wirenuts, european terminal strips or crimp butt connecteers should have been used.

I'm not sure of the legaility, but a soldered heat shrink tubing covered connection should also be fine.

This should work, if a stiff wire with a hook does not grab the tape, perhaps it will push it out.


A relatively stiff wire and a hook.

This answer must have been due to misreading the fact the tape was just being used to pull the lamp wiring through the tubing, and not for terminating:



Friction tape really should not be used. Wirenuts, european terminal strips or crimp butt connecteers should have been used.

Although, friction tape should not be used for pulling, as you discovered. Friction tape usually is sticky on both sides, and that is why it got stuck inside the tubing.

I appreciate all the advise but the tape is stuck about 4 inches inside the tube where the wire goes. Because the hole is only about a 1/4 inch, I cannot get the tape to move in either direction. I have tried every type of wire I can find but I cannot get the tape to move. Is there anything I can use to either loosen the tape or snake through the tape. I have created a real mess.

Well... I would spray WD-40 into the tube until it saturates the tape... let it sit a while. WD-40 is a very effective adhesive remover, and it may neutralize the "stickyness" of the tape. It may take a while, but WD-40 seems to be a fix all for many things. But the stiff wire is still the best bet. Have you tried compressed air? If you do, make sure it's pointed away from your face especially if you try the WD-40.

I have another idea which I can't quite describe fully, but here goes.

You should be able to thread something like picture hanging wire from end to end. Now you should be able to atttach something like a washer or a small dowell. I'm thinking of something that you coud eventually pull from both ends.