Question about a tricky attic crawl in a 1920s house in Pasadena

I was running a new RG6 line through a tight attic space last week and my drill bit snapped off inside a joist. It was a 3/8 inch bit and it got stuck about 8 feet in from the access panel. I had to carefully back it out with locking pliers, which took almost an hour. Has anyone else had a bit break in a really awkward spot like that, and what's your go-to method for getting it out?

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3 Comments

fionacraig7mo ago

Actually, RG6 is coax cable, not a drill bit.

8

ryang656mo ago

Unless she's drilling holes for cable runs.

1

caleba457mo ago

My buddy had a drill bit snap off inside a floor joist last year. He ended up using a small magnet on a flexible shaft to fish it out after trying pliers. Some of those old houses have seriously tough lumber.

1