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FlatWire: Scared Off by the Spackling
FlatWire can help remove your A/V cable clutter, provided you're capable of spackling, sanding and painting.
flatwire
The wires range from 4/1000 of an inch to 13/1000 of an inch thick.
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November 21, 2008 | by Richard M. Sherwin

Because the alleged goal of the FlatWire system is to hide bulging wires and cables (it comes in the form of speaker wire, RCA and component cables and soon HDMI), we could see this product used in apartments or condos with limited access to the floors and ceilings. However, I want to reiterate, if the layout allows for snaking wires through walls, it will likely be less work. (For some helpful tips, check out “How to Run A/V Wires through Your Home.”)

Conclusion
So now knowing what we know, we would not use this product unless Chip was willing to hold our hand the entire way or do it himself. We are sure it is not cheap. The sconce kit runs about $249 and a 5.1 surround sound install system goes for $399. Regular electrical wire is not that expensive. Like I said, cool idea, but much too much work to get the same results doing it the old fashioned way.

Click here to view the FlatWire products mentioned in this article.

Do you have experience with FlatWire, good or bad? Let us know in the comments below.


Richard M. Sherwin - Contributing Writer
Richard Sherwin is a former syndicated technology columnist and TV/Radio analyst, who has also been a marketing executive with IBM, Philips, NBC and a chief advisor to several manufacturers and service providers.



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Comments (2) Most recent displayed first.
Posted by Tom C  on  01/16/09  at  03:17 PM

I guess you are not very handy.
I purchased one of the sconce kits online, and my wife and I installed it perfectly in a few hours. As for the mudding, I by no means am an expert, but found as with any outher drywall project, starting narrow and going wide with the mudd produces great results. Drywalling, like any other project, you get out what you put into it. Most people are too impatient to take the time to mudd wall the correct way.

Tom

Posted by Chris Springer  on  11/21/08  at  10:11 AM

Very Informative article. As an installer of a lot of AV equipment in both the commercial and residential areas this is good to know-



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