# Handy people - What best fills a pipe end with a cable in it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-people-what-best-fills-a-pipe-end-with-a-cable-in-it/668258 "2013-09-07T16:31:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-people-what-best-fills-a-pipe-end-with-a-cable-in-it/668258/1 "2013-09-07T16:31:06Z")
We’re running ethernet cable off a building, into a conduit down the side of the building, which then goes underground and then back up to hit the side of another building. What best fills the conduit holes with the cable coming out? Expanding caulk? My buddy used to have some sort of pliable tar-looking putty that he used to permanently water proof holes like these. Recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-people-what-best-fills-a-pipe-end-with-a-cable-in-it/668258/2 "2013-09-07T16:35:39Z")
My boyfriend’s answer is silicone. It’s more water resistant than expanding caulk, and it’s flexible. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-people-what-best-fills-a-pipe-end-with-a-cable-in-it/668258/3 "2013-09-07T18:11:07Z")
A common material for sealing cable exits is Coax Seal. Similar to the putty used in automotive sealing. It never hardens and can be removed with little residue. [http://www.coaxseal.com/](http://www.coaxseal.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-people-what-best-fills-a-pipe-end-with-a-cable-in-it/668258/4 "2013-09-09T05:48:50Z")
Duct seal - any good hardware or electrical supply store should have it [http://t.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-Duct-Seal-Compound-Plugs-10-Pack-DS-110/100212441/](http://t.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-Duct-Seal-Compound-Plugs-10-Pack-DS-110/100212441/) ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-people-what-best-fills-a-pipe-end-with-a-cable-in-it/668258/5 "2013-09-09T19:36:37Z")
One of these is the best way… [http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=conduit+entrance&start=169&sa=X&biw=1206&bih=743&tbm=isch&tbnid=vWhb9FOfCk6-TM:&imgrefurl=http://www.hardwarestore.com/metal-conduit-entrance-2678.aspx&docid=K4dy\_iXq9F6JzM&imgurl=http://static.hardwarestore.com/media/product/647399\_front500.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=CiMuUv2wD8yi4AOJg4GQCQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:77,s:100,i:235&iact=rc&page=9&tbnh=205&tbnw=197&ndsp=22&tx=134&ty=73](http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=conduit+entrance&start=169&sa=X&biw=1206&bih=743&tbm=isch&tbnid=vWhb9FOfCk6-TM:&imgrefurl=http://www.hardwarestore.com/metal-conduit-entrance-2678.aspx&docid=K4dy_iXq9F6JzM&imgurl=http://static.hardwarestore.com/media/product/647399_front500.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=CiMuUv2wD8yi4AOJg4GQCQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:77,s:100,i:235&iact=rc&page=9&tbnh=205&tbnw=197&ndsp=22&tx=134&ty=73) ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-people-what-best-fills-a-pipe-end-with-a-cable-in-it/668258/6 "2013-09-09T19:56:31Z")
> [@JFLuvly](#): > > One of these is the best way… > > [http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=conduit+entrance&start=169&sa=X&biw=1206&bih=743&tbm=isch&tbnid=vWhb9FOfCk6-TM:&imgrefurl=http://www.hardwarestore.com/metal-conduit-entrance-2678.aspx&docid=K4dy\_iXq9F6JzM&imgurl=http://static.hardwarestore.com/media/product/647399\_front500.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=CiMuUv2wD8yi4AOJg4GQCQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:77,s:100,i:235&iact=rc&page=9&tbnh=205&tbnw=197&ndsp=22&tx=134&ty=73](http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=conduit+entrance&start=169&sa=X&biw=1206&bih=743&tbm=isch&tbnid=vWhb9FOfCk6-TM:&imgrefurl=http://www.hardwarestore.com/metal-conduit-entrance-2678.aspx&docid=K4dy_iXq9F6JzM&imgurl=http://static.hardwarestore.com/media/product/647399_front500.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=CiMuUv2wD8yi4AOJg4GQCQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:77,s:100,i:235&iact=rc&page=9&tbnh=205&tbnw=197&ndsp=22&tx=134&ty=73) Yep, this way the open ends of the conduit are inside the building.