I need to run some Ethernet cable across a room. The most logical thing, I think, is to go along the perimeter on top of the baseboard. How can I fix the cable in place in a way that I can later remove without damaging the paint?
For context, this is an apartment, so I can't pull cable through the walls and I do want my deposit back. :)
Edit: Looks are not important... ugly, low-brow solutions welcome.
7 Answers
These Command Cord Organizer cable management items are fantastic. 3M sells a bunch of different ones (and different sizes). And they remove easy without damaging your paint.
I would buy the proper size staples and using either a gun or a hammer (size) tack the cable where I want it. Done properly, the damage is truly minimal. Encasing it in another conduit, while more protected, will add to the size staples necessary.
1Depending on the layout of furniture in the room it might be possible to hide the cable behind/under that and the use rugs to cover it for walk ways (or seeing your edit just gaffa tape it to the carpet, if you do this just be careful as when you peel it up the floor that was covered by tape will probably be cleaner than the floor which wasn't). Or what I've done in my flat is to run some of this trunking along the floor by the wall, the trunking seems to stay where I've left it without any mechanical fixing to the wall.
You need gaffer tape - its like duct tape but not as strong, and comes off without a residue
1- I've hammered these coax nails on the bottom of the baseboard and never had a problem w/ deposits. If necessary, Spackle could fix anything ungainly come moveout.
- You can also shove the cord under the baseboard if you have carpet. They're supposed to leave a gap there.
You could get some trunking (not sure if they call it that wherever you are) and blue-tac it to your skirting boards.
Panduit Loom Tubing is wonderful, it is what AT&T, T-mobile, Verizon, etc uses in their switch rooms any time they need cables run outside of a rack or cable management setup (like jason404 links to). It is very pliable and easy to put cables into. It is also durable. It will not damage your cables and will leave the area you lay it in undamaged as well. I highly recommend this product.
