Stripping Cable

[gafftapegreenia]

What is the best thing to strip off cable jacket with? I'm tired of using razors and/or knives. What about those purpose made cable strippers? Or electricians scissors? or electricians knives? Or should I eventually have all three?

[gafftaper]

Are you talking about rotary cable strippers like this? I've never used one either but I would love to know how they work.

As far as the smaller wires once you get the jacket off be careful of the strippers you see at home shows that look sort of like this:

While the product is a great one if built correctly with metal, the one's I've seen at the county fair and home show's tend to be made of plastic and break easily, I've broken two. So shop around for a good one made with lots of metal it'll last you a long time. GB, Klein, or Ideal all make nice ones for around $20.

[JD]

Truly an age old dilemma!

I don't like the cable strippers as the internal wires can be at an unpredictable depth and the stripper can nick it. The whole thing is more of an art than a science. For me, I score the outer casing with a box cutter, then score from that point down to the end of the cable. Next I rip the casing open starting at the end and up to the circular score, then tear that around. The whole concept is to not have the blade come in contact with any of the inside wires. (or thumb or forefinger!) When done right (say on 10/3 so) it only takes a couple of seconds. Fine for rubber, and plastic, but useless on Teflon or plenum grade cables! Still, there is a lot of opportunity for "box cutter" to become "thumb cutter" so what works for me might not work for you.

[gafftapegreenia]

gafftaper, yes, a rotary tool like that. I've used those ones pictured before too, including that exact model, did not like it. I think thats the some one that comes with the Coldheat (another waste of money).

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by JD

Truly an age old dilemma!
I don't like the cable strippers as the internal wires can be at an unpredictable depth and the stripper can nick it. The whole thing is more of an art than a science. For me, I score the outer casing with a box cutter, then score from that point down to the end of the cable. Next I rip the casing open starting at the end and up to the circular score, then tear that around. The whole concept is to not have the blade come in contact with any of the inside wires. (or thumb or forefinger!) When done right (say on 10/3 so) it only takes a couple of seconds. Fine for rubber, and plastic, but useless on Teflon or plenum grade cables! Still, there is a lot of opportunity for "box cutter" to become "thumb cutter" so what works for me might not work for you.

I forgot to comment on what I do now without the cool tool. Basically the same as JD describes. Score the outside, make a deep cut at the end, and tear away. It's definitely a job that requires a very sturdy and stable locked blade knife, and you can't be in a hurry.

[Cyclical]

The rotary strippers work all right in my experience. The one I have has two annoying problems: The blade always seems to push in when it's inserted into the jacket, forcing me to set the depth slightly deeper than necessary, and I almost always have to adjust it for every cable; and the blade always wants to work toward the end of the cable as it's rotating. I can quite easily produce a nice, long, black pigs-tail from the cable, without fully removing the jacket, if I don't put a fair amount of care into using the tool. However, I've never once nicked a wire sheath with it. I always seem to get the sheath on the ground with about every tenth cut when I use a razor knife.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by gafftapegreenia

gafftaper, yes, a rotary tool like that. I've used those ones pictured before too, including that exact model, did not like it. I think thats the some one that comes with the Coldheat (another waste of money).

Like I said spend $20 on a good one and you'll love it. The good ones are precise and don't damage the wire. Quick and easy.

[icewolf08]

Personally, I prefer to use a manual stripper/crimp/cutter all in one tool. It handles almost all the common wire gauges and it works all the time, and it pretty hard to break. It is also one of the least expensive wire strippers you can buy. For stripping the jacket off something like 12/3 SO cable I use a knife just like JD was saying.

[gafftapegreenia]

I use one of the spring loaded strippers/cutters to strip the actual wire and use it regularly. I prefer the spring kind as opposed to the all-in-one. I also have a seperate pair of crimpers. My question here is specifically concerning the jacket, and I'm thinking I might get one of those rotary tools or the style gafftaper is suggesting.

[derekleffew]

Here is the one I use and, I think, the one about which most people are talking. It does have its problems and takes some getting used to, but I'd rather use it than an open blade.

I don't remember where I got it, or how much I paid.