Hi everyone,
Need advice on which cable stripper to buy.
I would like a tool that is easy to use and doesn’t cut any copper wire strands.
Thanks in advance,
J
Printable View
Hi everyone,
Need advice on which cable stripper to buy.
I would like a tool that is easy to use and doesn’t cut any copper wire strands.
Thanks in advance,
J
Razor knife
Amazon has one that works good. Check out " knipex cable knife" about 22$.
I use a standard utility knife with a new Irwin Bi-metal blade, flex the cable at a 45 degree angle and touch the knife to the insulation. Do not saw with the knife, just keep flexing and touch the blade to the tight side of the insulation.
Most cables you are supposed to sharpen like a pencil but welding cable is not one of them.
Do just like mentioned above. Fold cut through gently then you can cut it down a little so you have some slack in outer skin to work with then back up by start of cut pull it away from strands and cut right around without ever touching the conductor.
Nice to slide a piece of heat shrink tube or some wraps of scotch 33 and wrap the last 1 1/2 of insulation going tight right up to where your on the bare slightly.
The trick is to score it not cut it. Then bend the wire grabbing the piece you want to remove, with a set of linesmen players and it tears right to the copper and then it just comes right off. When I say bend I am talking about a very small angle maybe 15 degrees. But you have to grab it right at the cut. Sometimes you have to bend it both ways for it to completely let go. But even a very tough coating will yield to that method. If it has two skins like THHN and THWN-2 has, you have to cut through the outer and score the inner if you want it to come right off. XLP USE if you score and bend it comes right off.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonath108
For coaxial cable, for cameras they make little plastic cable strippers that work like that. You just score the insulation and then remove it.
Sincerely,
William McCormick
OP is asking about rubber insulated fine strand welding cable... No vicious actions required. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by William McCormick
The same is true of welding cable. I always use SOOW usually 4/0 wire, you just score it and gently put your linesmen on the piece you want to remove right at the score. Then just start to bend and instantly the score opens up to expose fresh untouched copper. I usually turn the cable 180 and get the other side then.Quote:
Originally Posted by 12V71
Sincerely,
Willliam McCormick
didn't realize stripping cable was that involved and required a college degree!
I typically use these.
Attachment 1727353
I’ll spin them around the cable, holding them in such a way so as to cut thru most of the insulation but not the wire. Fast and easy.
You would be surprised at how many do not know how to properly strip insulation from cables and wires without damaging the conductors, including many electricians. Just a tiny nick in a conductor puts it at risk for failure.Quote:
Originally Posted by filetobeef
Company I work for is trying to do away with razor
knives. They bought me a Westward cable stripper.
It works really well on some cords and cables, not
so well on others. When it works, it’s actually much
easier than a razor knife.I haven’t tried it on welding
cable, but it works on 440 diesel locomotive cable,
which is similar to welding cable, but larger.
Yup just slice the Damn thing carefully!Quote:
Originally Posted by filetobeef
Take a look at people's welding cables where they connect to the ground, it often looks like a bird's nest because they just put a small mark on every strand of copper under the insulation. After a week they start to break.Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscar
Sincerely,
William McCormick
Electrician knife aka grape knife.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/8819764...grid_organic=1
https://www.homeessentialsdirect.com...rice0025to0050
Dave
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonath108
I have found the Knipex stripper to be very useful for stripping larger welding, and "S" cords. You can score the outside jacket and the pull the stripper towards the cut end. You can then peel the insulation back and finish up with the Knives under the cover. When I have a dozen cord drops to do over the production line, or a bunch of machines that need to have plugs, and whips install this tool comes in handy. If you doing just a few welding cables , I second the New bi-metal blades, they hold their edge much longer. Take your time and score the insulation being careful not to nick the copper, but if you do cut a few , its not that big a deal(unless you cut a 1/4 of the way thru the strands. If you cut too deep into an "S" cord and nick a conductor, that is not a good thing.
Attachment 1727440
Attachment 1727439
The red knife is the Knipex with the cutter on the end, the blue cutter is an Ideal that I've had for at least 25 years.
regards
Why would I bother? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by William McCormick
Sorry.... I misunderstood the title...
Attachment 1727455
Buck knife with William's method.