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Insulation Stripper?

chrisski said:
Please tell me you’re joking. Getting decent information about working with thicker than 10 gauge is difficult. I’m sure it has lead to some very questionable DIY installations because of some of the bad info.
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No joke. Disclaimer; I got the technique from Rod Collins of Maine Marine. I have not used the technique on anything but marine grade cable. It took me about three or four tries to get perfect stripped cable. Just squeeze the cutter, open and move the cutter and squeeze, repeat around the cable. Reasonable care is required, but not overwhelming. I make a lot of 2/0 cables and all are perfect with no damaged strands. There, I passed on one secret of my studio. Don't expect many. :)
 
Zil said:
No joke. Disclaimer; I got the technique from Rod Collins of Maine Marine. I have not used the technique on anything but marine grade cable. It took me about three or four tries to get perfect stripped cable. Just squeeze the cutter, open and move the cutter and squeeze, repeat around the cable. Reasonable care is required, but not overwhelming. I make a lot of 2/0 cables and all are perfect with no damaged strands. There, I passed on one secret of my studio. Don't expect many. :)
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For battery cables, which have softer insulation than house wire, the trick is to not cut quite all the way through with the cutters. Then bend the wire to stretch and break the insulation along the cut. That way, no nicking of the wires.

The wire cutters I linked have a concave shape at the edge, which follows the round wire more closely so it doesn't take as many squeezes to cut around the wire. Two different radii, use the one that fits wire best. It is also sharp enough to slice as it is rotated around the wire, not quite touching the copper.

I've done that for 2/0 battery cable.

For stiffer THHN (and mostly smaller wires), either similar technique or else I pinch with dikes, causing insulation to bulge out. Then nip through the bulges. Position dikes rotated 90 degrees from before so edges fit into the cuts and pull to strip. For larger gauge, nip through additional locations first.
 
No nicked copper. No bending to tear the insulation. Hardest part for me is following around the cable to meet the starting point. I need eye transplant.
 
Zil said:
No nicked copper. No bending to tear the insulation. Hardest part for me is following around the cable to meet the starting point. I need eye transplant.
Click to expand...

Yeah, cutting a straight line has been challenging. Fortunately, heat shrink tubing covers up all my ragged edges.
 
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Almost all the tools I own were made as a gift from my father. Thanks to him, I can fix everything in the House. Unfortunately, he wasn't a big fan of gardening and machinery. He taught me everything I know, but I wanted to grow my fruits and vegetables myself. That's why I decided I had to buy everything myself. Thanks to this site https://www.hausandgarten.com/collections/garden-tools, I can take pride in my machines. They are of good quality, and the prices do not bite you either. This was super important because I do not have a well-paid job, and I am comfortable with what I have. If someone buys them, please write me your opinion, whether or not you are satisfied. I will wait for your response.
 
Newbie here but I bought and used the Jokari. First few tries at 2/0 I cut quite a few strands, I was going in one direction, I looked at the picture instructions and it seemed to indicate to go back and forth. I tried that and had much better results, not saying it was perfect but I did several with no strands cut. If I was cutting 2/0 everyday I would look for a better solution, but I think for the price I am happy with the results.
 
I have used these Jokari strippers that were posted earlier, and I have used it to strip the jacket off of 6/4 SOOW cable. I use it for anything bigger than 10ga.

It can strike the inner wire, but you can really feel when you get through and know when to stop.
 
earlier in this thread @HRTKD mentioned a cable stripper by Dewalt. I'm already very much into the Milwaukee battery ecosystem so I purchased their version of a battery powered cable stripper. (Part #: 2935X-21)

I just tested it for the first time today and first try, it just worked! perfectly! Obviously more expensive than the $30-40 manual options, and no I'm not stripping large wires daily, but enough to where it's worth it for me. My kit will do 1/0 to 500MCM which is way larger than I'd ever need.

My initial test was on some 2/0 wire from Ancor, the insulation was just a tad too large to fit into the 2/0 fitting so I used the 3/0 fitting and it worked perfect. the blade on each fitting is also adjustable so whether you have thicker or thinner insulation you can adjust to that if needed. It also has a user settable depth gauge to strip off as much as you need whether 1/2" or 4".

Super excited about this. It took 2 seconds and didn't nick a single strand!

Getting ready to strip this 2/0 wire
IMG_0001.jpeg


Perfect strip
IMG_0002.jpeg

Complete kit showing the tool and the various quick release fittings for different wire sizes.
2935X-21_KIT.jpg
 
Something I haven't tried but have in the toolbox and am going to experiment with is a tubing cutter. It should be fairly easy to progressively cut the sheath without damaging the wire. Up until now I've used the Fiskars also but ya gotta be careful. I also find they don't seem to stay sharp very long if you use them to cut a bunch of wire.
 
Firstascent said:
earlier in this thread @HRTKD mentioned a cable stripper by Dewalt. I'm already very much into the Milwaukee battery ecosystem so I purchased their version of a battery powered cable stripper. (Part #: 2935X-21)

I just tested it for the first time today and first try, it just worked! perfectly! Obviously more expensive than the $30-40 manual options, and no I'm not stripping large wires daily, but enough to where it's worth it for me. My kit will do 1/0 to 500MCM which is way larger than I'd ever need.

My initial test was on some 2/0 wire from Ancor, the insulation was just a tad too large to fit into the 2/0 fitting so I used the 3/0 fitting and it worked perfect. the blade on each fitting is also adjustable so whether you have thicker or thinner insulation you can adjust to that if needed. It also has a user settable depth gauge to strip off as much as you need whether 1/2" or 4".

Super excited about this. It took 2 seconds and didn't nick a single strand!

Getting ready to strip this 2/0 wire
View attachment 66316


Perfect strip
View attachment 66317

Complete kit showing the tool and the various quick release fittings for different wire sizes.
View attachment 66318
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Ancor has some pretty heavy-duty insulation. I'm impressed. I'm also impressed with the price but in a different way.
 
Just John said:
Ancor has some pretty heavy-duty insulation. I'm impressed. I'm also impressed with the price but in a different way.
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It was too easy, cut through it like butter, no exaggeration.

Agreed on the price though. It did include a battery which I didn’t need but always nice to have more. However, I did get a good deal on sale where it was “only” $350. Still a lot but compared to $500… it’s a great deal from that perspective.
 
Firstascent said:
It was too easy, cut through it like butter, no exaggeration.

Agreed on the price though. It did include a battery which I didn’t need but always nice to have more. However, I did get a good deal on sale where it was “only” $350. Still a lot but compared to $500… it’s a great deal from that perspective.
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That price does make it more palatable.
 
Firstascent said:
It was too easy, cut through it like butter, no exaggeration.

Agreed on the price though. It did include a battery which I didn’t need but always nice to have more. However, I did get a good deal on sale where it was “only” $350. Still a lot but compared to $500… it’s a great deal from that perspective.
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Eh, couldn't they make an attachment for a cordless drill? Another power tool just for cable stripping? This would be overkill for me.
 
DerpsyDoodler said:
Eh, couldn't they make an attachment for a cordless drill? Another power tool just for cable stripping? This would be overkill for me.
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Yeah from the photos that were posted earlier of the dewalt version it looks like that’s exactly what they did. They simply could’ve made an adapter like the dewalt and then you could use and drill.

The Milwaukee version does have its pros though being more low profile if you’re working in tight spots which is a big plus. Not for me but I’m fairly certain I’m not their intended market haha.

Any work I do in electrical panels (for work) is all 24v control wiring.
 
I know this is an old thread. However I just obtained the Jokari.

First I set the depth of the blade to the thickness of the insulation.

Basically I measured the length of the cut. Then I applied painters tape around the wire where the cut was wanted.

The Jokari can wander creating a spiral cut. The tape helped as a template in making a straighter cut.

I still found myself using a box cutter. On one or two occasions to break through an errant small spiral cut. It also proved helpful creating a longitudinal cut from the cut to the end of the wire so that the piece of insulation came off easier.
 
I was looking at the $79 one on Woot, but it looks like it doesn't have any of the bushings that are in the $408 kit. Aren't the bushings required?
 
HRTKD said:
Woot.com has the Dewalt insulation strippers on sale.

One size fits 6 - 750. $229, on sale for $79
www.woot.com

DEWALT DCE151B 20V MAX* XR Cable Stripper Tool Only

DEWALT DCE151B 20V MAX* XR Cable Stripper Tool Only
www.woot.com www.woot.com

Complete kit. $499, on sale for $408.
www.woot.com

DEWALT DCE151TD1 20V MAX XR Cable Stripper, Cor

DEWALT DCE151TD1 20V MAX XR Cable Stripper, Cor
www.woot.com www.woot.com
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I wanted to add some quick first hand knowledge I’ve learned from these sets. I have the Milwaukee version, and I absolutely love it, cuts through insulation like butter!

BUT, I think there are a few key details one should know just so you have the right expectations especially at a premium cost $$$

the individual dies are not made for the type of wire we all typically use for our battery cables, nor are they designed with the fine stranded wire in mind that is common for a lot of us.
Typically, from my experience with Ancor wire specifically, the insulation is a little thicker. What this means is that you will mostly likely have to use the next size up on the die… if you have a 2/0 wire you will need to use the 3/0 die. This creates a little play because now the die is a little larger than your wire. Combine that with the fine strands which cut easily and it’s easy to end up with a handful of strands cut off.

if you’ve seen any videos of these of folks from the industry these were actually designed for and they just shove the wire in and pull the trigger without any thought needed with perfect results… don’t expect that with fine stranded wire. You’ll need to make sure you’re feeding your wire in nice and straight, and go a little slower.

as I mentioned, it’s a great tool and I love it. Just know they were designed for a different industry. I think if either company actually made the correct dies for our battery cables it would be so much better.
 
HRTKD said:
The cutter is adjustable on the cheaper one.
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I believe the dies/bushings are still required, which is why it’s so much cheaper since they aren't included.

the cutter is adjustable on all the bushings but they don’t have enough adjustment to where a single die can handle that wide of a range, they don’t move as far as you’d think. Think of it as fine tuning.
 
I do as Hedges does with a utility knife. You soon learn the feel of how deep to go, and a bit of flexing the fine stranded wires will break that last little insulation. I'd have to be doing a lot of stripping to bother with anything else, and by the time my system is all set up, I've got over twenty five 4/0 cables to make up.

On crimps, however, I got that non-ratcheting FTX copy of the fancy dieless tool for $135 after a test crimp with the hammer crimper came out garbage. Seems to be doing an excellent job.
 
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