Stripping wires from insulation: what tools are there? How to strip wires: a brief overview of the tool Stripper

The work of an electrician is impossible without special tools. To perform such a simple operation as cutting wiring, connecting switches and sockets, you will need a stripping tool. To strip the wiring, use a special hand tool for removing insulation from wires: strippers, pullers.

Of course, if you need to strip a couple of wires, it is quite possible to get by with an ordinary kitchen knife, but if you have to install electrical wiring in an apartment and in a house, then an ordinary knife will not work for these purposes. The blade is too uncomfortable. And in the work of a professional electrician, a simple table knife should not be used, because its handle may not be made of a dielectric material.

Electrician knives: features and types

The correct electrician's knife does not necessarily have a straight blade, because it is often necessary to make circular cuts on the wires, and it is more convenient to do this with a curved blade. Of course, you can remove the sheath from the wiring with an ordinary knife, cutting the upper insulating layer along, and the sheath of the contacts in a circular motion, then removing the braid like a stocking. But, if the knife blade, its dimensions and handle do not meet certain requirements, the conductor itself can be easily damaged, especially if the wires are thin.

To simplify circular cuts on the knife blade, recesses are made for different wire diameters; by placing the cable there, you can make an incision on the braid in a circular motion without fear of damaging the core itself.

The general requirements for a knife for electrical work are as follows:

1. It is better to choose a small knife for stripping insulation, this will allow you to work in a cramped space (shield, cabinet). The dimensions of the blade itself should also be miniature, so as not to cut off the excess in the wiring bundle. In addition, a small blade of short length sits better in the hand, it is more convenient to strip thin wires with it.
2. The cutting edge must be straight. This will simplify the operation of cutting wires in a double braid - when you need to remove only the outer insulation, and leave the inner one intact.
3. The handle does not have to be anatomical. The shape should allow you to feel by touch where the tip of the blade is.
4. The material of the blade is carbon steel, which will allow you to maintain the necessary sharpness for a longer time.
5. The handle must be made of a dielectric, durable material: durable plastic, carbon fiber, to prevent electric shock during work. "Instructions for the use and testing of protective equipment used in electrical installations" - clause 2.16.

An electrician does not need a knife with a sharpened blade. Firstly, with many small operations, especially in cramped and dark rooms, the electrician will involuntarily touch the cutting side with his fingers, and secondly, the metal wire will be easily damaged by a blade honed like a razor. Thirdly, when working with a bundle of wires, it is easy to damage adjacent wires with a sharp knife.

Important! When stripping cables, hold the knife so that the blade is under the acute angle to the cable. Otherwise, the soft metal core (copper or aluminum conductor) may be damaged. Remove the braid with light movements away from you, cutting off the shell in pieces, just like sharpening a pencil.

If the knife is purchased from the electrical department, the handle should be marked with the voltage it can handle. If a homemade product is used in the work, before removing the insulation, you need to take care of the reliable protection of the handle by wrapping it with electrically insulating material (cable braid, electrical tape). Of course, it is impossible to call this method of protecting the handle completely safe.

Electrician knife with heel

This product is one type of electrician's knife. It is also called plow. This convenient fixture to remove the shell. It has a short, inwardly curved blade, on the tip of the blade there is a special device, which is called the "heel". The main purpose of this “heel” is to limit the depth of the cut, when working with double insulation, when you need to remove upper layer braids, and not affect, at the same time, the insulation of the internal wires.

Important! Before removing the sheath from the cable, you need to make sure that there is no voltage using an indicator screwdriver!

The platform at the tip of the blade facilitates the longitudinal sliding of the device when removing the top layer of protection and prevents the tip from hooking the internal wires. The device is excellent for cables with hard cores (VVG), it removes the soft sheath, such as PVA, worse (it worsens the slip of the heel). On the whole, this is useful tool for removing insulation in the work of an electrician.

Knife with a beak

This curved, beak-shaped inner edge makes it easy to cut around the braid before removing it. It can also be used for longitudinal cuts, but be careful, because there is no limiting "heel" on the blade. It can be inconvenient for inexperienced electricians, since you need to manually adjust the depth of cut.

Hook knife

It is considered a professional tool. The blade is short and straight with a hook at the end. The sharp edge is either absent (only the hook itself is sharpened), or is located on the opposite side, as an addition. Suitable for stripping all major cable types.

With such a knife it is convenient to cut the insulation from the cable along. Many models are equipped with other devices that allow you to make circular cuts before stripping the wire. It is very popular among professional electricians.

Pullers

You can strip the wires from insulation with special strippers. Essentially, this is universal fixtures for stripping wires. May contain several blades of different shapes and lengths. But the basis is a special clamp that allows you to make a circular incision of the braid of cables of different diameters.

Such tools are more convenient, because they make it possible to manually select the diameter when cutting the cable sheath, without fear of damaging the conductor. It is not difficult to use such strippers, you just need to fix the cable to be processed in the clamp and scroll the insulation stripper from the wires around it once.

Strippers

Perhaps the most common type of wire stripping tool in the arsenal of a professional electrician. These devices are electrician's assistants for conventional manual, semi-automatic or automatic wire strippers. Removing insulation from any cable with their help is much simpler.

It is very convenient to use a stripper to peel off the top layer of the protective sheath of stranded wires. The cutting depth can be easily adjusted, making it suitable for stripping large and small diameter cables. Stripping for a thin cable is carried out without much effort.

The device also has a special limiter that allows you to choose the length of the dielectric sheath to be removed. When stripping long wire, the stopper can be easily removed.

Often, a stripper for stripping wires is supplemented with other devices that make them a truly multifunctional tool. For example, press tongs may be included in their design. With their help, you can crimp the ends of the wires. Crimping can be carried out using various sleeves and lugs, allowing their subsequent connection to electrical appliances. Often strippers are used as crimpers to connect one stripped end of wire to the other without soldering using terminals. Some models may be equipped with clippers.

Benefits of strippers (when compared with knives):

• can be used to remove the sheath from conductors of very thin diameter (section from 0.05 mm2);
• in addition to stripping, they are used as wire cutters or press tongs to crimp the tip of the conductor;
• it is permissible to use when removing insulation from wires with any electrical insulation (silicone, polyvinyl chloride, rubber, etc.);
• with their help, they easily remove electrical insulation even from stranded wiring, cable, twisted pair;
• will not damage the current-carrying part even for conductors made of soft metal (aluminum, copper);
• easy to work with;
• cost a little.

Finally, if you don’t have a professional tool or a handy knife at hand, you can use a regular soldering iron to remove the insulation from the wires. Before stripping electrical wires, its sting is heated to the appropriate temperature, then the wire is leaned against it and scrolled around the axis, burning through the insulation.

After that, the shell can be easily removed, and the core will remain intact. The disadvantages of this cleaning method include the fact that, when melted, the plastic shell will emit unpleasant and harmful smoke. Do not use a soldering iron to strip rubber-coated cables (as the rubber will simply burn) or combustible-coated cables.

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A good electrician has a variety of tools in his arsenal. After all, high-quality wiring installation often depends not only on knowledge and skills, but also on the availability of certain devices, as well as skills on how to handle them.

Even a seemingly simple question, how to strip a wire from insulation, requires a certain set of tools. An experienced electrician has a tool for high-quality stripping of wires of any type and section.

The importance of proper cleaning

For a high-quality and reliable electrical connection, it is important not only to correctly twist or solder. It is equally important to carefully clean the core from insulation. In a hurry or improper use of the tool, it is easy to damage (cut) the conductive core itself. This leads to a decrease in the cross section of the wire and a faster failure of the junction: breakage or burning. As a rule, wires and cables used in everyday life have a single-core or multi-core structure. Depending on this, various tools and methods can be used to release the core from insulation. Let's consider the most commonly used of them, which are used by home and professional electricians to remove insulation.

professional tool

Used by professional electricians special device, which is called a stripper (KSI). Such a tool can be of three types:

1. Manual;
2. semi-automatic;
3. Auto.

Let's consider their device in more detail.

Manual stripper

The handheld device is perhaps the most common stripper option. Several positive factors come into play here:

• Light weight;
• Compact size;
• Several additional features that make this tool more versatile.

Such a stripper has several (usually up to seven) fixed gaps, which allow you to quickly strip the wire with a cross section of 0.25 to 2.5 mm. Of the additional features, cable cutters and the crimping function of the lugs are the most useful.

One of the varieties of a manual stripper, allows you to remove insulation from wires with a cross section from 0.6 mm to 2.6 mm

Semi-automatic KSI

This tool also has a certain number of holes in which you need to insert a wire to strip it. After that, it is enough to squeeze the handles: the sponges will close and hold the wire, and the knife will cut the insulation. As a result, the stripper will open, removing the insulation.

The advantage of such a tool is the simplicity of design and ease of use. The disadvantages include some bulkiness and impracticality: additional functions are not provided. That is why such a device has not been widely used even by professionals.

Semi-automatic stripping pliers KBT WS-03A

KSI-machine

Deservedly popular with electricians who have to perform a large number of tasks every day. various compounds enjoy automatic strippers. Such a tool is extremely easy to use: just insert the wire into the work area and squeeze the handles. The device will carefully remove the braid from the wire, automatically determining the cross section of the core.

Without adjustment, such a tool works with a wire with a cross section of 0.2 to 6 mm2. It is worth noting that modern strippers have an adjustment screw that allows you to adjust the device to work with a smaller diameter wire.

KBT WS-03A pliers automatically determine the wire cross section

In addition, the popular WS-04 stripper model has many additional features:

• Combs on the inside of the handles allow crimping of cores in round terminals;
• Cable cutters are installed next to the combs, allowing you to quickly cut the ends of the wire;
• If necessary, you can set the limiter for stripping, for example, 2 cm.

The multifunctional automatic stripper is designed for stripping both single and double insulation. But it is worth noting that one layer of braid is removed in one operation. That is, in order to remove double insulation, it is necessary to perform two manipulations.

improvised means

But not everyone needs to strip dozens of wires every day. In addition, a quality professional tool costs decent money. Therefore, in everyday life, when it is necessary to clean several ends, it is quite possible to get by with improvised means and a tool that any owner has.

Stripping with a knife

The most popular tool for one-time cleaning of insulation is a regular knife. But its use is fraught with damage to the cable core. Therefore, the knife should not be held straight, but at an acute angle to the wire and "cut off" the insulating layer. When using a knife, care must be taken as it is easy to cut yourself. A clerical knife is also often used, but it is even more inconvenient to work with them, and it breaks easily if the sheath is very hard.

A hook-shaped knife is often used to cut cables. This knife has a wider blade and is designed to cut the insulation along the cable.

Hook-shaped knife for stripping KNIPPEX KN-1220165SB is used for longitudinal cutting of insulation

A knife is also available in the form of a special clip. The wire is inserted under clamping bar where the blade is set. Pressing the bar with your thumb, the knife is drawn along the braid, cutting it, after which the insulation is easily removed. Such a knife costs about 200 rubles and is a fairly versatile tool.

Such a knife is often used to strip the insulation from a UTP cable. Same on this device there is a device for clamping the UTP cable into sockets and cross-panels

Side cutters

It is very convenient to use wire cutters, which are also called side cutters. In order to quickly strip the wire from insulation, the wire cutters must be correctly taken in hand. Better take the cutters reverse side: so that the cutting edges are directed against the stroke. This will allow the blades to easily cut into the sheath without violating the integrity of the strand. This method is easy to implement, and every owner has wire cutters. Therefore, this method of stripping wires has found wide application.

Side cutters are an essential tool for any electrician.

Reflow method

The insulation melting method is most suitable for cleaning old wiring. The fact is that over time, the winding loses its elasticity, becomes rigid and at the same time fragile. If you use a mechanical tool, such as wire cutters or a stripper, the braid can crack anywhere.

In this case, you can use a soldering iron or a wood burning device. With a heated soldering iron, the braid is melted in a circle, after which it is easily removed with wire cutters or pliers.

The advantages of this method include the ability to remove the insulation from very thin wires without the risk of damaging them. Of the minuses, we note the presence of acrid smoke during reflow and, of course, electricity is required.

It is not recommended to use teeth to remove insulation. Not only does this damage tooth enamel, but it can also cause damage from static electricity accumulated during wiring. It's not fatal, but very annoying.

How to strip some types of wire

Sometimes there is a need to connect not an ordinary soft-braided wire, but a conductive core with specific coating. Removing such isolation requires extraordinary approaches. Let's look at some options.

enameled wire

To strip such insulation, two methods are used:

1. mechanical method. For this method, it is best to use a small sandpaper. A piece of paper is folded in half, then the wire is inserted into the sheet. Lightly squeezing the sandpaper with your fingers, the wire is pulled over the free end. Such manipulations should be continued until the enamel is completely erased. This method is suitable for enameled wire with a cross section of more than 0.2 mm2;
2. The thermochemical method is often used by radio amateurs to clean enamel from wires with a cross section of less than 0.2 mm2. Its essence lies in the use of a soldering iron and vinyl chloride material (an ordinary electrical tape with such a coating is suitable). A piece of tape is placed on flat surface, a piece of wire is laid on top. A heated soldering iron should be slowly drawn through the wire. The chlorine released at the same time perfectly removes the enamel coating from the wire.

PTFE Coated Wire

Fluoroplast is a polymeric material for protective coating wires are produced in the form of a narrow tape, which is tightly wound on a conductive core. This insulation has high thermal stability (up to 300°C), does not let moisture through and is suitable for use in various difficult conditions operation.

Such a braid can only be removed mechanically. To do this, on one side along the wire, the insulation is carefully scraped off with a knife so as not to damage the core. As soon as the wire is exposed, the insulation is laid aside and cut to the desired length.

Coaxial cable

This cable is used to connect cable or satellite TV using an F-connector. When removing the insulation from this conductor, care should be taken: the cores are very thin and fragile, and are damaged very easily. You can connect the connector in the following order:

1. The first layer of the winding is cut with a knife at a distance of 15 mm from the edge;
2. With rotating movements, the incised braid is removed from the cable;
3. Aluminum or foil winding is bent onto the wire;
4. Then the insulation is removed from the central core at a distance of 10 mm from the edge;
5. After that, the connector is screwed onto the cable until it stops;
6. The central core should protrude from the connector by 2 mm.

Summing up

In conclusion, we note that it is impossible to name the most correct way to strip the wire. It is important here that the insulation be removed without damaging the conductive core. Each of the methods has the right to be used in certain situations.

Separately, it is worth paying attention to the importance of working with the voltage removed. If it is not possible to de-energize the wiring, all work is done with rubber gloves and an insulated tool.

Wire stripping tools

When wiring any complexity, there is almost always a need to strip the wires. Some try to do this with their teeth, but there is no need to even talk about the absurdity of this method - you must use at least the minimum suitable devices for this purpose - a knife, pliers, wire cutters or professional tools.

Electrician's knife for cutting cables

With the development of electrical engineering, many methods have appeared for removing the insulating coating from conductors. The most obvious is cutting or cutting with a knife of the insulating sheath and then removing it.

Many electricians still use this method if a specialized tool is not at hand. An electrician's knife can be either homemade or industrially produced for electrical installation.

It takes practice and care when stripping wires, especially stranded wires, with these cutting tools. Since this is a rather troublesome process, professional electricians rarely use them for these purposes, but an electrical knife is almost indispensable when cutting cables, that is, when removing the top layer of insulation.

removal of the top layer of insulation

Especially popular is a knife with a heel on the tip, which slides along the inner insulated cores of the cable, cutting the outer insulating layer.

This heel is carefully inserted into the end of the cable and pushed away from you or towards you, as it is more convenient for you, cutting the upper protective coating with a sharp cutting edge.

To make it convenient to insert the heel, the cable is compressed with pliers.

For safety reasons, in order not to get hurt, it is recommended to always hold the cable with pliers during these manipulations.

Wire stripping methods

The insulating cover is removed from the cable cores by various methods and tools that are most suitable for a certain type of insulating cover.

Since conductors with PVC insulation are most often used for the installation of household electrical wiring, we will only talk about tools suitable for this work, but first it is worth mentioning some artisanal methods for removing the insulating protective cover. For lack of best tools most commonly used knives various designs.

Often, the PVC insulating layer is melted with a soldering iron, after which the insulation is removed with pliers.

A significant disadvantage is the poisonous evaporation and corrosion of the soldering iron tip. A similar heat treatment is also carried out using a lighter or a heated nichrome thread.

Another way is to compress the wire with wire cutters and tighten the insulation, with a verified compression force, which is difficult to control - by pressing a little harder, you can easily bite through the metal core.

These methods are suitable for one-time stripping of several wires, but in professional activities you need an appropriate tool for stripping.

Principles of stripping current-carrying cores

There are two principles for removing the protective cover from cable cores used in professional tools - this is cutting and breaking the insulation.

When cutting, the cutting edge, without damaging the current-carrying core, cuts through the protective layer in a circle, after which the resulting cut tube is removed from the conductor with some effort. This principle is used in a simple stripping knife.

The wire is inserted into a semicircle of a suitable radius, located on the pressure plate, after which the tool is rotated several times around the core and the insulating layer pressed against the blade is cut in a circle. A similar method is used in another cutting tool - here the clamping force on the blade and the diameter of the wire to be peeled are manually adjusted by pressure.

Other modifications:

The disadvantage of these devices is the operation time and the possibility of damage to the metal core.

Rupture and stripping

This principle can be compared to the method of stripping wires with teeth, when a piece of clamped insulation is torn off from the rest of the coating when a force is applied along the conductor.

Such professional tools are called strippers, they allow you to remove the insulation very quickly, with one touch of the handle, which makes them very beneficial for large volumes of wiring.

The stripper (striper, a derivative of the verb to strip - bare) is designed in such a way that three functions are simultaneously performed in it:

• Fixing the wire to be cleaned;
• Compression (biting) of the insulating layer;
• Pulling and pulling force.

The fixing jaws are notched so that they can hold the cable core firmly. The tearing jaws are equipped with grippers that bite the plastic layer, partially damaging it when pressed, due to which the insulation is torn precisely in this place.

This stripper is equipped with a wire stopper, so all wires will be stripped to the same distance, which can be adjusted.

The force that pushes through the insulation is adjusted using the adjustment screw.

A similar principle of wire cleaning was used in the Soviet stripper, only it did not have a limiter, and it was necessary to insert the wire into the corresponding semicircles.

Stripper using scoring blades

The principle of cutting insulation, followed by its removal, is used in the Knipex stripper.

Here, the same functions are used as in the tool described above, only instead of squeezing the PVC layer, it is notched, but structurally this stripper is made of reinforced carbon fiber.

The insulation removal algorithm is as follows - inserting the wire, fixing it, cutting and removing the cover.

This tool also has an adjustment for the length of stripped insulation and the depth of cut of the blades.

This tool has the ability to cut cables.

In addition, with this stripper, you can cut the wires. Regardless of the method, tool, or stripper used, when stripping, care must be taken to ensure that the stripping tool is set correctly so as not to damage the strand, which can then break off.

infoelectric.ru

Stripping tool for wires and cables

Wiring of any complexity is almost always accompanied by stripping the ends of the wire. For these purposes, the most various devices. What to choose a tool for stripping wire insulation, and how to work with it, the article will tell you.

Wire thickness and current

When the magnitude of the current passing through the conductor exceeds the calculated nominal values, the balance in the operation of the electrical network is disturbed, which leads to overheating of the insulation layer, and at critical values, to the melting of the metal elements of the wires. Electricity works on this principle. welders.

Reducing the thickness of the conductor leads to an increase in its electrical resistance, a decrease in performance. Such a wire will not withstand the required current loads, but at lower values ​​it can work for a long time. In addition, further reduction mechanical properties.

How the cross section of a conductor affects the amount of current passed through it can be determined using Ohm's law.

It can be seen from the figure: if a large force is applied to the knife that cuts through the insulation layer, then the blade, after entering the metal, will violate the cross-sectional area and structure of the wire. How the metal is cut is clearly seen in the photo.

Tip: When removing the insulation layer from the wire, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the metal core, to prevent scratches and cuts on it. Even with their insignificant depth, over time, a significant decrease in the cross-sectional area can occur, which will cause failures and malfunctions of the equipment.

The principle of stripping wires from insulation

Professional tools use two principles for removing the protective coating from the cable:

• Gap. This method can be compared to stripping wires with teeth, when a piece of insulation sandwiched between the teeth is torn off from the rest of the coating layer with a force directed along the conductor.
• Cutting. In this case, the cutting edge cuts through the protective layer in a circle, without damaging the current-carrying core. Then, part of the cut tube is removed from the conductor with little effort.

Professional tools for stripping wires, there are:

• Manual.
• Semi-automatic.
• Automatic.

To work with a small number of wires at home, you can use simple methods for stripping their ends.

Easy Ways to Strip Wires

Stripping the cable ends can be done in two ways:

• Thermal influence. In this case, the core is heated to the melting temperature of the insulation. This is done:

1. By melting the PVC insulating layer with a soldering iron, and then removing the coating with pliers. A big drawback is the presence of toxic fumes and corrosion on the soldering iron tip.
2. Lighter.
3. Heated nichrome thread.

Such techniques are best used for thin, low-power conductors that are used in electronics, communication devices, audio equipment with stranded soft conductors operating in circuits where the voltage is about 5 volts.

Tip: Such methods should be used only when stripping a small number of wires once.

• mechanical cutting. The method is based on the removal of the protective layer by the cutting edges of the tool. At home, for these purposes it is best to use a knife to strip the insulation from the wires.

Electricians often make a knife with their own hands. For this:

1. Take a chip from a hacksaw blade with a small blade.
2. They sharpen it on an emery machine to give the tool the shape of a sharp, thin wedge.
3. The handle is made by tightly winding the wire, on which several layers of electrical tape are applied.

With such a cloth, a layer of polyvinyl chloride is perfectly cut off, but improper work with a knife easily damages copper or aluminum metal, which is close to the insulation.

Tip: When using such a homemade product, the plane of sharpening the blade should be very carefully directed at an acute angle to the cut off layer of insulation, which will allow you to slide along it when the tool touches the metal core, and not crash.

How to quickly remove the insulation from a copper wire at home, the video will tell.

Tools for professionals

A professional tool for stripping wires is:

• Forceps.
• Pliers.
• Ticks.
• Knives.

The table introduces some of them:

How to use the stripper

The principle of operation of the device is as follows:

• Sponges initially cut into insulation.
• Grab wires from both sides. On the sponges there are special deep notches located at a certain angle.
• After crimping the insulation, the jaws work like a plow, making a forward movement, which leads to a deepening of the cut and keeping the notches in the insulation.
• With a sharp jerk, the sponges diverge to the sides. As a result, the insulation is torn, which can be easily removed.

Tip: To break the insulation, it is necessary to make a jerk, and not a uniform spreading of the stripper jaws.

• The rear metal plate on the instrument, covered with plastic caps, is responsible for such a sharp jerk. There is a hole on it, where a small conical metal pin enters.
• When pressing on the handles of the tool with some force, there is a slight bend at the base of the metal plate. As a result, it loses engagement with the pin, which leads to a sharp divergence of the jaws.
• Adjustment of the force of a jerk is carried out by a micro-adjustment screw, by changing the length of the pin.

Such a device for stripping wires is equipped with two pairs of sponges. During operation, the ends of the stripped cable are placed in working area tool, by closing the handles of the blade, the insulation is cut, and the sponges are removed from the core.

For example, here is an instruction for removing insulation with an automatic stripper from a wire with a cross section of 2.5 mm²:

• The wire is laid all the way between the jaws.
• The handles are slightly compressed, which causes the jaws to clamp the wire.
• By pressing the handles to the end, the insulation is removed.

Such a device for stripping wires is additionally equipped with wire cutters and protrusions for crimping the lugs. This is very convenient when you need to urgently crimp the tip, but there is no normal crimper nearby.

However, it is not very convenient to use it. There is also a limiter for the length of the insulation that needs to be stripped.

To avoid problems when stripping wires, you should follow a few rules:

• To remove the sheath of a coaxial cable, the process must be divided into two stages:

1. Remove the outer shell with a soldering iron, while the sting must be passed in the longitudinal direction.

1. Remove the top braid to get to the polyethylene insulation located on the central core. This insulation is easily removed with a knife or other tool.

• Stripping the insulating layer of enameled wire better with a knife, with a core cross section of more than 0.2 mm², or with a soldering iron, for a smaller section. Enamel can be carefully removed with sandpaper, performing translational movements.
• It is better to remove the rubber coating with a special tool for removing insulation from the wire.
• To clean the sheath in the middle of a long cable, it is better to use an electrician's knife.
• Paper insulation from the cable, easier to peel off with a knife.

Removing the insulation from the wires is a crucial moment. A reliable system depends on the quality of the tool used and the qualifications of its owner. electrical circuit.

elektrik-a.su

Tools. Strippers - tools for stripping wires - DRIVE2

The most important thing when removing insulation from wires is not to damage the conductor itself and not to damage the insulation where it should remain. And yet - it is important that it is fast, convenient and safe.

I have several strippers and I decided to do a little review:

different strippers

The most ancient and proven option, which has been used by all electricians since ancient times, is these pliers for stripping insulation:

Stripping pliers, adjustable by screw, handles insulated up to 1000V

The principle of operation is very simple - with a screw, the pliers are adjusted to the required diameter of the conductor (with a small margin so that the conductor itself is not scratched during the removal of insulation), then the wire is wrapped around, you can turn the pliers around the wire (to cut the insulation in a circle):

Then you just pull the pliers towards you - the insulation can be easily removed:

The insulation can be easily removed

Such pliers come with non-insulated handles (they cost less), and they come with insulated handles (red or red and yellow handles, inscriptions that there is insulation up to 1000V).

I have a model with insulated handles, and this is at the same time my simplest and at the same time the most expensive stripper - either 1200r or 1400r it cost (despite the fact that the same ones can be found in appearance for 600 or even 300r).

The fact is that this one is made in Germany, each one is tested in a bath under voltage. The Chinese can lie about the insulation, and if it is of poor quality and you work under current, you can be killed. And of course, the hardness of steel and sharpening are also very good - you can clean the thinnest wires without any problems.

Cons - if you work with different wire diameters, then all the time you need to either reconfigure the screw, or have several of these pliers and get confused in them. In addition, the stripping length cannot be adjusted.

Pros - reliability, indestructibility, the ability to remove insulation in hard-to-reach places where other strippers will not crawl, and this is the only stripper I know of that can work under voltage.

He once helped me out a lot when at the dacha at the entrance to the house, a sucky-made contact burned out (the twisting of copper with aluminum oxidized), and our electrician just quit. I climbed the stairs myself, and using these insulated pliers, as well as insulated pliers, wire cutters and a screwdriver, I was able to bite off, clean and restore contact, and be with the light before the arrival of a real electrician.)

And one of its pluses was also discovered: It turns out that this stripper is able to strip incredibly thin leashes, which the rest of the strippers from this review simply tear (the diameter of the wire with insulation is less than a millimeter)!

Let me remind you that this stripper is the most expensive of those in this review, and it is made in Germany - perhaps it is very carefully made, and its cheap counterparts are not capable of this, but nevertheless.

Here is another stripper designed specifically for stripping the OUTER sheath of round cables:

A very good and handy tool, and it is simply indispensable for NYM cable!

The only thing is that there are two types of them - with an additional knife (covered with a white translucent cap in the photo) and without it. So, this additional knife is absolutely not needed, in my opinion, those times have passed when the wires were shredded with knives, so it only gets in the way, it’s better to choose a model without it.

How this stripper works - it has a built-in thin and very sharp blade, the release of which is regulated by a screw:

The screw is adjusted so that the blade cuts through the insulation but does not touch the wires in the cable. The device is put on the cable, clamped, rotated around, and pulled to the end, cutting through the insulation.

Here is a video of a similar stripper in action:

I got a small piece of excellent cable with a bunch of first-class copper wires:

With this stripper, I easily freed them by removing the insulation:

It can be seen how the released blade cut through all the insulation

Now I am provided with wires for radio wiring for a long time!)

My darling! So much joy for 1000r!)

These strippers are produced under different brands, I have seen such under the brand LUX, Weicon Super No. 5, KBT and some more. They cost about 1000r 1800r - the golden mean. There are cheap ones that look similar, black with black blades - complete shit, money down the drain. There are expensive professional ones of the same design for 3-5 thousand rubles, with a huge resource for those who do nothing all day long to remove insulation from wires - this is useless for home.

This stripper works very simply - set the length of the insulation to be removed (on many terminals, sockets, switches, etc. they write how long to remove the insulation for them:

It is written on the terminal that for it it is necessary to set the length of the stripped insulation to 10 mm - set to 10 mm)

After that, we insert the wire inward to the limiter and remove the insulation in one movement. Nothing but the length of the removal does not need to be adjusted at all.

Here is a video of his work:

The only negative is that sometimes the remnants of the removed insulation get stuck in this stripper and you have to remove them. This happens if you slowly squeeze and unclench the handles, but if you clean it with a quick movement, the insulation immediately flies off and does not get stuck.

Probably strippers for 4-7 thousand rubles are deprived of such a disadvantage, but this is important only for professional installers who remove insulation from wires day and night.)

But he can remove the insulation from the thinnest and most delicate wires, even remove the outer sheath from them first, and then the insulation from the wires inside.

There are built-in wire cutters for wires up to 2 mm.

This is my favorite stripper, especially good for stranded wires.

The handles compress very easily - much easier than the next kind of stripper I'm going to review.

The next view is such a stripper:

Stripper KVT - the workhorse of the Soviet electrician)

Very common and no longer new design stripper.

Here is a video of his work:

Why is he so good that millions choose him?

Firstly, versatility - it can strip wires of different diameters, automatically adjusting.

Secondly, this is the most convenient stripper for working with our popular flat wire:

flat wire

This is probably the only stripper that can carefully remove the outer insulation from such a wire, as well as remove the insulation from two or three of its wires SIMULTANEOUSLY!)

Unfortunately, I did not have a VVG-type wire at hand for demonstration, I had to take what was.

Usually, the insulation of a flat wire is removed with a knife or such a thing:

Usually a flat cable is cut with a knife or even such a thing.

Which is inconvenient, because in the end it turns out like this:

The remaining insulation must be cut with wire cutters

The remnants of the insulation stick out so that they do not interfere, you need to cut them off with wire cutters.

But! If you use the right stripper, then this is not required!)

The right tool makes the job easy, fast and accurate)

The result is fast, neat, safe:

Carefully and quickly, without unnecessary movements, the outer insulation was removed from the flat wire

This stripper can also strip two or three wires at the same time.

Unfortunately, I did not have a suitable three-wire wire at hand, but I think the principle is clear:

Simultaneous removal of insulation from 2 wires. NOBODY can do this anymore!

Very handy stripper for three-core cable.)

I also really liked him - although at first he seemed rude to me, but this is for thin wires, and he cleans 220 volt electricians, especially flat VVGs and the like, just gorgeous!)

As a bonus, it has wire cutters and some kind of crimper (crimping tool) for insulated and non-insulated ferrules. It is inconvenient to use, but if there is no normal crimper at hand, but you need to crimp the tip, this is salvation.

There is also a stripped insulation length limiter, which is usually removed by everyone at once.)

Like this. There will be an opportunity to supplement the article, I will write more about a stripper for coaxial cable, about a stripper-crimper for telephone and Internet cables, as well as about crimpers (tools for crimping cable lugs and sleeves).

I can only say that after removing the insulation, stranded wires cannot be immediately clamped under the screw without preparation, since it easily destroys individual veins.

It is necessary to crimp stranded wires with insulated or non-insulated lugs:

tip insulated and non-insulated

You can see the already crimped tip above, in the photo with the first tongs, it's just that I have already reached the limit of photos.)

NShVI (pin sleeve insulated tip) such a thing is called, it is sold everywhere, if you need to clamp 2 wires into one such tip, you need to buy tips with a wider plastic part - NShVI2.

UPDATE: I made a video of some strippers in operation + showed crimping pliers for sleeves:

When doing minor repairs in the house, you often have to deal not only with wires, but also with cables. Therefore, the question arises: how to properly strip the wire from insulation? There are differences between a wire and a cable, for example, a wire is one conductor, which may not even provide for the possibility of stripping the insulation (bare wire), while a cable is a whole network of current carriers that do not touch each other, covered with a common layer - an insulating sheath. In fact, there are always several wires inside the cable. Stripping is sometimes required, both individual conductors and all conductors in the cable. It is often necessary to remove a long section of the upper shell (insulation). That's why you can't do it with just your hands.

The types and arrangement of wires and cables have already been repeatedly discussed in articles on this topic. For example: "", "", "", etc.
As a rule, a wire is a conductor (rigid or flexible) covered with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or rubber insulation. Insulation can be one layer, and maybe several. Sometimes a silk braid acts as additional insulation, sometimes the conductor part is covered with an insulating varnish.
How the cable is arranged is already written a little higher. What is technically considered a cable is often colloquially referred to as a wire, and stranded wire may be referred to as a cable. Polyvinyl chloride, rubber and other non-flammable dielectrics are used as insulation for wires and cables. They protect the wires from a short circuit between themselves, contact with a person and from fire.
Sometimes the conductors of a stranded wire are wrapped with a rather dense layer of insulation, which can cause difficulties when stripping.
According to the type of conductor section, the wires are divided into two types:

1. Single-wire (rigid). They are a conductor consisting of one solid conductor.
2. Multiwire (flexible). They consist of several very thin wires woven together.

For successful stripping, you must use quality tool and observe the norms and sequence of work, otherwise, the wiring will quickly fail.

Tools needed for wire stripping

To properly and safely strip the current-carrying part of the wire from insulation, the following tools may come in handy:

• Side cutters.
• Assembly, construction, stationery or household knife.
• Electric burner.
• Pliers.
• Special cutters for thick cables or shears for metal.
• A vise or other holding device.

Stripper: its purpose and model variations

A stripper is a special device for stripping wires. Simple Models This tool is similar in principle to conventional side cutters. The blades are equipped with recesses of different radii, designed for conductors of different sections.
The semi-automatic manual stripper is equipped with two pairs of bladed jaws. When using it, the end of the cable must be placed in the work area, the blade handles closed and the insulation cut. Sponges at the same time remove it from the core. The stripper of this model is equipped with an adjustable stop, which allows you to fine-tune the section of the placed wire. In Russia, this tool is called KSI (insulation stripping pliers).


Some types of strippers perform several functions at the same time:

• pruned
• clean up
• Twisting the veins

A twisted-pair stripper is a clip with a built-in blade that looks like the blade of a utility knife.

After equipment repair or electrical network, make sure that there is not a single bare area left.

Firm "Knipex"

The tool for stripping and cutting wires must be of high quality, in accordance with the requirements of the state standard. The German company Knipex produces time-tested reliable tools for stripping wires. Some of them are tested at 10,000 volts at +70 and -25 degrees. Therefore, there is no doubt about the reliability of the products of this company. Among other tools with which the wire is cut, the main ones can be distinguished:

• Combination pliers
• Knitting pliers
• Clamping pliers
• wire cutters
• Tweezers
• Forceps
• Cable knives

Founded way back in 1882, Knipex is today one of the most famous manufacturers of electrical tools. Every day, 45,000 units of this company's products are sold. About a hundred countries of the world cooperate with it. And in our region, it will not be difficult to get a Knipex tool.

Wire or cable stripping process

Most often, wire stripping is done using side cutters. Sometimes cutting wires is accompanied by improper use of side cutters, which complicates the work and leads to damage to the current-carrying part of the wire. To remove the insulation, it is important that the cutting parts are directed in the direction opposite to the movement of the tool. Thus, the knives can cut into the insulation even with slight pressure.

If there are no side cutters or other special devices at hand, you can take a knife, do not press the wire insulation with the cutting part of the knife and circle it around. If necessary, repeat until the protective layer of insulation is cut through and the point reaches the core. You can make an incision not across. and along the wire, then stretch the edges along the sides and cut off the sheath. This method is even considered by many to be better and safer.


When cutting, you can easily cut your hands, so be extremely careful.

How to cut outer insulation with a heeled knife video

When removing the outer layer of insulation, try not to cut it with translational movements (reminiscent of sawing). You just need to push it with the sharp side of the knife and slowly turn it. Do not use force. When the work is done, inspect the stripped ends of the conductor. There may be cuts or breaks in the current-carrying part of the wire. This end of the wire is not suitable for further use. It needs to be cut off and redone. If this is not given due importance, over time a dangerous situation may arise. As a rule, the damaged part of the wire core in the future, during operation, breaks off. In the future, it will be necessary to look for the place of damage to the cable, and this place, as a rule, will be hidden by insulating tape.
Sometimes it is not clear how to strip the wire, especially when it is too thin, and even stranded. There is one trick.

1. Take an old razor blade.
2. We break it and take one half of the blade.
3. We fix the wire using a vice or clamps. You can use the table lamp clip.
4. Cut the insulation along the conductor.
5. We make neat cuts across the section, trying not to touch the conductor with the blade.
6. We bend the cable so that the notched edges slightly part.
7. We cling to the incision with a fingernail and pull the insulation from the core.

Stripping wires is a painstaking job that requires patience.
Mistakes often occur when stripping wires. Typical errors of stripped wires are visible in the figure:

Thin wires break very easily. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the insulation from them very carefully.

Stripping the insulation of thin or winding wires

With a conductor thickness of 0.2 mm, optimal way stripping, there will be a mechanical option. To do this, we need a knife or sandpaper, preferably a fine grain section.
The paper needs to be bent with an abrasive inward and a wire is inserted into the bent sheet, slightly pulling it and pressing it with your fingers. The procedure must be repeated until the enamel is completely peeled off.
When using a knife, it is necessary to put part of the cable on a hard surface and scrape off the varnish by scrolling the wire in a circle until the enamel is scraped off the conductor. So, cutting the wire is not a complicated process and does not require an electrician's diploma.
If the cross section is thinner than 0.2 mm, another method will be required, since mechanical results will not work, it will only damage the wire. In this case, it is worth mastering the thermochemical cleaning method. We will need a soldering iron and PVC insulation.
We put PVC on the table and heat the soldering iron. In a hot state, we drive them through insulation. When heated, chlorine will be produced, separating the enamel.
For tinning the wire during thermochemical treatment, you can take an aspirin tablet, lay the wire on it and run a soldering iron over it in the same way.
In addition to the fact that the cross section of the wire is so thin, inside it has many strands twisted into one conductor. Therefore, the use of this method requires accuracy and skill.

Power cable stripping

Power cables are mainly used for laying a conductor to powerful equipment and switchboards. How to remove the outer layer of cable insulation?

1. Slowly we cut the insulating layer from the end along the cable, but not very deep.
2. With the help of pliers, we pull out one core located inside.
3. Cut off the remaining piece from the outer insulation.
4. We split the wires.

Before you begin this work, think carefully about how much insulation you need to strip. It is better to cut with a small margin. Having exposed a piece that is too long, you can always cut off the excess. Use a cambric to better position the cable inside the instrument.

When working with electricity, never neglect the need to exercise caution. Even if you have stripped the wires many times, remember that any cut in the insulating layer is a potential threat to the cable and wire.

And finally. Various wire stripping tool and how to use it video.

There are various wires and cables, some are laid according to the standard scheme, the second - through the air. It is the first ones that have a special protective layer, which eliminates the closure. Such a surface is dismantled in the process of performing the simplest tasks. For example, this is a connection of two cables so that the contact point becomes as tight as possible and works efficiently.

The question arises: "How to remove the insulation from the wires?". To facilitate this process, there are many different techniques and techniques. Because it is not always necessary to completely disassemble the cable, sometimes you just need to strip the contacts and not damage the main core.

In order not to be mistaken and to understand exactly how to remove the insulation from the wire, it is worth arming yourself with the instructions and taking the correct recommendations as a basis. But without the proper tool, the work will not be done. In addition, wires and cables can have a different basis, the methods differ accordingly.

Features of stripping insulation and problems in the performance of work

Before removing the insulation from the wires, it is worth considering some of the nuances of the process. After all, the coating can be in one layer and several. The work is done quickly, but this will require the use of a stripper.

If you do not delve into the details, many do not see the difficulties in the procedure for cleaning a cable or wire from protection. But without sharp, cutting objects, the work will not go smoothly. As a result, there is a possibility of violating the integrity of the wire itself. The following may happen:

• The formation of holes in an unnecessary place.
• There is a possibility of injury.
• Damage to the conductor itself.

All this is easy to exclude if a simple and accurate instruction for implementation is taken into service. In addition, special tools are required. Do not rush, even if you have experience in completing the task. It is worth at least theoretically understanding how to remove insulation from wires with a tool.

What kind of wires are there?

There are two main cores used in the process - copper and aluminum. If you remove the insulation, then with each view you will have to be careful and take your time. In terms of strength, copper retains its integrity longer than aluminum. Below we consider the properties and characteristics of each.

Aluminum:

• Density is expressed in t/m 3 . More than 2.6.
• There is no resistance to frequent bending.
• It will not work to create a multi-wire core.
• The specific resistance is insignificant.

• Density is expressed in t/m 3 . More than 8.8.
• Resistance to frequent bending is present.
• It will be possible to create a multi-wire core.
• Resistivity is good.

From these data, we can conclude that the copper wire is better and its current conductivity is higher. But aluminum is not reliable. high level, so it is used less often. Great care must be taken during the cleaning process. Therefore, before removing the insulation from the copper wire, it is worth making a small notch and preparing the appropriate tool. There are not so many options for working with cables and wires, it is important to choose not just a suitable method, but an effective one.

What methods are effective?

Most of the skill in removing the protective layer from a cable or wire comes with time and practice. Especially when you need to do cleaning on the thinnest possible wire.

The main thing is to correctly choose the degree of application of effort and pressure on the tool. In addition, the speed of work and the final result depend on the direction of movement. You have to understand how deep the main vein is. It will depend on whether it is damaged or not. Before you remove the insulation from or copper, you will have to figure out what kind of material is inside.

The simplest options for doing the job:

• The use of stationery or ordinary knife. If you chose the first option, then you should not take too large, they are inconvenient to work with. Pressing should not be maximum, since their blade is quite sharp. A simple knife should have a narrow blade and high-quality sharpening.
• Use of side cutters. This is a convenient design, it is similar to scissors, but stronger and sharper. They are sold in any hardware store, although many always have them on hand.
• Burning. This is another good option and less traumatic. To do this, you need to apply a high temperature so that the winding is melted. If it is required to make a small release, then this method is ineffective, since a rather large area is burned.
• Using a stripper. This tool is chosen by professionals.

Knife application

How to quickly remove insulation from wires? This is the most common and effective method but it is very dangerous. When you need to process a small amount of wires at home, then this option is quite suitable. The main thing that is tedious to know is at what angle to lead the tool. You can not make circular movements, because it is completely inefficient. Because with this option there is a high probability of incision of the main working core. After that, the wires will become unusable.

The angle of inclination is as sharp as possible so that there is no deep penetration of the blade into the body of the wire. Only slight slip is allowed. You should choose the “away from you” position - such conditions are safe for the worker and for the cable itself.

electrician's knife

An electrician's knife is the most convenient tool. It has a heel, so it is quite easy to hold it. At the same time, the core is protected as much as possible, the hands are safe, and the insulation is removed efficiently. This is the answer to the question: "How to quickly remove the insulation from a copper wire or aluminum?"

Side cutter - effective help

It is a metal tool with comfortable handles. But most often the work is done by the masters. In this process, you need to know what force to apply, otherwise damage to the main core may occur. Electricians know how to carry out the stripping process. Side cutter is used in several cases:

• When the cable is too thick, biting is done in several places along the entire length, and then the insulation is removed by hand. This option is quite suitable for inexperienced people. But the cuts must be made carefully so as not to violate the integrity of the main cable.
• It is necessary to draw a strip along the entire length, and then remove the main winding downwards.
• Through a distance of 3 centimeters, cuts are made with a side cutter. Then you need to remove the winding in small pieces.

These are the easiest options for people with no experience and not only. Masters easily work with this tool. This option will help to easily remove the insulation from the wire for scrapping. In order not to damage the main core, it is worth holding the sharpened jaws in the opposite direction of tightening and removing the insulation. This allows you not to break anything and get the job done quickly.

Today, there are wires on sale on which the manufacturer makes special notches during the creation process so that the insulation is quickly removed. Therefore, before removing the insulation from the copper wire, it is worth considering it: you may not even need tools.

Burning

This is the easiest way when you need to remove the insulation for the delivery of wires. It is also the most effective method if there are PVC cores inside. When you want to process a small area, then use a lighter or soldering iron. Under thermal influence, the winding softens, and it simply comes off the wire. With a small thickness of the winding, this option is the most effective.

There is one drawback - it is the presence of a smell. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out work in a room with access to fresh air. Toxic secretions during the roasting process adversely affect the state of the body.

What is a stripper?

It is these tools that help to do the procedure quickly and efficiently. But not every cable is suitable for such work. The cross section must be at least 0.2 mm. On sale or from the masters you can find various types of devices:

• Manual stripper without add-ons. Its use is similar to working with a side cutter: notches are made, after which the winding is removed. But this option is not suitable for every section.
• Semi-automatic At the base there is an adjustment lever that regulates the degree of pressure, after which, when the handles are closed, the main process of stripping begins.
• Machine. This is the most the best option because it is based on several functions - notching, removing insulation, crimping cores.

As a result, this method brings many positive aspects. The main thing is that cuts of the main core are completely excluded. As a result, this method can be called the best. It is the stripper that allows you to properly remove the insulation from the wires without damaging the core.

Cable check

When work is underway to get rid of the winding, you need to carry out actions in a clear sequence. Each cable has its own characteristics. Work on the copper cable must be carried out in the following order, since it has two layers of PVC insulation:

• The power supply is turned off.
• During the installation of the outlet, you need to clean only a strictly defined area. 15 cm is enough. A person without experience should not reduce this distance. For this procedure, a side cutter is used.
• The upper part is cut and carefully removed.
• The required length is set on the stripper, after which the phase and zero conductors placed in the instrument. A complete cleanup is done.

This is the whole scale of work, after which it is required to fix the outlet. It is not difficult to make such a procedure, although mistakes are often made. The wire breaks, and you have to strip further.

How not to crimp?

Experts believe that it is not so easy to remove insulation from cables and wires. As a result, many mistakes are made that lead to a bite of the main core. The main reason is the use of the wrong tool. Therefore, there is a special list of those violations that are worth knowing not only for beginners, but also for masters:

1. When the top layer is removed and needs to be trimmed, often the master chooses the wrong angle, which leads to notches on the main core. Even a slight, imperceptible notch in the insulation of a conductive cable leads to a short circuit, and sometimes to a complete failure of the entire device.
2. Incorrect use of side cutters. They have a sharp side and a blunt side, often choosing the wrong side. As a result, a sharp slip occurs along the wire, which leads to excessive tension and compression, and this is already a violation of the integrity of the main core.
3. A knife with a heel is convenient, but it must be clearly directed, namely, to choose the angle of inclination. The mistake made leads to the fact that the main cable is cut. And the violation of secondary insulation brings more serious problems.

Everything happens because of the illiterate choice of the tool. But there are other problems: a frivolous attitude to the procedure for cleaning the winding of the main cable or wire. Before you remove the insulation from a thin wire, you should know what actions you have to perform, and do everything carefully and in a clear sequence. There are situations when the distance for work is minimal and it is unacceptable to take risks.

We repair headphones

A common problem when using headphones is a violation of the integrity of the wire. To restore it, you need to choose a simple clerical knife for work. The procedure takes place in several stages:

• You need to find a breakdown.
• Remove the top winding by making a neat longitudinal cut.
• Connect the components and insulate them.

How to remove wire insulation from headphones?

You can use a sheet of sandpaper. Its granularity does not matter (the main thing is to perform work on the front side of the element). We set the edge of the wire on sandpaper and press on top with a soldering iron. He will melt our winding. Further, its remains can be removed by hand. As a result, we get a wire without insulation. After that, you can make a connection using the same soldering iron. This is not a long procedure, but everyone can come to a positive result. No need to experiment, each tool does its job. When working with wires and cables, a sharp knife and a stripper are used; in other situations, it is worth choosing the appropriate devices.

Conclusion

So, we looked at how to properly remove the insulation from the wires. As you can see, there are different instruments and ways. You just need to choose the most suitable one and follow the instructions.