Wire stripper: variety of tools

To perform any work with electrical wires, you cannot do without a special tool designed to remove the braid from them. Such devices should be available not only for a professional electrician, but also for a home craftsman who can start repairs in the house. This article will discuss questions about how to choose the right tool for stripping insulation from wires, what types of devices exist, where they are used, and many others.

A tool for stripping insulation from wires should not only have a professional electrician, but also a home craftsman

Why do you need a wire stripper

It is not necessary to use a professional tool to connect a switch or socket in an apartment. Here you can use improvised devices that are in the arsenal of any home craftsman. However, it is unlikely that it will be possible to efficiently cope with the stripping of wires from insulation, especially when it comes to large-scale electrical work.

Without a stripping tool, it is unlikely that it will be possible to properly strip the wires

Poor stripping of wires from insulation can lead to negative consequences. Using a regular kitchen knife increases the chances of damaging the cable, and as a result, the level of safe operation of electrical wiring is reduced. In the event of a cut in the conductive core, the wire cross-section will decrease, which can provoke an open or burning at the junction. An inaccurate cut often causes the cable to break when it is bent.

When operating high frequency AC systems, a skin effect can occur, which contributes to uneven current distribution in the upper layer of the conductor. Any, even the smallest damage to the core will lead to the failure of all equipment.

When performing large-scale electrical work, ignoring the use of a special tool for stripping wires from insulation can cause a fire, failure of equipment or provoke electric shock.

Varieties of stripping tools

Cable stripping tools can be classified according to removal method, scope of work and process automation. By the scope of work, household and professional appliances are distinguished. The first group includes an electrician's knife. Professional equipment includes tongs, pliers, strippers and pullers.

Pliers, pliers, strippers and strippers are professional tools for working with electrical wiring

Important! The tool for electrical work can be universal or for a specific purpose, which is determined by the diameter of the wire to be stripped.

The insulating shell can be removed mechanically and thermally. The latter option is used for low-power thin conductors, which are used in communication devices, in electronics and audio equipment operating from a voltage of 5 V. The thermal effect can be used for one-time stripping of a small number of conductors. Use a soldering iron, lighter, or hot chrome thread to heat the insulating jacket.

Important! If liquid insulation was used for wires, it can be removed exclusively mechanically.

Professional methods involve removing the insulation by mechanical means. The process can be based on cutting or breaking the shell. In the first case, the insulating layer is cut in a circle with the help of a point, after which the current-carrying conductors remain without damage. Part of the cut cover is removed from the wire. The bursting method involves clamping the insulation and stripping it (by force) from the conductor.

Depending on the diameter of the wire to be stripped, the stripping tool can be universal or narrow-purpose

Characteristics of a traditional cable knife attachment

To strip insulation from wires, electricians often use a cable knife with a rubberized handle and an unusual blade shape. Work must be carried out with gloves to eliminate the possibility of injury. This recommendation is especially important when stripping a cable made according to GOST, in which the thickness of the insulating coating exceeds the same value for wires made according to TU. In addition, it is much tighter to the veins.

Important! When stripping the wire, hold the knife at an acute angle to the conductor to avoid damage to the soft cable.

The braid is removed with a slight movement, cutting it off. The advantages of the knife include the affordable cost of the tool, practicality and ease of use. However, the process of completing the work takes a lot of time. This is especially true for cables with a large cross section.

There are three types of wiring knives, with tools differing in tip type and blade shape. For cable products with double insulation, a knife with a heel is ideal, with which the top layer is removed and the bottom remains intact. It is represented by a device in which a short wedge is concave inward. To limit the depth of the cut, the heel is positioned perpendicular to the blade.

The advantages of a cable knife are its price, as well as practicality and ease of use.

A beak knife with a rounded blade is used to make a circular cut in the insulation. The longitudinal cut must be made very carefully, since this device does not have a cut depth stop. Such a knife is usually used by experienced craftsmen, since certain skills are required to work with a tool with a specific wedge shape.

For cross-cutting and longitudinal cutting of the cable, a hook knife is used, which is considered a universal attachment for most types of conductors used by professional electricians. The wire is fixed by means of the upper bracket, and the sharp canine cuts through the insulation.On the device, you can set the depth of the cut using the adjusting wheel. In the case of using liquid insulation for wires (spray, paste), this type of knife is the most suitable for removing the braid.

Pliers, wire cutters, side cutters and wire stripping pliers

Pliers or wire cutters are used to break the insulation layer on the conductor. The principle of the device is quite simple. The required wire diameter is selected using the adjusting screw. Clips wrap around the cable. With a circular rolling motion, the insulation is pulled up and pulled off the conductor.

Important! The grip width should be slightly larger than the conductor cross-section, which will protect the cable and wires from scratches when removing the protective layer.

Pliers and side cutters are tools that can also be used to strip insulation

Wire stripping pliers are predominantly made of high quality steel with insulated handles. There are models that are able to strip the thinnest wires without breaks. The advantages of such a tool include reliability, durability, the ability to work in hard-to-reach areas, stripping on live conductors.

Among the shortcomings, the need for constant adjustment of the screw for stripping wires of different cross-sections and the inability to choose the length of the removal of the insulation layer should be highlighted.

Important! Wire cutters allow you to quickly and accurately remove the insulation from the conductor.

Pliers and side cutters are alternatives that can also be used to strip wires. The latter option is used to cut the insulation of small diameter wires. When working with this tool, it is important to control the force of pressure in order to eliminate the possibility of damage to the wire.

To break the insulating layer on the wire, pliers or nippers are used

For processing conductors, universal tools in the form of pliers are also in demand, in which rubberized holes have different diameters. The functionality of the pliers depends on the number of holes. Usually the tool is designed for 3-6 sizes of wires. The section parameter is indicated on the handle. The standard range is 0.5-3 mm²... With this device, you can grip and bend a wire, cut a medium-hard conductor, crimp contact sleeves, and remove insulation.

Stripping Strippers Features

The most popular and demanded wire stripper is the wire stripper. This is a specialized tool that performs cable processing using two movable knives that have a semicircular shape. Based on the size of the wire cross-section, the choice of the required tool gauge is performed, which is a guarantee of obtaining an accurate notch and no damage to the core.

The stripper can be mechanical, semi-automatic or automatic. The first option is presented by a hand-held device with a simple design, in appearance it resembles pliers... A manual cable cutter is used to strip individual wires. Due to the presence of several holes of different diameters with blades on the inner surface of the clamps, it is possible to process cables of different cross-sections in the range of 0.25-2.5 mm.

Important! The cost of a mechanical stripper directly depends on the number of sockets on the lips of the instrument and their numerical value.

The most popular wire stripper tool is the mechanical stripper

This type of stripper is compact and lightweight, which makes it convenient and practical to use. To remove the insulation, the size of the hole is selected, the cable is bitten, when performing circular movements, the insulation is torn off the wire. The cost of such a stripper for stripping wires is on average 400-1000 rubles.

Semi-automatic and automatic wire stripper

To perform large volumes of work, it is recommended to use the semi-automatic version, equipped with a special mechanism, thanks to which it is not necessary to scroll the stripper around the wire. It can be used to remove insulation from several conductors at once. To remove the protective layer, select the necessary recess corresponding to the diameter of the wire cross-section, place the cores in it and remove the insulation by pressing on the handle. You can buy such a stripper for 1200-2500 rubles.

Important! The semi-automatic stripper is equipped with a stop that prevents the insulation from being removed beyond the selected limit.

The automatic wire stripper and stripping tool makes the job as easy as possible. To remove the insulation, it is not necessary to select the cable cross-sectional diameter. The device has one socket, the size of which automatically adjusts to the wound cable. The tool can be used for wires with a cross section of 0.2-6 mm.

Strippers are mechanical, semi-automatic and automatic

Automatic strippers have advanced functionality, which involves crimping ferrules, cutting cable ends, twisting stranded wires. The device can be used for stripping wires with single and double insulation. One manipulation allows you to remove one layer. To remove the second braid, the procedure is repeated.

Some manufacturers produce a special type of wire stripper that is used to handle twisted pair cables. The tool is designed as a clamp with a built-in blade. Such a device can be manipulated to facilitate accurate and accurate removal of the outer sheath of the cable. This tool allows you to process coaxial cables for the subsequent installation of the F-connector.

For optical fibers and power cables, there is a special type of semi-automatic wire stripping machine that provides high precision stripping of the insulation coating. Such a tool has a rather high cost and is used by professionals to carry out highly specialized tasks.

Important! This type of stripper removes the thinnest layers of insulation from fiber optic cables.

Special types of forceps are used to handle twisted pair

Stripping options for different types of wires

The complexity of the process of removing the insulating layer from the wires is determined by the type of cable. The coaxial wire has a double protective braid that can be removed in two steps. To remove the top layer, you can use the thermal method, and to eliminate the bottom layer, use a stripper. There are pliers of a special design, equipped with an additional blade and replaceable inserts for wires of different sizes. This tool allows both shells to be removed.

Important! It must be remembered that the conductors of the coaxial cable are rather thin and fragile, therefore, the manipulations with the removal of insulation should be carried out with extreme caution.

If silicone wire insulation is used, only use a cable knife to remove it. The PTFE-coated wire has a heat-resistant insulating coating that can only be removed mechanically. This will require any cable knife or stripper.

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Heat shrinkage for wires and its use as an insulating material

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To remove the insulating layer from the enameled wire, you can resort to the thermochemical method using PVC tape and a soldering iron, if the cable section is no more than 0.2 mm²... The conductor is laid on the tape, where it is passed over it with a red-hot soldering iron.Under the influence of high temperature, chlorine is released, which contributes to the release of the enameled insulation from the wire.

When choosing a tool for stripping, you need to know for what wire cross-section the device will be used

Useful advice! For stripping electrical cables, strippers should be fitted with a dielectric material handle that can provide voltage protection up to 1000 V.

When choosing a device for stripping the insulation from wires, it is necessary to take into account for what wire section the device can be used. The cable knife is versatile in terms of dimensions, and the pliers, pliers, mechanical and semi-automatic strippers have a limited gripping range.

Review of the best models of wire strippers

The tool for stripping insulation of the domestic manufacturer KBT is very popular. The company offers quality stripper models at an affordable cost. One of the most popular models is the WS-04A stripping tool, which is designed to remove the braid from wires with a cross section of 0.05-6 mm²... The micro-adjustment screw can be used to adjust the hole diameter to the cable size. You can buy a stripper for 1.2 thousand rubles.

To remove the insulating braid from flat conductors PUNP and VVG-P and clean the sheath from a cable with a cross section of 0.05-10 mm² the KBT WS-11 model can be used. The stripping tool has a micro-adjustment screw that allows you to select the required hole diameter for a specific cable size. For convenient operation, the tool is equipped with two-component handles and reinforced clamping lips with a grip width of 13 mm.

The KBT stripping tool WS-04A is one of the most popular devices

This model of stripper allows you to simultaneously strip several wires in one motion, which is carried out thanks to the wide clamping lips. The tool is equipped with a partial stripping option. The cost of the stripper is 1.4 thousand rubles.

Another good domestic model is the KBT WS-12 stripping tool, which is used for stranded and multi-conductor cables with a cross section of 0.05-10 mm². The device is equipped with a built-in wire cutter. The tool blades are made of stainless steel. They have guides that protect against loosening and oblique cutting. The tool can strip the insulation from the middle of the wire. The removable all-metal adjuster can be used to set the distance required to remove the braid. The cost of the instrument is 1.5 thousand rubles.

The highly sought-after KBT stripping tool

Compact and easy-to-use tool for stripping insulation - KBT KS 25. It is designed for self-supporting insulated wires with a cross-section of 4.5-25 mm²... The stripper has a rotary, adjustable blade that removes 3.5 mm braid. Insulation cuts can be made longitudinal, transverse and spiral. The body of the device is made of impact-resistant plastic, which is a guarantee of the reliability and durability of the device.

For wire manipulation, the tool can be placed on a table and secured with a spring-loaded bracket. You can buy a stripper for 1.5 thousand rubles.

The WS-06 tool is an automatic stripper that adjusts to the required insulation thickness

Stripping tool KBT WS-06 is an automatic stripper that adjusts to the required diameter and thickness of the insulation. It is designed for stranded wires up to 2 mm in size. Removes braiding with a cross section of 0.2-6 mm²... The body of the device is made of fiberglass, which gives it strength, reliability and ease of use.

Important! This model has tapered ends, which allows the device to be used in hard-to-reach places.

The tool is equipped with a length stop for stripping the insulation. The handles have a lock in the folded position, which provides convenience and safety when storing the device. With this stripper, you can perform V-shaped cutting of the edges of the cable when stripping wires from insulation. The tool can be bought for 1.3 thousand rubles.

The best models of stripping tools from German brands

One of the best manufacturers of hand tools is the German company Knipex. The brand specializes in stripping strippers with unique design features.

Stripping tool Knipex KN 1262180 can be used for working with solid, stranded and fine wires

Noteworthy is the Knipex KN 1262180 stripping tool, which can be used for solid, stranded and thin wires with a cross section of 0.2-6 mm²... When removing the braid, the tool automatically adjusts to different cable sizes, which eliminates the possibility of damage to the integrity of the cores. Thanks to the special design of the head, which has an elongated design, you can work with the tool in hard-to-reach places.

The body is made of impact-resistant glass-fiber reinforced plastic. The knives are made of stainless steel and are precision machined to improve the quality of the work performed. You can buy such a tool for 3.9 thousand rubles.

For stripping coaxial cables, Knipex KN-166005SB is a good model. It is capable of removing the outer braid, screen and insulation in one step. The stripper is equipped with three built-in knives, each of which can be adjusted to the depth using a hex wrench. The insulation is removed by rotating the stripper 360 °.

The process is quick and convenient due to the presence of a finger hole in the device body. The tool body is made of shockproof plastic. You can buy this device for stripping wire insulation for 2 thousand rubles.

Knipex KN-166005SB model is the best stripping tool for coaxial cables

Jokari is another popular German manufacturer of handheld electrical tools. The products are distinguished by ergonomics, reliability and safe operation.

The Jokari JK 30140 stripping tool is in great demand, which is used to work with round and flat cables with PVC insulation. The special design of the tool allows you to work in hard-to-reach places. The automatic stripper adjusts itself to the cutting depth depending on the conductor cross-section. The tool can be used when working with junction boxes and junction boxes. The cost of the stripper is 1.3 thousand rubles.

Important! The tool allows you to remove the sheath from individual longitudinal cut conductors.

To carry out the processing of electrical conductors, you cannot do without a specialized stripping tool. The selection of a specific model should be carried out based on the type of cable and its diameter. To ensure safe work performance, it is better to give preference to tools equipped with dielectric coated handles.