Automatic wire stripper. How to strip insulation from wires: quick methods, tips and tricks. Requirements for electrical installation knives

In the process of installing wires, one of the most critical stages of work is removing the insulation. It doesn’t matter whether the wire is aluminum, copper, covered with enamel or plastic insulation, in each individual case it is necessary to follow the technology when stripping it. If you ignore recommendations and advice on how to strip a wire, then the technical characteristics of the manufactured electrical system will be low. Let's look at several techniques for stripping insulation from a variety of coated wires.

Features of the structure of wires

There are two types of wires:

Single-core.
Stranded.

By single-core is meant a wire in which the cross-section is formed by one core or wire. As for stranded wires, the cross-section of such a wire is formed by several thin wires, which in some cases are intertwined with each other. To make the stranded wire resilient and elastic, a thread that resembles nylon is added to the structure. Taking into account these features, the technology for removing insulation in each individual case may differ.

Stripping with a knife

When removing insulation with a knife, you cannot cut the wires in a circle with the blade in a perpendicular position - a notch may form on the copper core. As a result, with a slight bend, the wire will easily and quickly break in this very place, especially if you decided to strip a wire 0.6–0.8 mm thick. After a few bends, the wire breaks completely. When stripping a wire with a knife, the blade should be almost in the same plane with the axis of the wire. The insulation is pre-cut along the core. The insulation cut lengthwise is taken to the side and simply cut off.

It is important to be careful with this type of stripping, as you can easily injure your hands.

Using side cutters

Tools such as side cutters are often used incorrectly. The tool is picked up as needed, and no attention is paid to the direction of the cutting edges. If you use side cutters incorrectly, you will have to put in a lot of effort. In addition, in this case there is a high risk of breaking off the wire along with the insulation.

It is important that the cutting edges are directed in the direction opposite to the movement of the tool. With this option, the blade will cut into the insulation even with little force. As a result, the insulation is removed with a tube from the surface of the core without damaging it.

Reflow method

If you have a soldering iron, you can quickly remove the insulation using the thermal method. To do this, heat the soldering iron tip and run it lightly over the plastic insulation. Once heated, the plastic will melt and come off. This method does not disrupt the conductor in any way. If you need to strip a large number of wires with such a winding, it is recommended to use a special device. For example, a special wood burning tool, which was previously known as a “Pattern,” would be suitable.

The reflow method is most effective if your wiring is old. After a long period of use, the plastic winding on the wire becomes hard and brittle. Moreover, if from distribution box the wire sticks out two or three centimeters, neither wire cutters nor a knife can handle it. And if you use a lighter or reach in with a soldering iron, you can strip the wire.

What if the wire is enameled?

If the conductor has a thickness of 0.2 mm, then the best option will mechanical method removal of insulation. To do this, use a knife or sandpaper to scrape off the insulation.

To process cables with thin insulation, you can use fine sandpaper. Bend it in half with the sandpaper inward. Then insert the cable into the bent sheet of sandpaper and, lightly pressing your fingers, pull the wire. This procedure should be continued until the enamel is cleaned.
If a knife is used, it is necessary to place part of the cable on a solid base. Then you need to turn it in a circle until the enamel is scraped off the surface of the conductor.

If the conductor is even thinner and has a diameter of less than 0.2 millimeters, then the mechanical method will not be effective. This is due to the fact that the enamel will not be removed as a result, and the wire itself may break. In this case, you can master the thermochemical method using a soldering iron and vinyl chloride insulation. First, heat up the soldering iron, then place vinyl chloride on the table, and then move the soldering iron along the wire on top. Under influence high temperature Chlorine is produced, which will clean the wire from the enamel.

In most cases, such wires are used in radio communications, and it is this wire that is wound on inductive coils. It also has a name - Litz wire. In appearance it is distinguished by the presence large quantity thin wires that are twisted into one conductor and covered with enamel.

No less interesting is another option for removing enameled insulation from a wire. You will need to buy aspirin tablets. A wire is laid on them and a heated soldering iron tip is passed along it in the same way. As a result, the wire is exposed and, on top of everything else, tinned.

Removing fluoroplastic insulation

By fluoroplastic we mean a polymer that is produced chemically. He has a number positive characteristics, for example, does not get wet from water and is highly resistant to organic substances. Its technical characteristics allow it to withstand temperatures up to 300° C! As insulation it is ideal option, but the main disadvantage is the high price. In this regard, I use it on special occasions. In everyday life it is used by many radio amateurs, since after soldering it has an aesthetic appearance, takes up little space and does not melt.

The material itself has the shape of a thin narrow ribbon. It, in turn, is tightly wound on a twisted stranded wire. It is only possible to clean such insulation with a knife. The fluoroplastic is scraped off to the desired length. As soon as the wire is exposed, the insulation is removed to desired length, and the remaining fluoroplastic is cut off.

Insulation made of fabric or rubber can be cleaned using any of the above methods. The main thing is to prevent cuts in the main core!

All of the above methods are manual. They require more time and attention, not to mention experience, when it comes to stranded wires with a small section. If you work in this field and regularly need to strip wires of insulation, then it is best to partially automate this process. For this purpose, pliers were specially developed or they are also called strippers.

With the help of a stripper, the insulation is removed with one click of the palm. Let's look at how to strip wires using a stripper model WS-04.

Technical characteristics of stripper WS-04:

You can remove insulation and cut wires Ø0.5–2.7 mm with a cross-section from 0.2 to 6.0 mm 2 without preliminary adjustment.
When setting a microscopic screw, you can remove the insulation from a thin wire measuring from 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
The stripper allows you to crimp connectors on wires without insulation, insulated or automotive wires under a double clamp of 0.8-2.7 mm.

In appearance, the stripper resembles pliers, at the end of which there is a cam lever. The upper cams are movable, and the lower ones are stationary. The left pair is used to clamp the wire, and the right pair is used to remove and trim the insulation. When the handles are first brought together, the left cam clamps the wire, and the right one cuts its sharp edge into the insulation. As the levers are constantly brought together, the insulation is gradually removed from the wire. The process of stripping a wire with a stripper takes a few seconds.

The process of sequential operation of the stripper model WS-04 with single-core, stranded and two-core wire:

The wire is wound between cutting knives, which are located on inside pens. Then they should be brought together. The result is a cut of the end of the wire without deformation. For comparison, when cutting with wire cutters, the end is always flattened and slightly pointed.
At the next stage, one end of the wire is inserted between the movable and fixed jaws. After squeezing the handles, the insulation is removed. When working this way, no notches are observed on the conductor.
To adjust the exact length of the insulation to be removed, you can use the blue movable stop.
On a two-core wire, the insulation is removed with a stripper in two passes.
On the first pass, the vinyl chloride tube is removed.
At the second stage, the insulation is simultaneously removed from two wires.

The operating time can take no more than 5 seconds!

Among other things, the stripper can also be used to strip the insulation of a telephone cable before pressing it into an RJ-11 connector. If used screw connection, then with just one movement the insulation is removed from the wires.

The stripper can also be used to remove shielded wires. First of all, it should be noted that this is a rather difficult task, especially difficult if the conductor is thin. So, the first step is to remove the insulation from the shielding braid. To expose the central wire, the braid is unraveled using a needle or spike. All that remains is to make one movement with the stripper and the wire is freed from insulation. Cleaning shielded wire by hand is a labor-intensive job, especially if you only have a knife on hand. It is very easy to damage the wire with a knife!

So, as you can see, the stripper is a fairly universal tool that removes insulation from various wires.

Coaxial cable

You can strip the insulation on a coaxial cable yourself. Although the equipment for this purpose is inexpensive and available, we will tell you how to get the job done with wire cutters and a knife. As a rule, such a cable is used to connect satellite TV and for standard F connectors.

Step-by-step instructions on how to strip a coaxial wire:

The cable should be taken in the direction away from your body.
Take a utility knife and firmly press the cable at a right angle from the end of the cable at a distance of 2.5 cm. Do not press with the end of the blade, otherwise it will break off and may bounce into your eyes.
At this stage, it is necessary to cut through the outer sheath, braid, foil layer and dielectric foam. In most cases it has White color. It is these layers that surround the vein. You will feel some resistance as you push the blade into the cable. As soon as the blade reaches half of the wire, you need to put less pressure on it. It is extremely important not to damage the central core!
Next you should walk around the cable. When doing this, be careful not to leave nicks on the core.
Now pull and twist the cut edge of the insulation. With these steps you can remove the cut end of the insulation.
If there are wires sticking out from under the cable sheath, cut them off with wire cutters so that they do not extend beyond the edge of the sheath. It is important to examine the wire for nicks. If there are any, then the above procedure will have to be repeated.
Dielectric foam may partially remain on the main core. You can simply remove it with your fingernail.
To connect the cable to connector F, first remove a small part of the top sheath.
For this from previous place cut eight millimeters. Make a cut on the top shell. As in the previous case, the cut is made perpendicular to the wire. Be careful not to snag the braid. In some modifications of the F connector, there is no need to remove the braid, but in others, on the contrary, it must be removed.
If you are not sure whether braid is needed in your case, then leave it temporarily. This braid is located around the dielectric foam. Its wiring is less than a human hair thick, so all work must be done carefully. Just now you need to make a cut with the tip of the blade along the entire wire.
Remove eight millimeters of the cable sheath so that the dielectric foam wrapped in the winding remains on the core.
The braid is wrapped over the outer shell. So, the dielectric is exposed. At this stage, pay attention to the requirement of the F-connector: which end of the wire should be in your case.
All possible wiring must be absent between the braid and the central conductor. This will be clearly visible against the background of a white dielectric.
An F connector is placed at the end of the cable.
The dielectric should be at the bottom of the connector after it is seated on it. It is unacceptable for it to peek out or not reach the bottom of the connector.

Under no circumstances should the tip come into contact with the F-connector.

The F connector is now ready for use.

Knives for stripping cable insulation

Separately, it is worth mentioning special knives that are directly used to strip insulation from cables. For example, the most popular is a knife with a hook. During operation, it is much more convenient than a stationery one. Moreover, thanks to the thick blade, you can work with more confidence and courage. It will be difficult for them to cut the wire insulation, but cutting the cable lengthwise is what you need. This hook sticks well into the cable sheath, so it won’t jump out of it. However, such a tool does not have all the advantages, since it cannot provide good cable stripping.

Another special knife is known.

It is very simple in operation. To begin, pull off the special bracket with your thumb. It is under this that you will thread the wire. At this point, a small knife appears from the handle, rotating around its axis. After laying the cable, the bracket presses it to this knife. Make two or three turns around the wire until you get a cut. Now, without removing the wire, pull the tool firmly towards the end. The knife will turn and cut along the shell. In the end, all you have to do is remove the cut part and continue working.

The only drawback of such a device is that it is necessary to adjust the wheel directly to the depth of a particular type of wire. You can use a piece of wire to set it up.

Also, such a knife does not cope very well with removing insulation. This is due to the fact that the device can flatten a thick cable if handled carelessly.

So, we looked at the most common methods for stripping insulation from a wire. Perhaps one of the methods described above will be useful in your case. Successful work to you!

In electrical engineering activities, accuracy and precision when processing materials is especially important. The quality of the current-conducting element is determined by the reliability of the connections and the absence of defects on the line. As practice shows, a considerable part of the problems in the operation of network communications of this type arise precisely because of errors in installation. The key to quality work is the use suitable tools. For example, when asking how to strip a wire, you should not resort to improvised means that are not intended for such operations. Special devices will allow you to remove the insulation cleanly and evenly, without damaging the working elements.

for stripping

The traditional device for such tasks is a special type of pliers that have precision holes with different diameters. The tool also has grooved jaws and straight blades. It can be said to be a versatile wire stripper because it also allows you to grip and cut different gauges of cables. If functionality is not important, but high speed and ease of use, then you should turn to the family of wire cutters and pliers. Just a few manipulations are required to adjust the device to the size of a specific wire, after which the insulation can be removed just as easily.

It has already been noted that improvised tools should not be used in such work. First of all, this rule applies to ordinary knives, but this does not mean that, in principle, this category of household utensils cannot be used in electrical installation work. For example, there is a cable cutter for wires, the characteristics of which are specifically aimed at removing external coatings. The tool is distinguished by a sickle-shaped blade, as well as the use of high-strength tool steels in the base.

Features and benefits of stippers

The category of strippers, which are designed for targeted removal of insulating layers from cables, deserves special attention. different types. The design of the device consists of two handles and jaws, which form holes of various sizes. During the work, the master places the wire in one of the free openings, clamps the jaws and pulls the cable away from the gripping point. Sharp blades are inserted into the insulating coating, cutting it away from the main body and leaving the metal core bare. In order to increase functionality, the stripper for stripping insulation from wires can be equipped with holes not only in work area main jaws, but also on the handles. From an operational point of view, the use of stippers is justified for two reasons. Firstly, high quality insulation cutting is ensured without causing damage to the insides of the cable. Secondly, the user deals with ready-made wells that are designed to work with specific sizes of wires - this saves him from the troublesome preparation of a tool for working with a specific format of material.

What is a crimper for?

Cable stripping is carried out as part of the general installation process, the result of which should be a formed connection. That is, removing the terminal is a preparatory operation before further connecting either two wires or connecting a cable to the device. To perform this procedure, the exposed core must be in the form of a solid rod into which the individual tendrils will be included. In such work, a crimper is useful, which will allow you to attach and correctly clamp the electrical sleeve onto the end of the cable. Typically, a stripper for removing insulation from wires is supplied in one set with a crimper, since they complement each other’s functions, saving the technician’s time.

Wire Strippers Manufacturers

Specialized devices for working with wires are widely available on the market. In particular, the KNIPEX brand produces wire cutters, pliers and installer knives designed specifically for removing insulating layers. Many manufacturers successfully combine several functions in such devices. Thus, the WS 04B "KVT" stripper, in addition to stripping wires, also allows for crimping of ferrules. Models from the manufacturers SHTOK and KRAFTOOL, by default, can also cope with cutting thick wires - in this regard, these products can also be called universal. For the most part, new models are reliable and highly ergonomic, but there are other nuances that should be taken into account when purchasing a tool.

How to choose a wire stripper?

Experienced electricians note that it is best not to count on the benefits multifunctional devices with wide ranges of diameters available for cutting, and give preference to specific narrow ranges. For example, for basic needs, models that work with cables with a cross-section from 0.05 to 10 mm 2 are suitable. If you need a professional device that can work in a wider range, then it makes sense to choose a wire stripping tool among the universal models. In this case, it is worth taking into account not only the size of the available products, but also the type of material used - it could be twisted pair, etc.

Conclusion

A special feature of electrical installation work is high risk electric shock. Of course, it is not present in every workflow, but for those who need a special tool for stripping wires, it is worth considering this aspect. Work in conditions high voltage in the cable should only be performed with devices that have a dielectric coating. Typically, stippers with such a shell are produced that do not allow voltages of 1000 V to pass through. The same safety requirements should be applied to pliers that cable cutters and crimpers. Also, do not forget about the rules for operating electrical tools, which are also aimed at ensuring high-quality installation results.

In production and at home, questions often arise about how to strip a wire. Unfortunately, many craftsmen, when performing this work, make a number of technical errors, which subsequently worsens the operation of electrical systems.

Stripping wires is needed in a variety of cases:

if necessary, connect the wires to increase the length of the conductor;
when performing wiring inside a residential building or any other building;
when connecting lighting devices;
when connecting equipment that uses electrical devices (machines, stands, conveyors, tools and other equipment);
when installing switches and sockets;
when installing special control and regulatory equipment in distribution boards, etc.

Before you start stripping wires, you need to know the features of their structure and insulation. Then it will become clear what to do in each specific case.

Attention! All work on electricity and networks should only be carried out when the power is turned off. Warning signs are posted at disconnection points prohibiting the power from being turned on independently.

Features of the structure of electrical wires

Electrical wires are manufactured in two versions:

single-core - have a single core enclosed in insulation;
stranded are twisted strands enclosed in a common insulation.

For single-core wires, the cross-section is formed by only one core. is a characteristic in square millimeters, which is used when choosing depending on the current value. In multi-core wires, the cross-sectional area is determined by the total set of all available cross-sections of the cores. For elasticity, nylon thread is often added inside - this small addition improves operational properties cable.

Insulation can be single or double. It is made from various insulating materials:

plastic masses – polymer materials on the base organic compounds, thermoplastics are more often used - softening when heated. They can mix with each other, combining into a single whole. These plastics support combustion, releasing various toxic gases;
Plastics that harden when heated are called thermosets. Insulation is made from them only for special applications, when increased demands are placed on it;
various types of natural or artificial rubber (rubber), hardening when heated, and also supporting combustion;
fabric-based insulation, some types of fabric can withstand fairly high heat (up to 400 ° C), maintaining insulating properties;
braided shielding used to protect wires from electromagnetic influences, it does not insulate, but creates additional mechanical protection from damage;
“armoring” braid is used to protect cables from damage.

Depending on the type of insulation used, we remove it using different tools.

How to properly strip wires of insulation

Wire stripping requirements:

the stripped (bare) part must be completely hidden inside the connection;
Insulation must be removed from all sides from the surface of the core.

Mistakes made by DIYers:

DIYers often leave exposed wires exposed. If accidentally touched, a person can short-circuit these places and receive an electric shock;
If fragments of insulation remain on the cores, then compressing it inside may not be sufficient for reliable fastening. When there is vibration, for example, electrical wiring in a car, the connection will weaken, the wire will come out of the terminals of the device, and a short circuit with mass. The vehicle may catch fire.

Cutting insulation from wires with a knife

The knife is the most common tool, so it is used most often. It is necessary to expose not only individual conductors, but also cables that contain several wires. Therefore, at the first stage, the cable is cut along its length, the wires are routed in different directions, and then the outer sheath is cut across. If necessary, this operation is repeated.

To strip a wire of insulation, you need to set the blade almost parallel to the core, and then cut off a thin layer of insulation. Subsequently, slightly turning the conductor, cut off the remaining thin layers. By turning completely 360°, complete cutting of the coating is achieved. These steps are easy to perform if you need to strip fairly thick wires.

When stripping thin wires with a knife, you only need to cut through the insulation layer.

Attention! You cannot leave a mark from the blade on the surface of the conductor, since this is where the critical zone will appear. The conductor is susceptible to breaking if bent.

After circular cutting to a shallow depth, it is easy to strip the wires of insulation; it is removed from the surface in the form of a tube.

Thick cable cores for supply high power cleaned by cutting the plastic across and then along. Then protective shell Easy to remove.

Removing insulation with special devices

Professionals have a fairly extensive range of auxiliary devices for removing insulation. The principle of their operation is as follows:

A suitable stream is selected on the tool to expose the desired conductor.
The wire is installed in this stream.
Squeeze the handles.
First, the wire is crimped, and then the scraper removes the insulating layer.

The entire procedure takes no more than one second of time. But such devices have a fairly high price, so they are purchased by professionals who have to perform a large amount of such work during a work shift.

For more information about insulation stripping tools (strippers), see this video:

Some home craftsmen solve the question of how to remove insulation from a wire by making a simple device on their own. To do this, use a strip of metal (preferably a piece of blade from a hacksaw). An angular slot is made on it to suit the size of the wire. The inside surface of this slot is ground to produce sharp edges.

To learn how to make a device for stripping wires, watch this video:

If it is necessary to remove the insulation from the wires, each conductor is clamped in the corner slot to the required amount, and then pulled out with force. As a result, the plastic can be easily removed from the metal.

On sale you can sometimes find special pliers that have similar slots. There are usually several of them to strip insulation from wires of different diameters. To perform the operation, the conductor is clamped in the stream, and then simply pulled in the desired direction.

There are special combs for single- and double-sided removal of insulation. They are inexpensive, take up little space, and cut off the insulation quite easily.

Some craftsmen use side cutters. They also crimp the conductor on both sides. By pulling the wire through, you can quickly remove the plastic insulation.

Attention! When using side cutters, do not squeeze the handles too hard. You can easily cut the core itself. You need to get used to the compression force.

Complex insulation removal options

Certain difficulties arise when removing fabric insulation. The thread is wound quite tightly, making it difficult to cut it with a knife. Here they do things differently. Using sandpaper, clean the desired area on one side. The rest of the thread can be easily removed.

Radio amateurs often use PELSHO wires. They use thread winding. So they remove it using fine-grain sandpaper. The conductor is placed on wooden support, and then with several movements, pressing the abrasive against the support, they destroy the thread on one side. Then it is easy to remove.

If it is necessary to expose the shielded wire, cut through the outer sheath and then remove it. Next, the shielding braid is unraveled, releasing the insulation in the required place. Only then is the insulation removed from the middle conductor.

In some cases, it is possible to remove plastic from metal using heated surfaces. This is what radio amateurs sometimes do to remove the protection with a soldering iron.

Attention! When removing the coating with a soldering iron, harmful gases are released. This operation should be carried out in the presence of ventilation or outside the room.

Sometimes the coating is removed by burning it over a fire. This method is extremely dangerous. It is prohibited to use it. Harmful gases are released, the insulating coating is removed unevenly, and some of it does not perform its functions after overheating.

Anyone can strip the insulation from a wire. House master using a sharp knife. It is not difficult to make the simplest devices for this work. Purchased accessories will allow you to do this work quickly and efficiently.

When carrying out any electrical work, regardless of whether new wiring is being used or an existing electrical network is being repaired, it is necessary to make connections of wires and cables. It doesn’t matter which wire needs to be connected, aluminum or copper, in any case we will need a tool for stripping the insulation from the wires. Depending on how the insulation of the wire cores is arranged - it is covered with a layer of varnish or has a plastic sheath - in each specific case it may be necessary various techniques its removal.

Arrangement of wires and cables

You can understand how to properly strip a wire when you know exactly how it is constructed, what materials it is made of, and what it is intended for.

Let's immediately define that a wire is one or more strands of electrically conductive material (copper, aluminum, etc.), on top of which a dielectric shell is made (phase insulation). A cable consists of two or more wires covered with a common insulating sheath (belt insulation), which can be made in several layers depending on the functional purpose. But by dielectric we mean a substance that does not conduct electric current; it is also called an insulator or insulating material.

For the manufacture of phase and belt insulation, dielectric substances in the form of various polymers are most often used, such as:

polyvinyl chloride (indicated by the abbreviation in the marking of wires - PV);
polyethylene high pressure(PP);
(PF);
some others.

The polymer sheath is applied to metal cores using specialized equipment using the extrusion method. Also, wire insulation is made from silicone rubber (KR), rubber, impregnated cable paper, in the form of a braid of fibrous materials and many other dielectric substances. In addition, along with insulation, protection against mechanical damage is used for cables that are laid in the ground, and open method- in the form of an armor shell (B), made of lead, aluminum or a thin steel strip wound on a cable, coated with a layer of bitumen.

Thus, depending on the design of the dielectric shell and the material from which it is made, it becomes clear that each type of cable will require a tool with different functionality that can remove the insulation efficiently.

Purpose of wires and cables

How to remove insulation from a wire without damaging it also depends on understanding what it is intended for and what function it will perform in the work.

Yes, according to functional purpose wires and cables are divided into:

Depending on their functionality, they all have significant differences: the copper core of the telephone wire has the largest cross-section of 0.5 mm2 and thin insulation, and the core of the same copper power wire up to 1 kV starts from 1.5 mm2 and must have a thickness insulation, which is guaranteed to exclude the possibility of electrical breakdown.

Therefore, in order to efficiently strip the wires of insulation and ensure error-free removal of the sheath from the cable, it is necessary to use tools and devices of different functionality.

There are many ways to strip wires. Hand tools, which are used to strip insulation from cables, can be divided into:

If everyone can handle the first category of cleaning tools, then the second group will already need some experience and skills, but the third category of professional devices allows you to produce both simple work, and removing insulation from a special cable will already require certain knowledge and practice in the work.

Simple stripping tools

Simple or improvised means that can be used to easily remove insulation include: ordinary tools, which are in every home workshop.

Here, in first place, of course, is the knife, as the most commonly used tool in everyday life for removing insulation. The main requirement for knives for cutting cable products is relatively small sizes, a short and strong blade, and it also wouldn’t hurt to have the handle insulated. Stationery and any construction knives. But in this category there is special knives, made taking into account the specifics of the work - they have a thick dielectric handle and a short, durable blade of a special shape; they can always be bought at a hardware store that sells electrical products or tools.

Power wires of small cross-sections can be stripped using sharp wire cutters or side cutters, but this will require accuracy and certain skills so as not to cut through the wire without calculating the force.

It is best to remove polyethylene insulation from simple telephone wires by heating them with a soldering iron tip, since the insulation easily melts and the thin copper wire it is not damaged. It is quite difficult to perform the same operation with a knife and not cut the copper wires without experience.

You can clean the varnish coating of a copper conductor using fine sandpaper, as well as by heating a section of the wire with a soldering iron on an acetylsalicylic acid tablet, and you can also immediately tin the cleaned area of the future contact, eliminating the possibility of its oxidation in further operation.

Semi-professional instrument

The semi-professional category includes:

stripper for removing insulation from wires;
manual adjustable stripper for external cable insulation;
dielectric pliers for stripping insulation;
semi-automatic stripper with trimming function;
nail polish remover;
stripper for coaxial cables.

All of the above tools for stripping have a number of significant advantages, such as:

affordable price;
not very complex and reliable design;
easy operation.

Therefore, by carefully reading the instructions for use and practicing a little, anyone can master the skills of working with such a specialized tool.

The functionality included in this category of tool will make working with cable products less labor-intensive and of higher quality. Thus, removing the belt insulation of a cable with a stripper for external insulation is guaranteed to leave the phase coating of the wires intact.

Professional tools and special devices

Progress does not stand still, therefore, to increase labor productivity and high quality work, there is a category of tools on sale, developed and created by professionals. It is used both when performing ordinary tasks and for special types works with particular complexity.

As a rule, professional tools are capable of performing several operations at once. For example, to make a communication connection between two computers using a twisted pair cable consisting of 4 pairs of single-core copper conductors with a cross-section of 0.5 mm2, you need to attach plugs to the ends of the network cable. This is the operation that the crimper performs, managing to clean the insulation on all eight wires at once in one click, crimp them and secure the plug at the end of the cable.

Keep in mind that no knife can replace a real wire stripper when it comes to quality electrical work. Try to choose and use only professional tools and specialized devices in your work.

The work of an electrician often involves using various devices. To perform common operations such as cutting wires and other electrical devices, you need tools to remove the insulation. Most convenient tool are special pullers and strippers.

But, if you need to strip two or three cables, you can use a simple kitchen knife. If you plan to work on laying electrical wiring in a house or apartment, then an ordinary knife will not be enough for such a task. U kitchen knife the blade is uncomfortable, and the handle may not be made of dielectric.

Types and design of electrician knives

A knife adapted for work on connecting electrical appliances has a specially shaped blade. Often it is necessary to make circular cuts on the insulation on wires, which is more convenient to do with a curved blade. Many will say that you can remove the insulation with a simple knife, but if the knife does not meet certain conditions, it is easy to damage the conductor, especially the thin one.

To make it easier to make circular cuts of insulation, the blade may have recesses for wires various diameters. Having placed the wire in this recess, cut the braid in a circular motion without fear of damaging the current-carrying core.

Knife with heel

This knife belongs to the electrical installation type, and has another name: “plow” knife. It is convenient for them to remove the insulating shell, since it has a curved short blade with a special “heel”. It is designed to limit the depth of cut of the shell when it is necessary to remove the outer layer without touching the inner layers of insulation.

We must not forget to check that there is no voltage in the wiring before stripping the insulation.

The platform at the end of the blade reduces the friction of the longitudinal sliding of the knife during removal outer shell, and does not allow the blade to touch internal wires. It is convenient to strip hard cables with a knife, and it is worse to work with soft sheaths, as they make it difficult for the “heel” to slide. In general, stripping tools like a heel knife are useful for use by electricians.

Knife with hook

This electrician's knife is a professional tool. This knife has a straight and short blade with a hook. There is no sharp edge on the blade other than the sharpened hook. The same models are available with an additional sharp edge on the other side of the blade. This model is well suited for stripping insulation on many.

It is especially convenient to use such a blade to cut off the insulation along the wire. There are also similar models equipped with devices for making circular preliminary cuts.

Knife with beak

These stripping tools have a specific blade shape, which is why many electricians do not use them. A knife with a “beak” may be convenient only for experienced electricians; its blade is slightly reminiscent of the previous design, with the difference that there is no “heel” at the end, and the bend is smoother.

This curved internal tip in the form of a “beak” makes a circular cut of the wire sheath more convenient. This knife can also be used by electricians for longitudinal cuts, but doing this work carelessly can damage the core, due to the fact that there is no limiter. For novice electricians, such a knife is inconvenient due to manual adjustment of the cutting depth.

Requirements for electrical installation knives

The handle of the knife must be made of a dielectric material of sufficient strength: carbon fiber or special plastic, to prevent electric shock.
The blade must be made of durable steel to maintain its sharpness for a long time.
The shape of the handle should allow the electrician to sense the beginning of the blade by touch.
The sharp edge should be straight to facilitate cutting of double insulated cables.
The knife should be chosen to be small, which makes it possible to work in a small space, for example, in a cabinet or panel. The blade should also not be too large, so as not to accidentally damage the insulation of adjacent wires in the wiring harness, as well as for the convenience of removing the insulation of thin conductors.
An electrician does not need a knife with a sharpened blade to work. When working in dark or tight places, your hands may accidentally touch the sharp end and cause injury. When working with a wiring harness, the sharp end of the blade easily damages adjacent conductors.
When removing insulation, the blade must be held at an acute angle to the wire so as not to damage the current-carrying core. The shell should be cut carefully away from you, in pieces, according to the principle of sharpening a pencil.
Factory quality knife must have a permissible voltage designation on the handle.
If used homemade knife, then its handle must be wrapped insulating tape or other dielectric material.

Pullers

There are special tools for stripping wire insulation. They are universal tool for stripping conductors, and can be equipped with several cutting elements of various lengths and configurations. But the main element is a special clamp, with which a circular cut of the insulation is made.

These stripping tools are the most convenient. They allow you to manually select the wire diameter without fear of damaging the wire. It is not difficult to work with such a device; it is enough to secure the wire in the clamp and make one rotation of the puller around the wire.

Strippers

The most common type of equipment used by professionals for stripping the insulating sheath of cables is strippers. With their help, it is much easier to remove insulation, especially from wires with many cores. The cutting depth is adjustable, which makes it possible to use the stripper for any cable diameter.

There are several types of strippers that differ in their design, but their operating principle is the same: cutting the insulating sheath and removing it from the cable.

Manual strippers

These stripping tools are simple to use. The design is similar to pliers, with the difference that the jaws have slots with cutting edges for different sections lived This type of tool is suitable for stripping wire insulation no more than 6 mm 2.

Some models are capable of crimping tips. To remove the insulation, you need to place the wire in the socket, press the handles and perform a circular rotation.

Semi-automatic strippers

This tool is even easier to use. Its device has been improved compared to the previous model. There is no need to rotate the stripper around the cable, just secure the wire in the appropriate socket and press the handles. Many models of semi-automatic strippers are capable of crimping terminals and cutting cables.

Automatic stripper

These stripping tools are classified as professional types insulation strippers. It differs from the previous model in that it independently determines the thickness of the conductor. Therefore, all the work consists of installing the wire into the desired socket and applying force to the handles.

Automatic strippers are expensive and can strip insulation from multiple conductors at once, as well as strip a wire in the middle. There are also automatic strippers for stripping flat wires, and for many other purposes during electrical installation work.

How to choose stripping tools

For home work on connecting electrical wiring, it is advisable to purchase a manual stripper for stripping insulation, which is capable of removing the sheath from wires up to 6 mm 2. Hand stripping tools have low cost, and have sufficient functionality for home craftsmen.

Professional electricians who constantly lay wire lines and connect them to various devices, it is better to purchase an automatic stripper, or at least a semi-automatic model. Their cost is correspondingly higher, but it is much simpler electrical installation wiring.

How to use the stripper

Let's consider this issue using a Chinese semi-automatic stripper, which has been working properly for several years.

The cutting part consists of two plates with notches for different wire sections.

When placing the conductor in the gripper, you should leave part of the wire behind the knives for stripping.

We squeeze the stripper handles, holding the conductor with our hands. In this case, the knives are compressed, cutting the shell, and the jaws pull the conductor back. As a result, the wire sheath is removed.

A special feature of working with a stripper is right choice cutting size. If you choose the wrong diameter, the conductor will be damaged or even break off. You should not grab too much of the shell; it is better to remove it in several passes. With sufficient skill in working with the stripper, the insulating shell can be removed in less than a second, and work in progress faster. Therefore, purchasing such a tool saves work time, finances and employee strength.

Crimping tips with a stripper

If not special tool, used for crimping wires (crimper), then this work can be done with a stripper. This job is quite simple. First you need to strip the wire from the insulating sheath to the required length. Next, install the tip on the wire and place it in the appropriate connector of the stripper. Then you need to squeeze the handles, getting a crimped wire in the tip. Then you should cut off the excess end of the core.

Advantages of strippers

In addition to stripping insulation, they can be used instead of press pliers or wire cutters to crimp wires.
These wire strippers can be used to strip very thin wires.
It is allowed to use strippers to remove the sheath of conductors with any type of insulation.
During operation, they do not damage the conductor, even made of soft metal.
Simple and straightforward to use.
Low cost.

Stripping insulation with a soldering iron

If you don’t have a special tool or knife at hand, you can simply strip the cable or wire. To do this, it is heated to operating temperature, then the conductor is leaned against the tip and rotated around its axis, melting the insulation.

Now the insulating sheath can be easily removed, and the core will not be damaged. The disadvantage of this method is the release of harmful and unpleasant smoke from the melting insulation, as well as the impossibility of using a soldering iron to strip the rubber wire, since the rubber will burn.