In the household, a tool for special operations with electrical products is quite rare. A basic set with hammers and screwdrivers, of course, can provide some help, but stripping the cable from the sheath requires a slightly different approach. For these purposes, manufacturers of construction equipment offer a special tool for stripping wires, which quickly and accurately performs its function.
As a rule, these are devices with a simple design, but replacing them with other improvised devices is extremely difficult. That is, stripping can be done with a kitchen knife, but the question is how much the result will meet expectations in terms of quality.
Cable stripper
Perhaps this is the most familiar tool designed to work with wires. It would seem, why it is impossible to perform the same tasks with an ordinary well-sharpened knife? The fact is that a standard blade can completely cope with the elimination of excess winding, but along with this, the core of the cable can be damaged. In turn, a special knife for removing insulation has several differences, among which - a rubberized handle and an unusual shape of the blade. Typically, the cutting part is performed with bends - for example, in the form of a sickle. But there is another significant feature of such devices. The blade is usually made on the basis of tool steel. Together, these differences guarantee high-quality wire processing. By the way, a cable knife is pretty cheap.
Pliers and pliers
If we talk about standard and universal sets, then pliers are more likely to be found in this category of tools. However, devices for working with insulation have their own characteristics. They provide several precision holes with different diameters, as well as straight blades and embossed jaws. This combination of structural elements makes this wire stripping tool efficient and convenient to use. By the way, the same pliers can bend the stripped wire, grab and cut the cable. In the same group, ticks can also be noted as a kind of exciting devices. This device is advantageous to use for the reason that it can easily adapt to a specific diameter of the wire without performing unnecessary manipulations. Nippers have similar qualities, but they are often used by specialists who care about accuracy and speed in the work process.
Strippers for stripping
This is a specialized tool for electrical work, the main function of which is just to remove the insulation coatings and further separation of the cores. It is important to note that there are models for a conventional electric cable, and devices that perform twisted pair stripping. As for the design, strippers for stripping the insulation include two handles and jaws with holes of different diameters. Actually, based on the parameters of a particular section, the master selects a particular hole for stripping. In the process of mixing the handles, the incisors are compressed in the holes, under the influence of which the insulation is captured. Then it remains only to pull the cable, and the sheath will easily move away.
In the simplest models, the holes are located only on the lips, but for professional use this is not enough. A more technological tool for stripping wires of this type also contains special openings between the handles, which expand the capabilities of the user.
How is a stripper different from a crimper?
The device of the crimper is much like pliers, but its function is the opposite of all tools that perform cable stripping. In this case, the device crimps the wire with a view to its further connection and installation. This device should not be removed from the insulation coating, but its combination with a stripper allows you to solve two related problems - stripping and further crimping. In other words, the combination of a stripper and a crimper is a universal tool for removing insulation from wires, as well as their subsequent fastening. Such models have two functional areas on which crimping grooves and jaws are located.
How to choose the right tool?
Each tool has its own characteristics and nuances of operation. For example, cable knives can be considered as a multifunctional device for stripping insulation, regardless of the size and shape of the cross section. But you should handle this device very carefully so as not to disrupt the structure of the metal base of the wire. It is much safer to remove the insulation from the cable using pliers and pliers, but such a tool has limitations in diameter. So, the standard range of values varies from 0.4 to 4 cm. This spectrum is enough to work with most electrical wires, but specialized cables will have to be serviced with alternative options. In addition, the properties of the handle should be taken into account, on which not only the quality and accuracy of stripping will depend, but also the safety of the master. This part must have a dielectric coating to protect hands from electric shock.
Conclusion
When performing electrical operations with wires, it is worth remembering that the continued operation of the organized network will depend on the integrity of the cable filling. Although the stripping device performs only an auxiliary and intermediate function, any disturbances in the form of core damage can cause a lot of problems. Responsibility increases especially in the case of cables whose dimensions do not imply excesses in length. The modern market offers many worthy means of high-quality wire stripping, so with a competent approach, you can count on a successful result in the process of performing this procedure.