tool for stripping wires without cutting them?

[David Brodbeck]

And 90% of aftermarket alarms are a problem within a few years. ;-)

90% of aftermarket alarms are apparently installed with the noise- and
vibration-detectors turned all the way up, presumably so the person
buying them will feel like they got something for their money. The
result is continual false alarms.

I don't know why anyone buys an alarm system anymore. After years of
getting a 3 am alarm serenade I have to say my first reaction upon
hearing a car alarm is *not* that someone must be stealing the car.
Someone needs to invent an EMP gun that can take these little
noisemakers out at fifty paces.

 

[Ross Herbert]

I plan to install a remote starter in my car. I'd like to buy a tool
to strip the wires, if its not too expensive. I have a set of plier-
like ones, where you insert the wire into the correct slot, squeeze
the handles, then pull the wire through, shedding the insulation.

But that is only for stripping the ends of wires. I'd like to be able
to strip wires 'inline', without cutting them. Is that what an
automatic stripper does? Like
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062786
or
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42101

Or is there another tool? Thanks.

There are a number of tools for stripping cable sheath longtitudinally
eg. Knipex
http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Cable-Sheath-Stripper-51735-Draper-16-30-135-SB?sc=9&category=1051
but these are only for cables of around 6mm diam minimal. In order to
strip individual conductor sheathing (insulation) for smaller gauges
this is a rather specialised function for such purposes as stripping
thermocouple wires. This company sells this type of stripping tool but
they would be very expensive and probably only viable for mass
production. You also need a different stripper die for each wire
gauge.
http://www.ariindustries.com/accessories/sheath_stripping_tool.php3

 

[[email protected]]

I ended up getting this one from Radio Shack:
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160702w345.jpg
For $12.99. It was a piece of junk, it felt like it was going to fall
apart. I didn't even test it out, I just took it back.

Then I bought a different brand from Menards (home improvement store),
where you don't have to choose what size wire you are stripping, for
$15

And one of these (the kind where you must select the right hole for
your size of wire) for $25:
http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/eplus/783250452620_4.jpg

I tried them both. The $25 set (the only one made in the USA) works
great. I'll be keeping that one.

It does strip wire in the middle, but not perfectly. But it will be
much easier than manually trying to cut without damaging any strands.
I'll still have to make a laterall cut manually.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I ended up getting this one from Radio Shack:
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160702w345.jpg
For $12.99. It was a piece of junk, it felt like it was going to fall
apart. I didn't even test it out, I just took it back.

I have one of similar design - not of course from Radio Shack - and it
cost a deal more than the one they show. It's the best wire stripper I
have and I have many. It's also had a lot of use and still works properly
on the original jaws which are available as spares.

I can't of course comment on the RS one, but not even trying something
after buying seems strange.

 

[[email protected]]

....

I can't of course comment on the RS one, but not even trying something
after buying seems strange.

I did try it, by working the tool in my hand many times, that was
enough. The operation of the left and right jaws weren't right,
sometimes when you let the tool close the blades wouldn't be open so
you couldn't put the wires in. The handles didn't move smoothly, they
wanted to wobble all over instead of moving in an arc. Sometimes it
would get stuck open.

As soon as I opened the package of the US made one, I could tell just
by the feel of it that it was a much much better tool.

 

[David Brodbeck]

I have one of similar design - not of course from Radio Shack - and it
cost a deal more than the one they show. It's the best wire stripper I
have and I have many. It's also had a lot of use and still works properly
on the original jaws which are available as spares.

When made correctly that type of tool can work very well. I have one
made specifically for RG-59U coax that I use when installing security
cameras. It's very quick and reliable. But it's a fairly heavy-duty,
well-made item, which means it probably didn't come from Radio Shack.