How to strip wires: quick ways, tips and tricks. Wire stripper. Wire stripper Wire stripper

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:

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

For successful removal of insulation, it is necessary to use a high-quality tool and follow 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 of this tool are 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 repairing equipment or the 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.

Take an old razor blade.
We break it and take one half of the blade.
We fix the wire using a vice or clamps. You can use the table lamp clip.
Cut the insulation along the conductor.
We make neat cuts across the section, trying not to touch the conductor with the blade.
We bend the cable so that the notched edges slightly part.
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, the mechanical option will be the best stripping method. 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?

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

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

Wire stripping 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 using electrical devices (machines, stands, conveyors, tools and other equipment);
when installing switches and sockets;
when installing special control and regulation equipment in switchboards, etc.

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

Attention! All work on electricity and networks should be carried out only with the power turned off. Warning signs are posted at the disconnection points, prohibiting self-powering.

Features of the structure of electrical wires

Electric wires are made in two versions:

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

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

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

plastics - polymeric materials based on organic compounds, thermoplastics are more often used - softening when heated. They can mix with each other, connecting into a single whole. These plastics support combustion by releasing various toxic gases;
plastics that harden when heated are called thermosets. Of these, insulation is made only for special applications, when increased requirements are placed on it;
different 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), while maintaining insulating properties;
shielding braid, which serves to protect wires from electromagnetic influences, it does not insulate, but creates additional mechanical protection against damage;
Armor 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 from insulation

Wire stripping requirements:

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

Mistakes of home masters:

Often, home craftsmen leave a bare wire open. If accidentally touched, a person can close these places and get an electric shock;
If fragments of insulation remain on the cores, then its compression inside may not be sufficient for reliable fastening. In the event of vibration, for example, the electrical wiring in a car, the connection will loosen, the wire will come out of the terminals of the device, and a short circuit will occur with ground. The vehicle may ignite.

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 in which there are several wires. Therefore, at the first stage, the cable is cut along the length, the wires are separated in different directions, and then the outer sheath is cut across. If necessary, this operation is repeated.

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

When stripping thin wires with a knife, only the insulation layer needs to be cut.

Attention! A blade mark should not be left on the surface of the conductor, since it is in this place that a critical zone will arise. The conductor is subject to fracture when bent.

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

Thick strands of high power cables are cleaned by cutting the plastic across and then along. Then the protective shell can be removed easily.

Removing insulation with special tools

Professionals have a fairly extensive set of accessories for stripping. The principle of their action 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 whole procedure takes no more than one second of time. But such devices have a rather 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 the stripping tool (strippers), see this video:

Some home craftsmen decide how to remove the insulation from the wire by making a simple device on their own. To do this, use a strip of metal (best of all, a piece of cloth from a hacksaw). On it, an angular slot is made to fit the size of the wire. The inner surface of this slot is sharpened to obtain sharp edges.

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

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

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

There are special combs for one- and two-sided stripping. They are inexpensive, take up little space, cut off the insulation quite easily.

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

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

Sophisticated stripping options

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

Radio amateurs often use PELSHO wires. They use thread winding. Here it is removed using fine-grained sandpaper. The conductor is laid on a wooden support, and then with several movements, pressing the abrasive against the support, the thread is destroyed on one side. Then it's easy to take it off.

If it is necessary to expose the shielded wire, cut through the outer sheath, and then remove it. Next, the shielding braid is untwisted, releasing the insulation in the required place. Only then remove the insulation 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 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 outdoors.

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

Any home craftsman will be able to remove the insulation from the wire using a sharply sharpened knife. It is easy to make the simplest devices for this work. Purchased devices will allow you to perform this work quickly and efficiently.

After choosing the wire section, drawing up an electrical wiring diagram and purchasing installation products, you can proceed with the installation of electrical wiring in the house. The reliability of electrical wiring depends not only on the reliability of the connections of wires with installation products. Equally important is the correct removal of insulation from the ends of the wires.

How to properly remove insulation from wires
universal tool

Usually, plastic insulation is removed mechanically (with a knife or side cutters) or by melting. Enamel insulation is removed mechanically (scraped off with a knife or sandpaper) or chemically.

How to properly remove the insulation from the wire with a knife

It is wrong when, to remove the insulation, it is cut in a circle with a knife blade oriented perpendicular to the wire, while still applying considerable force.

As a result, the copper core is notched, and the wire in this place can easily break. This is especially true when stripping thin wires with a diameter of 0.6-0.8 mm. After such stripping, they break off after a few minor bends.

It is necessary that the blade is almost in the same plane with the axis of the wire. The insulation is cut along the conductor, the remaining on the wire is laid aside and also cut off.

How to properly remove the insulation from the wire using side cutters

The second mistake is often made when stripping insulation with side cutters. Usually they take the tool in hand as they have to, without paying attention to the orientation of the cutting edges.

If the sharpening side is directed towards the movement of the side cutters, then a significant clamping force must be applied. The wire can easily break off along with the insulation.

And it is necessary that the sides of sharpening the cutting edges of the side cutters look in the direction opposite to the movement of the tool, as shown in the photo. As a result, the cutting edges, even with a slight touch on the insulation, cut into it, and the insulation with a tube without notching the wire is easily removed.

Removing plastic insulation by melting

The insulation of modern wires for electrical wiring is usually made of PVC or polyethylene, the melting point of which lies in the range of 105-140 ° C. Therefore, using a soldering iron or other heating device, you can easily and safely remove the insulation from the wire. To do this, it is enough to hold the end of the soldering iron tip, pressing along the circumference of the insulation in the right place. The insulation will warm up, melt and be easily removed by hand.

As you can see, the insulation was removed perfectly, without harming the copper conductor.

If you need to strip a lot of wires from plastic insulation, then it is advisable to use a special device. Wood burning is very suitable for these purposes. Previously, such were produced under the name "Pattern".

An indispensable method of removing insulation by melting in cases of working with old electrical wiring. Over time, the plastic ages and becomes very hard, like bone. A piece of wire only 3 cm long protrudes in the junction box in the wall. You can’t get close to the insulation with a knife or wire cutters. In this situation, only reflow will help solve the problem. You can soften the insulation by heating it with a match or a gas lighter, then remove it.

With a conductor diameter of more than 0.2 mm, the most convenient is the mechanical method of stripping the insulation using sandpaper or scraping the enamel with a knife.

In order to remove it with sandpaper, you need to bend a small sheet of fine sandpaper in half, bring the end of the wire in between the bent halves of the sheet and drag the wire through without squeezing your fingers. And so repeat this operation by turning the wire until all the enamel is removed.

To remove the enamel with a knife, you need to put the end of the wire on any hard surface and turning the wire in a circle, scrape off the enamel until the end of the wire is completely clear of varnish.

In the case of removing insulation from a wire with a diameter of less than 0.2 mm, it is difficult to remove the enamel mechanically without damaging or breaking the conductor.

But it is easy to remove the enamel in a thermochemical way, using a soldering iron and a piece of vinyl chloride insulation. To do this, you need to stretch the end of the wire between the tip of the soldering iron, pressed against the vinyl chloride. The chlorine released from heating will clean the wire from the enamel.

This method is indispensable for removing enamel from a wire of the licendrat type, which is widely used in radio communications for winding high-frequency inductors. The licendrate consists of many thin enameled wires and twisted into one conductor.

With success, the enamel is removed with the help of aspirin, put the wire on the tablet and press it with a soldering iron, and then pull the wire. In this case, the wire is also immediately tinned.

Removal of PTFE insulation

Fluoroplast is a chemically produced polymer that is resistant to organic solvents and is not wetted by water. Characterized by high electrical strength, stable up to an exposure temperature of 300°C. An ideal insulating material, but expensive. Therefore, it is used only in technically justified cases. In everyday life, fluoroplastic wire is used by radio amateurs, since it does not melt when soldering with a soldering iron, takes up little space and has an aesthetic appearance.

Fluoroplastic insulation is a thin narrow tape tightly wound on a twisted stranded thin copper wire. It is possible to release such a wire from insulation only physically.

It is best to use a knife for this purpose. Having pressed the wire to the platform, the fluoroplast is scraped off with a knife to the required length.

After the wire is exposed, it is bent to the side and the remaining unnecessary fluoroplastic is cut off. As a result, a conductor neatly stripped of PTFE insulation is obtained, ready for soldering.

Insulation from rubber, fabric and other insulating materials is removed by one of the above described mechanical methods. The main rule is to prevent notches on the wire strands.

Wire stripping tool
Automatic stripper model WS-04

Manual cutting of wires takes a lot of time, requires sufficient experience and accuracy, especially when removing insulation from stranded wires of small cross section. To partially automate the stripping operation, there is a special hand tool called a stripper.

Among my set of tools there is a stripper model WS-04 of the German manufacturer KBT. I bought a stripper a long time ago, and I am very pleased with the purchase. I strongly recommend that professional electricians purchase a snipper, you will not regret it.

Main technical characteristics and principle of operation
stripper model WS-04

The stripper allows you to bite and strip insulation from wires with a diameter of 0.5 to 2.7 mm (section 0.2–6.0 mm 2) without adjustment. When setting with a micrometer screw, it is possible to strip wires with a diameter of 0.25 to 0.5 mm. Also, using a stripper, you can crimp on wires simple connectors without insulation, insulated and double-crimped automotive connectors with a diameter of 0.8 to 2.7 mm.

The stripper is a tongs, with cams installed at the ends of the levers. One of the pair of cams is fixed permanently, and the second, upper one, is movable. The left pair is used to clamp the wire, and the right pair is for cutting the insulation and removing it. At the first moment of convergence of the stripper handles, the left movable cam clamps the wire, and the right movable cam cuts into the insulation with a sharp edge at the end. As the levers continue to be brought together, the insulation is pulled off the wire. The entire removal process takes less than a second.

For crimping wires in round terminals on the inner sides of the handles there are combs of a given profile. It is enough to insert the connector into a place suitable for its size and bring the handles together. The wire will be securely clamped in the ferrule.

Examples of working with stripper WS-04

It is difficult to describe the work with the stripper in words, it is much more clear to demonstrate its capabilities using examples of stripping insulation from wires of various types.

For example, there is a piece of double installation wire for laying residential wiring, and you need to shorten it, and then remove the insulation to a given length.

To do this, it is enough to lead the wire between the cutting knives located on the inner sides of the handle and bring them together. Interestingly, the cut is obtained without deformation of the ends of the wires. If you cut with wire cutters, then the ends are usually flattened, sharpening a little.

Next, the end of the wire is wound between the movable and fixed jaws and the insulation is removed by squeezing the handles. No notches of wire cores are observed, which guarantees the reliability of the further connection. The blue movable limiter allows you to precisely set the length of the stripped insulation.

The insulation is also easily removed from the stranded wire, which is often used to supply voltage in low-voltage circuits. For example, wires going to products from adapters and power supplies.

With the help of a stripper, you can easily remove the insulation from two strands of double-insulated cord wire, however, in two steps. For the first reception, the first layer of insulation is removed - a vinyl chloride tube.

For the second step, the insulation is removed simultaneously from two cores of wires. The time for removing insulation from such a wire is no more than 5 seconds.

The stripper perfectly helps to prepare before pressing into the RJ-11 connector and the telephone wire connecting the landline phone to the communication line. In the case of connection using a screw connection, one more movement can also remove the insulation from the wire cores.

Removing insulation from shielded wires is a rather difficult operation, especially if the wire is thin. With the help of a stripper, the insulation is first removed from the shielding braid.

The braid is then untwisted with a needle or sharp awl to expose the center wire. It remains to make one more movement, and the wire is freed from insulation. Removing the insulation from the shielded wire manually, using an ordinary knife, without damaging the wires, is laborious and time consuming.

I tried to remove the insulation from a thin stranded wire covered with fluoroplastic insulation. To my surprise, the stripper easily coped with this task.

To test the capabilities of the stripper, I removed the insulation from copper and aluminum wires, single-core and stranded, with insulation from different dielectrics, and the result was always pleasing. The stripper did the job flawlessly.

It happened with a stripper to crimp and insulated automotive terminals for double crimping. Compressed quite normally without much difficulty.

Feedback on the work of the stripper model WS-04

If you have to strip wires once a month, or even less often, then replenishing your arsenal of tools with a stripper that costs about $ 20 is probably not advisable. But if you have to remove the insulation from the wires more often, then I think it is necessary to have a stripper at hand.

I bring to your attention a short video demonstrating the operation of the WS-04 stripper.

The practice of working with the WS-04 stripper has confirmed its compliance with the technical specifications declared by the manufacturer, so, if necessary, you can safely purchase a stripper of this model, you will not regret it.

Conductor end preparation
for connection to electrical appliances

After the wires are released from the insulation, it is necessary to prepare their ends for connection to electrical appliances, since in the vast majority of cases a mechanical method of fastening with screws, clamping in terminal blocks, crimping and twisting is used. To plugs, sockets, cartridges, automatic circuit breakers and other similar devices, the connection is usually made with screws.

To connect conductors to electrical appliances where currents of less than 1 A flow, it is quite enough to insert a straight piece of a 5-10 mm long wire freed from insulation under the screw head and clamp it. In this way, I have fixed the conductors in all the switches, since there are LED lamps in the chandeliers, and the strength of the current flowing through the contacts of the switches does not exceed 0.25 A.

The main thing is to prevent the conductor from slipping out from under the screw head. As you can see in the photo above, the contact in the switch (enlarged for clarity), to which the wire is attached, is bent in a corner. When screwing the screw, the wire rests against this corner, which prevents it from slipping. If the limiter is not provided, then it is imperative to twist the end of the wire into a ring. For connections where large currents flow, a connection without twisting the end of the conductor into a ring will be extremely unreliable.

The easiest way is to twist a ring of wire with the help of round-nose pliers. Of course, you can form a ring by wrapping the wire around, for example, the tip of a screwdriver or a drill of a suitable diameter. For ease of forming a ring of the required diameter, marks of 3 mm, 3.5 mm, 4 mm and 4.5 mm should be applied to the jaws of the round-nose pliers. If you need to make a ring for the M3 screw from a single-core wire, then I form rings on the 3.5 mm mark so that the screw can easily enter. In the case of a stranded conductor and with subsequent tinning - 4 mm.

It is not necessary to tin the wires, but it is desirable, especially if the product will be used in conditions of high humidity, for example, in a bathroom or shower room, damp basements, in winter in an unheated country house.

These are the rings that turned out, one for the M3 screw, and the other for the M4. Rings of stranded wire are formed in a slightly different way. First, the conductor wraps around the cone of the round-nose pliers, and then around itself at the exit from the insulation.

It is desirable to pierce the formed rings and flatten them a little with light blows of a small hammer. Then the contact area will increase and the reliability of the future connection will be much higher.

When installing a stranded wire, you can make rings that are not closed. To do this, after removing the insulation, tin the wire with a soldering iron, and then form rings using the technology of forming a single-core wire.

Strictly observing the simple technology described above for preparing wires for connection, you will never have to repair electrical wiring.

In the arsenal of a professional electrician, there is always a tool for stripping wires, which is necessary for stripping cores when connecting sockets, switches, wiring, etc. Such a device is also useful for a home master who started repairs in an apartment or house.

Let's figure out what tools exist for removing the sheath from wires, what are the specifics of their use, and we will indicate what you should pay attention to when buying such devices.

To connect one outlet or switch in an apartment, it is not necessary to buy professional equipment. It will turn out to strip a piece of wire with an ordinary kitchen knife. However, if a large-scale repair is to be carried out with a complete renovation of the electrical wiring system, then specialized devices cannot be dispensed with.

The number of contacts to be cleaned when renovating a 100 sq. m can reach a thousand. To perform such work without specialized devices is an unreasonable waste of time and effort.

In addition, stripping without professional wire stripping tools is fraught with negative consequences:

the risk of damage to the cable is high, which reduces the safety of the operation of the wiring;
an incision in the conductive core leads to a decrease in the cross section of the wire, as a result - a break or burning at the junction;
if the wire is cut carelessly, the damaged wire may break when bent.

In high-frequency systems with alternating current, the situation is complicated by the appearance of the skin effect - the current is distributed unevenly, but mainly in the surface layer of the conductor. In such wires, any most insignificant defect in the core can disable the equipment.

With a knife, you can gently peel off the insulation, but the work will take a long time. And if you need to prepare a lot of cables, then mistakes are inevitable - it will not work to quickly make a large number of high-precision cuts

When it comes to significant amounts of work, it is better not to take risks and use special devices. Damage to the conductor may cause a fire, cause damage to equipment, or cause electric shock.

Types of electrical accessories

The variety of tools can be classified according to the following criteria:

the volume of work performed;
process automation.

The insulating sheath can be removed in two ways: thermal and mechanical.

The first option is valid only for thin, low-power conductors used in communication devices, audio equipment and electronics operating on a voltage of about 5 volts.

Alternative options: side cutters and pliers

Using some tools other than their intended purpose, it is quite possible to remove the insulating wrap. Popular alternatives to professional tools: side cutters and pliers.

The cutting edges should be directed in the opposite direction to the movement of the tool. The sheath is carefully removed with a tube without damaging the conductor

Pliers with precision holes of various diameters are suitable for processing wires. A universal tool is in demand when installing wiring.

These pliers allow you to:

capture and bend the wire;
cut the wire of medium hardness;
carry out pressure testing of contact sleeves;
remove insulation.

The number of holes determines the functionality of the tool, usually pliers are designed to process wires of 3-6 sizes.

Pliers must be handled carefully. If you do not calculate the clamping force, then you can easily damage the core.

Choice of stripping method for different wires

The complexity of removing insulation is largely determined by the type of wire. When choosing a tool, you should consider the features of the cable:

coaxial wire. When removing double insulation, work is carried out in two stages. The top layer can be removed thermally, and the bottom layer can be removed with a stripper. The cores of such a cable are very fragile and thin, so they are easy to damage.
PTFE coated cable. Heat-resistant insulation that can only be removed mechanically. An electrician's knife or stripper will do.
enamelled wire. If the cross section is less than 0.2 sq. mm, then it is necessary to resort to the thermochemical method using a soldering iron and vinyl chloride tape. The wire is placed on a tape, carried out along the cable with a soldering iron - the chlorine released contributes to the "departure" of the enameled sheath from the wire.

When choosing a tool, it is necessary to take into account what diameter of the wire the device is designed for, as well as the material used to make the handle.

If it is necessary to process electrical cables, it is necessary to select strippers with a handle made of dielectric material.

The coating protects against voltage up to 1000 watts.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Variety of wire and cable stripping tools, stripper comparison:

The choice of a tool should be based on the upcoming conditions for its use, the need for additional functionality. The main thing is that the device ensures compliance with two main requirements: it removes the insulation without damaging the conductive cores and meets the declared dielectric characteristics.

If there is any doubt about the second, then all work is carried out exclusively with the voltage removed.

What wire stripper do you use? Please share your own experience with our site visitors. Leave your comments in the box below. There you can also ask questions about the topic of the article.

Several types of tools are used to remove insulation from wires: these are all kinds of knives, tongs, strippers, tongs (including automatic ones) and a number of others. How do they differ, how do they work and how convenient is it to use them?

Hand tools

Hand tools for stripping wires are, as a rule, all kinds of tongs, pliers and pliers, which are simple in design and have a number of appropriate cutting edges.

mechanical stripper

The cheapest and most common tools are simple hand-held crimper strippers, which combine pliers for stripping the ends of wires of different diameters, as well as press pliers for crimping and crimping wires.

The stripper shown above also has a tool for cutting studs and bolts. The main disadvantage of such tools is the low quality due to the low price. In the store, before buying, it would be good to hold a specific copy in your hands in order to make sure that this is not a one-time Chinese craft.

Price - from 120 rubles.

Insulation stripping pliers

In terms of its purpose and functionality, this tool is completely similar to the stripper described above. But it is a bit small and comfortable.

However, the price is also higher. When buying, you should pay attention to its functionality. They differ for different models. It happens that everything is limited only to cleaning the ends of the wires from insulation.

Price - from 700 rubles.

A very common tool. With the help of a screw, it adapts to wires of different diameters.

To remove the insulation, the wire must be slightly bitten and twisted, and then pulled off the incised sheath. However, this type of strippers seems inconvenient to many, although it is more convenient for them to work in hard-to-reach places.

Price - from 300 rubles.

This multifunctional tool is designed for stripping round and coaxial cables.

Despite its unusual shape, it is convenient to work with it. Especially with cables of large diameters. To remove the insulation, the cable is placed in the drop-down handle, slightly clamped and slightly rotated to make an annular notch. Then, with the same cutting edges, the notched part of the insulation is intercepted and pulled together.

Price - from 800 rubles.

There is a mass of knives of various shapes, designed for longitudinal and transverse cutting of insulation.

The most popular - with a hook-shaped bend of the blade. The knife in the photo above also has paws that make it difficult for it to slip out of the cut sheath.

Price - from 700 rubles.

This knife has a small retractable adjustable blade, which, thanks to the swivel mechanism, allows you to cut cable sheaths in any direction (along, across).

Not all tools of this type are the same in terms of their convenience, so it would be nice to first take a closer look at the items you like in the store.

Price - from 200 rubles.

Semi-automatic tools

Semi-automatic wire stripping tools make the whole process much easier and faster at the same time.

Tongs of this design are the most affordable option on the market and will undoubtedly come in handy in the household. They are not designed to work with wires larger than 6 mm2.

Choosing a cheap model, you should personally check its performance. Alas, the quality of Chinese goods is not high, therefore, in half the cases, you can get a copy that will either squeeze the wire too much, cutting the cores, or, on the contrary, slip through the insulation. In addition, the durability of cheap models is also a big question. However, for one-time work - it is quite suitable.

Price - from 180 rubles.

However, there are expensive branded instruments that are devoid of most of the listed disadvantages. But their price is also appropriate - 10 thousand rubles is not the limit.

This is the most versatile tool that is designed to strip wires of different types and different sections, which automatically adjusts to. Although some models also have manual adjustment for better performance.

With their help, it is convenient not only to remove the insulation from the ends, but also to expose arbitrary areas. They can also cope with various types of wires, including flat stranded, twisted pair, etc.