the art of stripping braided wire

Stripping braided wire can be a real challenge. But I am stubborn, and I've stayed with it until I have succeeded enough to make me want to keep on until I have it mastered !! Thanks to those of you more experienced guys who've given me tips and encouraged me.

Here are some important factors I've learned and wanted to share with others who've gotten discouraged and maybe even given up:

First, your utility blade must be very sharp (and when you're learning it gets dull fast as you hit the wire!!)

Second, you must pull tightly so the wire is taunt...(I put one end in my vise and pull the wire tight with my gloved hand or pliers)

Third, it's the angle of the blade that is the key...and in this case only practice will enable you to succeed.

Fourth, practice only on clean wire. If you practice on aged, brittle, lamp wires, you'll never succeed. This is another variable to consider when stripping any wire, and only comes with practice; but is especially pertinent when considering braided wire.

Fifth, another variable is the sheathing itself....as you know all sheathing is not created equal....so some will be easier to strip than others....so again.... practice is the only solution.



And, did I mention.....practice. You'll be glad you did. I know I am. But I'll also be happy to order that $200 stripper from Sweden as soon as the other bills leave me a $200 surplus !!

Dee

I don't know what kind of utility blade you use, but I found something at Harbor Freight you might want to consider. They have what looks like a folding clasp knife that uses the blades from box cutters. Just press the button down on the knife and the blade slips right out and you can turn it around and use the other side. It comes with 5 blades in the package. Price: 6.99. I also bought a box of 100 blades for 2.99. Using their common 20% off on the knife I got the whole kit and kaboodle for under 10 buck, including tax. I use the newer blades to strip the insulated wire with, and when the blade gets too dull to effectively strip the insulation, I replace it but keep it as it is still sharp enough to cut plastics and tapes bundling the wire together, or anything else I need to cut. And then, like everyone else here, when it gets too dull for any cutting, like all my other worn out tools, goes in the steel scrap pile. I love doing something where there is relatively little waste!!

Braided wire and me = gasoline lol

One other tip is to get it as straigt as you can when you strip it. Everytime you hit a kink or bend in the wire it changes the blade angle and digs in.

I can strip most braided wire just as fast as solid. The real fine stranded wire that isn't braided is a PITA though.

Just discovered titanium blades....love 'em. Did I mention PRACTICE !!!???

I use an old Stanley hand planer (top in the above image),for the braided, the blade is adjustable, so I just set the depth and lay the cord on an old cutting board and slide right across the length of the wire. It took a bit to get used to but now it's a no brainer for me..

for the smaller diameter I use the 2x4 with the holes and screws and muscle them through.. I would give credit here but I am sure you know the member who posted that video..

Nope...if I got any faster it would scare me !!

Originally Posted by WhiteLightning

I use an old Stanley hand planer (top in the above image),for the braided, the blade is adjustable, so I just set the depth and lay the cord on an old cutting board and slide right across the length of the wire. It took a bit to get used to but now it's a no brainer for me..

Ha! And hear I thought that I was the only one using a Stanley block plane. For me it's much-much faster than a knife on braided wire.

one of you should make a video

Sars101,

For the thin wire I placed a single edge razor blade in a 1 x 4 board with a hole in it & mounted in my vice. With the 4 " side facing you, drill a
hole a little bigger in diameter than your insulation about inch from the top. Then cut down through the center of the hole
with a narrow saw. Tap the razor blade down so the edge is in the top of the hole. I use a c clamp at the top of the board
to tighten the slot and hold the blade in it. For set up I will strip the first inch of insulation off and feed it thru the hole. I tap
the front of the blade down till it hits the insulation above the copper, then tighten the clamp, and pull the wire thru. It takes a
little to get it right but once set you a good for that diameter wire. You can add larger holes below the first one and extend the slot
for larger wires. Remember the insulation on thin wire is not thick, you only have to score it good to be able to pull the wire out.
Can't that credit for this. I dummy downed a version of a home made wire stripping machine I saw on you tube.
Have Fun

Thanks for sharing your valuable tips on stripping braided wire here at http://www.scrapmetalforum.com

(it wont let me post links, i am refering to whitelightnings picture)

I saw somewhere on here a while ago a guy talking about using a planer so i gave it a shot yesterday and i think its going to work great. I have the same one as in the bottom of the above picture whitelightning posted. I turn it upside down and clamped it flush to a bench i have. I am still figuring out the best method but it has worked pretty good just pulling the wire on one end and keeping pressure on the other end by the planer with my palm. Still tinkering though. Anyways thanks to whoever originally posted the planer method, whitelightning maybe?