Extension cord blues

Stripping extension cords is about as fun as running out of beer. The outer layer is easy, but then I see that **** rope tangled up with three wires that still need stripping. By now I'm wondering if I should have left the insulation on and sold it as is. Eh.. To late. So when I finally get the wires and rope separated, I crack another beer. Now I've got 3 wires that are wanting to get in my #2 Cu bucket. I tried many different methods to strip these, and none were easy... The wires are thin as hell and get cut when my knife goes through the insulation. After a lot of 4 letter words, I had a few pounds of copper. OK, good. Now, instead of nice long pieces of insulation on the ground, I stand over a battlefield of shredded insulation, rope and tons of tiny chunks of copper. Cleaning up I think, should I try to pick all the wire out?....... nah.. I crack another beer. Stand, staring at my bucket, and wonder if what I just did was worth it or not...... Extension cord blues

I have that setup. On a sturdy shelf support, way better than a small block of wood. And I use it all the time, But it did not work. The wires were to small. Either it would cut too deep or not deep enough. So I tried other methods. Maybe I gave up to soon.....

I strip the insulation off since the difference is .30 vs 1.00, I find getting the string out is easy if u pull one of the wires while holding the others they all bunch up, then cut right after the tangle and it all comes apart easily. I don't bother trying to get the #2 out of that small wire when its stranded, if it's solid from an appliance or something I do strip that.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Parker, Try one of the homemade strippers where you use the block of wood with the drywall screw for the stripper. After you adjust it, you can pull the wire thru pretty quick without a lot of mess. Just takes a little adjusting.

got a photo of that?

Here is mine. It's on a sturdy shelf so I can pull like hell!

Just BIC it! Oh crap is that illegal? hmmm

Originally Posted by ParkerFlyer4

Here is mine. It's on a sturdy shelf so I can pull like hell!

wow, that's cool!

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Either that or you'll pull the whole shelf unit down,,,lol

haha ya I know, But I got it screwed to the ceiling studs. and lagged into the concrete floor. The 2x4 would snap before the shelf would fall.

Here's what I use.



Haven't found a wire it couldn't strip. On stranded the trick with this device is to set the depth to where it cuts most of the insulation, then you pull it apart. (You'll be able to tell because it catches on the blade, whereas just the insulation is usually a smooth/fluid pull). This way you don't have millions of strands all over that are a nightmare to pick up.

Just did a bunch of Romex from a house slated for demo. Set it to strip the outer sheath. Ran all my wire. Then set it to do the individual wires. Saves a lot of time to do a bunch of similar size, then dial it in for the next batch of wire.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

How do you keep from snagging your shirtsleeve on the screws???? Or your arm hair??LOL

no snagging on cloths, I only strip wire when Im naked. I feed the wire through the back, tighten the screw enough. Then grip that sh*t with pliers and pull and pull and pull till the whole wire is done. goes fast

How disturbing???good for you