All tools are wire strippers. Wire stripper: tool types

Method one. With a knife: step back from the edge of the wire to the length required to expose it, cut the insulation with a circular motion of the knife, and then pull it off the wire.

In this case, the wire itself is usually damaged. If it is multi-stranded, then some of the veins are cut with a knife. This may not be so scary, although the cross-section of the wire will thereby be reduced, which means the quality of the contact will become worse. If the wire is single-core, then you may not even notice its damage with a knife. A circular groove that is barely visible and perceptible to the touch will remain. It will not be visible, since its position coincides with the edge of the cut insulation. And this is even worse - just bend such a wire a couple of times and it will break off exactly along this groove. Especially it concerns aluminum wires. But copper ones, which have high viscosity, also break at this point, although perhaps not immediately.

Method two. With a planing motion of the knife, remove the strip of insulation from the point where the exposure begins to the end of the wire. Then tear off or cut off the striped tail of the insulation.

In this case, the wire conductor can also be damaged. Moreover, in the place where the knife first cuts into the insulation. A force is applied that can damage the conductor - put a groove on it (single-core wire) or cut off several wires (multi-core). The results are the same as in the first method.

Method three. Use sharp pliers or side cutters to pierce the insulation at the point where the wire begins to be removed, and then use pliers to scrape it off the wire.

The disadvantages are the same, plus the risk of even cutting the wire by slightly overpowering the wire cutters. If you haven’t had a bite, the metal of the wire is easily damaged, which worsens the contact or ultimately breaks off the wire exactly at the place where the removal of insulation began.

Method four. Consists of thermal damage - with a soldering iron, match, lighter - to the integrity of the insulation, after which it is removed or cut off.

Disadvantages - the insulation now produced is fireproof, but fusible and in the event of a fire (difficult, yes) it is pretty smelly. Poisonous black smoke is released, which is not comme il faut to inhale. And a layer of this same insulation may stick to the conductor that you wanted to “clean,” which still needs to be scraped off later. There is still the risk of damaging the metal wire. Drops of insulator will also be applied to the soldering iron tip, which will then be scraped and burned and scraped again.

Job in professional ways and tools consists of techniques similar to those listed, but, if possible, overcoming these shortcomings.

Professional cutting of cables and wires

The easiest way was to slightly improve the stripping knife so that it would not damage the metal conductors when stripping the wires.

Chopping knives for electricians

Unlike wrong ways, when the insulation is cut from the place where the exposed part of the wire ends, the knife is now asked to cut in reverse side. Removing the insulation from the wires is done from the end of the wire - simply run a knife along the wire as long as necessary. This knife is made with a special blade shape and special sharpening to reduce the likelihood of damage to the cable conductor.

Another idea is that there is a special heel on the tip of the knife, which, in order to cut the insulation longitudinally, must be placed directly on the core before removing the insulation from the wire, and it will slide along it, cutting the insulation, but without damaging the metal. However, how long will this heel last?

When cutting, such knives must be guided exactly along the wire. There are designs with a special “holder” for the cable. The insulation is cut in them by a special small blade produced to a short length.

There is such a tool for cutting - a knife with many additional holes different diameters, which are definitely suitable for stripping wires this way or that way.

However, there are tools that can be used to remove insulation precisely, and even to a given length of wire.

Stripper - pliers for removing insulation

IN English language the word strip means something like “to sand”, “to remove upper layer", "peel off", "peel off". The British came up with a separate tool with this name: stripper, “stripper”.

This is quite professional tool, guaranteeing industrial quality of work and available in the arsenal of tools of any cable technician.

Cutting a cable with a stripper is done in much the same way as we would do it with wire cutters or side cutters. Only in these pliers all the cutting parameters are precisely set: the diameter of the hole, the thickness of the insulation or the diameter of the metal core of the wire. The tool has a blade for cutting the insulation, it can be equipped with devices for grasping the wire teeth on one side (from the side of the wire coil) and for grasping the insulation from the end; there may be a measured interval for which the wire is exposed. There may be a spring-lever mechanism for sharply tearing off the insulation measured and cut on the wire.

There are very simple ones, and there are also multi-purpose complex ones.

The simplest stripper for removing insulation from wires (pliers or pliers for cleaning cables) has one screw, with which you can set the thickness of the wire, then squeeze and tear off the insulation.

The screw rests on the lower jaw and allows the jaws to converge strictly at a certain distance. First, the wire is lightly clamped using a screw in the rhombic hole at the ends of the two jaws, then you can slightly increase the pressure, this will tear the insulation. Then a sharp jerk - and the insulation is removed from the wire.

These tools, as you can see, have good insulated handles. Manufacturers claim safe work with them in networks up to 1000 V. Does this mean that you can work with wires without turning off the current? However, such devices with high-voltage live wires clearly look risky. You pull the wire, the insulation breaks, and then what? The wire must be held somehow; such pliers do not provide any means for this.

But there are pliers that fix the wire - the place where the insulation is removed - entirely.

You need to tuck the wire into a hole of a given size and rest it against a plate, the position of which is adjustable. After squeezing the handles of the pliers, the insulation will be cut through and removed. Moreover, the wire is held in fixed position.

There are a lot of strippers. And manufacturers are continuously adding more and more new, more functional and completely automatic tools to tools for electricians. With which you can evenly cut off a wire, remove any insulation, even the kind that you remove with a knife - you will suffer. Everything is configured automatically. The insulation is removed in a second, after which you can put a contact tip on the wire and in the next second securely crimp it completely in accordance with all electrical standards.

The insulation is removed with micro-adjustment. That is, you can put a multi-wire cable in which several insulated wires- the tongs will remove the top shell. After this, straighten all the cable wires and give them to the stripper. The stripper will remove the isolation from everyone at once. Very accurate and without damaging the conductor cores.

Directly below the axis of the pliers we see a cutter that cuts very evenly and flatly.

Then there are crimps for the sleeves. Sleeves are crimped different forms, with insulating cap, ferrule for automotive wiring and others.

Special purpose insulation stripping devices and pliers

In a related area to electrical engineering - communications - they are used special pliers for stripping cables, supplemented with a device for standard termination of cable ends.

Everything is determined by the type of cable and its size.

To cut off the shell of a coaxial or twisted pair cable, use this simple stripper.

Pliers for stripping and terminating the end of a twisted pair cable have sufficient devices for this purpose. To use them, you don’t need to regulate anything, everything is already defined standard sizes cable and connector. There is no need to strip the insulation, you just need to cut off the shell. There is no doubt about how to use these tongs - the device speaks for itself.

After removing the insulation from the cable, the pairs are disassembled, laid out and evenly cut with one of the cleaning knives. After this, the RJ-45 TP (twisted pare wire) wires are carefully tucked into the connector according to the wiring diagram.

There is only one operation left to complete: the connector is tucked into the socket - if narrower, then for a telephone, wider - for a cable local networks. The handles are squeezed, the device applies powerful pressure, the connector contact blades punch holes in the wire insulation, the cable is fixed in the connector with a special strip and... done. So many actions in one movement.

Hello, dear readers and guests of the Electrician's Notes website.

First I would like to clarify the terminology.

Insulation stripping pliers are abbreviated as KSI. But now it is customary to refer to “bourgeois” names, which is why these same mites are called strippers, i.e. from English word“strip”, which translates as undressing, exposing or removing, which characterizes the purpose of this instrument, i.e. strip or remove insulation from wires.

I became the owner of these pliers not so long ago, although I already had to try them out quite thoroughly at work.

At work, I have to cut and strip power and control cables with a core cross-section from 0.5 to 4 sq. mm.

Until now, I have used simpler KSI: fairly reliable MB-1M pliers, a good Chinese stripper (no name) and even ordinary assembly knives type “Metalist”, etc.

I was once given a gift in the form of Sparta pliers, although I don’t use them at all, because... They simply simply don't work - don't buy them under any circumstances. Read my detailed article about why they are so bad.

I will return to the listed tools for removing insulation in my next articles - subscribe to the site’s newsletter so as not to miss the most interesting things.

So, back to the Knipex 12 40 200.

Packaging and appearance.

Their cost (at the time of writing) is approximately 6,500 rubles. I would say that this is not exactly a cheap tool. Naturally, for home craftsmen, purchasing of this instrument will be redundant and impractical, but for professionals who have to clear more than one hundred veins per day, this will be a good purchase.

Why Knipex?

I read a lot of reviews and recommendations on the Internet about strippers for removing insulation different manufacturers, and still chose Knipex 12 40 200. Basically, all the reviews about them are only positive: the tool has been tested long-term operation, there is clear and trouble-free operation, convenience and ease. Well, what do you want? This is Germany.

I also have a positive opinion about the products of the KVT company, because... I purchased from them the PKVk-6 press tongs for sleeve tips of the NShVI type, the PK-16u press tongs for copper tips and sleeves, and sector scissors (nuks) NS-32 for cutting cables and insulated tips for their own. Their prices are quite reasonable.

Purpose and design of pliers

Knipex 12 40 200 pliers are a multifunctional tool and are designed to:

• for stripping insulation from single-core and stranded wires cross-section from 0.03 to 10 sq. mm (or AWG 32-7 according to American “caliber”)
• for removing the outer sheath from flat cables and wires with a width of no more than 10 (mm)
• for cutting single-core wires with a cross-section of up to 6 sq. mm and multi-core wires with a cross-section of up to 10 sq. mm

The pliers consist of:

• stripping knives
• plastic sponges with notches
• limit stop
• adjusting screw
• knife for cutting wire and cable cores (cutter)
• handles

The body of the pliers is made of fiberglass reinforced plastic. Accordingly, they are light in weight - only 200 grams.

The length of the pliers is 200 (mm).

As they wear out, the insulation removal knives can be replaced.

Plastic jaws can also be replaced as they wear out. They can be easily removed with a small screwdriver, and new ones can be installed in their place.

Spare parts can be found and ordered in the online stores of official Knipex representatives.

The knife for cutting wire and cable cores (cutter) is made of special hardened tool steel.

How to use the Knipex stripper

1. Removing insulation from wires and cables

As I said just above, using the Knipex 12 40 200 stripper you can remove PVC or rubber insulation from single-core and stranded wires with a cross-section from 0.03 to 10 sq. mm.

These pliers are not intended for removing multi-layer and reinforced insulation, as well as highly flexible insulation.

A distinctive feature of these pliers is that they themselves adapt to different cross-sections of the wires being stripped. This is very convenient - you don’t need to get into the precision holes of the pliers every time, as, for example, in the same MB-1M pliers.

So how does insulation removal work?

First you need to select the length of the insulation to be stripped using a stop stop. To adjust the length, you need to squeeze and move the stop to the required distance on the scale. The length adjustment range is from 3 to 18 (mm).

Using the adjusting screw, you can adjust the cutting depth of the knives depending on the insulation (PVC, rubber) of the wire being stripped.

After adjusting the insulation stripping length and the cutting depth of the knives, insert the wire into the pliers until it stops.

We press the handles - the jaws clamp the wire.

The knives cut through the wire insulation and pull it together.

Done - the insulation has been removed.

Another feature of these pliers is that the principle of their operation is not based on breaking the core insulation, like many KSI models, but on a neat and even cut. The insulation is cut with knives in places marked in red.

Thus, disruption and damage to the current-carrying conductor is completely eliminated. It is very important!

When removing insulation using knives, side cutters, etc. tools, there is a high probability of damaging the current-carrying core, especially for small-section wires. As a result of careless actions, a notch can be made on the core and, literally, after several minor bends, the wire in this place can easily break off.

In addition, working with such a tool takes much more time.

For this reason, connections of wires to each other (read the article about everything) or to electrical installation products (, etc.) are of poor quality.

Also, when using the listed tools (knives, side cutters, etc.), the length of the wires to be stripped is not observed, so to speak - everything is done by eye. And if you work carelessly with a knife, you can even injure your hand.

So, when using the Knipex 12 40 200 stripper, this will never happen to you.

2. Removing the outer sheath from flat cables

Everything is similar, only instead of insulating the cores, you can remove the outer sheath of the cable or wire, albeit with a width of no more than 10 (mm). Common cables are suitable for this, for example, VVG-Png (3x2.5) or VVG-Png (3x1.5).

Everything is similar here, we adjust the cutting depth of the knives and the length of insulation stripping. Then insert the VVG-Png cable up to the stop stop.

We press the handles of the pliers - the jaws clamp the cable.

The knives cut through the outer sheath of the cable and tighten it.

The outer sheath of the cable has been removed.

Personally, I don’t use this function, because... the shell is removed to a length of only 18 (mm), and this is very little. For such purposes, I use a mechanic's knife or other special tools.

3. Wire cutting

This stripper can cut single-core wires with a cross-section of up to 6 sq. mm and multi-core wires with a cross-section of up to 10 sq. mm.

So far I have tried cutting wires with a cross-section of up to 4 sq. mm - it cuts perfectly.

If you regularly lubricate the hinges, rods, sliding surfaces, and use pliers exclusively according to the manufacturer’s instructions, this will only increase the service life of the tool.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the manufacturer slightly overestimated the capabilities of these pliers. The fact is that removing insulation from copper wire with a cross section of more than 4 sq. mm, it is not so easy for mites - you feel that they are “crunching” in literally this word, however, is still being cleared out. Therefore, to increase the service life of pliers, I still recommend that you use them with sections up to 4 sq. mm inclusive.

In conclusion of my review, I would like to note that the mechanics of the Knipex 12 40 200 insulation stripper have an unusually “light” and smooth operation. With the help of pliers, high labor productivity is achieved. They are very convenient and fast to work with.

If you already use these pliers, then I would like to hear your opinion and impressions about them.

P.S. In addition to the above, watch the video where I show how to remove the insulation and outer shell from different brands cables

In the household, a tool for special operations It is quite rare with electrical products. 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 special wires that quickly and accurately perform their function.

As a rule, these are devices with a simple design, but replacing them with other available devices is extremely difficult. That is, stripping can be performed kitchen knife, but the question is how well the result will live up to expectations in terms of quality.

Cable stripper

Perhaps this is the most common tool designed for working with wires. It would seem, why can’t the same tasks be performed with an ordinary well-sharpened knife? The fact is that a standard blade will do a good job of eliminating the excess winding, but at the same time it can damage the cable core. In turn, a special knife for removing insulation has several differences, including a rubberized handle and an unusual blade shape. Usually the cutting part is made with bends - for example, in the form of a sickle. But there is one more significant feature of such devices. The blade is usually made from tool steel. Taken together, these differences guarantee high-quality processing wires. By the way, a cable cutter is quite 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 have several precision holes with different diameters, as well as straight blades and textured jaws. This combination structural elements makes this wire stripping tool efficient and easy to use. By the way, the same pliers can be used to bend stripped wire, grab and cut the cable. In the same group, pincers can also be noted as a type of grasping devices. This device is advantageous to use because it can easily be adjusted to a specific wire diameter without performing unnecessary manipulations. Nippers also have similar qualities, but they are more often used by specialists who value accuracy and speed in the work process.

Strippers for stripping

This is a specialized tool for electrical installation work, the main function of which is precisely to remove insulating coatings and further separate the cores. It is important to note that there are models for regular electric cable, and devices that strip twisted pair cables. As for the design, strippers for removing insulation include two handles and jaws with holes of different diameters. Actually, based on the parameters of a particular section, the master selects one or another hole for cleaning. During the process of bringing the handles together, the cutters in the holes are compressed, under the influence of which the insulation is captured. Then all that remains is to pull the cable, and the sheath will easily come off.

In the simplest models, the holes are located only on the jaws, but for professional operation this is not enough. A more technologically advanced tool for stripping wires of this type also contains special holes between the handles, which expand the user’s capabilities.

How is a stripper different from a crimper?

The crimper device is in many ways similar to pliers, but its function is the opposite of all cable stripping tools. IN in this case The device crimps the wire for the purpose of its further connection and installation. You should not remove the insulating coating with this device, but its combination with a stripper allows you to solve two related problems - stripping and further crimping. In other words, the combination of stripper and crimper is universal tool for removing insulation from wires, as well as their subsequent fastening. Such models have two functional areas on which crimp grooves and jaws are located.

How to choose the right tool?

Each tool has its own characteristics and operating nuances. For example, cable cutters can be considered as a multi-functional stripper, regardless of the size and shape of the section. But this device should be handled very carefully so as not to damage 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 restrictions on diameters. Thus, the standard range of values ​​​​varies from 0.4 to 4 cm. This range is enough to work with most electrical wires, but specialized cables will have to be maintained alternative options. In addition, you should take into account the properties of the handle, on which not only the quality and accuracy of stripping, but also the safety of the master will depend. This part must have a dielectric coating to protect your hands from electric shock.

Conclusion

When performing electrical installation operations with wires, it is worth remembering that the further performance of the organized network will depend on the integrity of the cable filling. Although the insulation stripper performs only an auxiliary and intermediate function, any violations in the form of damage to the core can cause many problems. Responsibility increases especially in the case of cables whose dimensions do not imply excess length. Modern market offers a lot of worthy funds high-quality cleaning wires, therefore, with a competent approach, you can count on a successful result in the process of performing this procedure.

When working with any electrical wires there is a need to remove the braiding from the conductors. In certain cases, regardless of whether partial or complete removal of insulation is required, this procedure has enormous functional significance, whether it is home wiring or industrial wiring.

In this case an indispensable tool will become a stripper, the purpose of which is to perform the function of removing the insulation of wires as individually located elements or the entire wiring as a whole. You can see what this tool is in the photo of the stripper.

This process has been handled well in the past. regular knives for dismantling, but this process caused quite a large-scale danger and had no replacement. In addition to outdated way a requirement for certain skills and abilities was added, which not every master could possess.

In this area, the stripper has no equal, since absolutely anyone can handle this tool, even a home craftsman who has never held it before. In addition, unlike the knives used in the old days, the stripper carefully removes the braiding from the wires without touching the core itself.

It should be noted that before starting work with removing insulation, an important factor will be de-energizing the wiring, since otherwise you may get an electric shock.

If there is no such possibility as de-energizing the wiring, then you should definitely make sure that the stripper handles are made of a dielectric type, in other words, they do not conduct current.

Types and characteristics of strippers

Considering all types of strippers, we can distinguish three main types, however, on the market of the presented tools you can easily find other types of this model, which will be indecently expensive and have the same functionality as regular ones. Instructions on how to use the stripper are indicated in the description of each of its types.

Manual wire stripper

This type of instrument is popularly called mechanical, which is definitely worth keeping in mind when shopping for them. It bears this name due to its capabilities, that is, in order to use this type of stripper it is necessary to apply some mechanical actions.

A manual stripper can easily be confused with ordinary pliers, since its design is very similar to the latter tools - two handles, a hinge and lips, however, the stripper has grooves on the lips, with the help of which the insulation is removed from the wires.

When choosing this tool, you should pay attention to the number of sockets located on the lips, as well as the numerical designations of the section diameter - all this greatly influences the final price of the product.

The undoubted advantage of this type of stripper is its multitasking, due to the fact that it can bite off wires with a small cross-sectional diameter. In addition, the manual stripper has the ability to compress a large number of wire tips into one single core.

Moreover, it can be used as pliers, but it is not intended for this role at all and should not be forgotten.

For each model, there is a single order of steps designed to proper operation for removing braiding from wires, namely:

• It is important to accurately determine the diameter of the wire and select the socket on the lips of the stripper according to the required value
• Place the wire in a suitable recess
• Bite the wire by pressing the handles of the tool
• Remove the braid from the wire by moving in a circle

Attention! There is a possibility of damage to the wire itself under the braid if the cross-sectional diameter of the socket itself was incorrectly selected; otherwise (if you select a larger socket), the insulation will not be removed - you must accurately select the socket for the diameter of the wire!

The standard price of a manual stripper is 500-1000 rubles.

Semi-automatic stripper

More expensive in price, but also the most convenient option will become a semi-automatic stripper. The main advantage, in contrast to a manual stripper, is the ability to remove insulation from several wires at once, as well as the absence of the need mechanical action due to the specific design of this type of stripper.

Externally, it is practically no different from hand tools, however, there is a different order of work:

• Selection of the required recess on the lips in accordance with the diameter of the wire cross-section
• Placing the core in the required socket
• Applying pressure to the handle and removing insulation

There is no need to take any actions other than those indicated, since the rest of the process occurs automatically. It is precisely because of this property that many masters prefer this type semi-automatic stripper compared to a manual one. However, there is an even more significant version of the stripper, which will be discussed further.

Please note that the design of the semi-automatic stripper has a limiter that will not allow you to remove insulation from the wire beyond the selected value.

The usual price for a semi-automatic stripper ranges from 1000 to 2500 rubles.

Automatic stripper

Basically, this type of stripper is no different from the previous one, except for its main advantage - the absence of the requirement to select a suitable nest. Its entire essence is contained in a single socket, suitable for absolutely any diameter of wire cross-section.

Unlike the two previous types of tools presented, the automatic stripper carefully removes insulation from the wire without any damage to the wire itself. Of all the actions that need to be performed to remove the braid, you only need to install the stripper on the wire and press the handle.

Fortunately, any beginner can handle this type of tool, because the insulation is removed automatically.

A definite plus of this device automatic mode is its operability even with the smallest wire cross-section, since there is detailed adjustment in place of the jaws.

The only note about this device is the adjustment of its socket for wires different sections, therefore this element is not capable of removing insulation from all types of wires; you should definitely take this parameter into account when selecting an automatic stripper.

In addition to all of the above, this type of stripper is also capable of crimping wires, creating a single wire from several, cutting wires like wire cutters, and performing the functions of some other tools.

The price of an automatic stripper varies from 2000 to 5000 rubles.

Which stripper is better to choose?

You should not choose a tool only for its intended purpose; perhaps it can perform the functions of another; you should definitely choose a stripper according to the required conditions.

Likewise, if you use it rarely, it would be a good idea to think about the price range of the stripper you are purchasing, since in this case it is not necessary to buy an expensive tool.

However, if a stripper is required for daily work in the industrial electrical field best choice will become an automatic stripper or multi-functional, while for homework You can do it manually or semi-automatically.

The choice is also influenced by the material, which one tool can handle easily, while another may have difficulties.

Photos of strippers