Stripping

Wire stripping is the severing and removal of a section of insulation surrounding the conductor. The use of pocket
knives or razor blades is strictly inadvisable during wire stripping. An approved stripping tool should be visually
inspected before use and a test crimp carried out on each size of cable to be stripped. The tool should be considered
suspect and appropriate action taken if on inspection the following characteristics are evident.

 Bruised, nicked or severed conductor strands.

 Kinks in the conductor or cable adjacent to the terminal.
 Ragged cuts to the insulation or protective sleeving.

There are two basic types of wire strippers available: manual and automatic. The manual wire strippers use a blade
or pair of blades with or without a notch in them. These blades are squeezed together in a manner similar to pliers
and then rotated around the circumference of the wire. In this way, the wire’s insulation is cut. The cut insulation
must then be removed. With an automatic wire stripper, the insulation is both cut and removed as the strippers are
squeezed together to close them.

The cut and pull action of the Double Blade cable strippers is in five stages. Each of the stages are independent,
however they are co-ordinated by the use of mechanical handle interlocks. Because high tolerance mechanical
interlocks are used, the stripper must be kept clean and free from any debris.

Stages are as follows:

1. Relaxed: Cable grip and cutter opens

2. Half Pressure: Cable grip secures cable and the blade cuts the insulation.

3. Full Pressure: Cutters and grips are separated, served insulation drawn from the conductor.

4. Hlaf Released: Grips and cutter open, releasing the cable.

5. Fully Released: Grips and cutter snap back together.