Stripping All-In-One Cable

[rick283]

I have some all-in-one cable with 2 CAT5e and 2 RG6 in it. It is about 5/8" thick. Does anyone have any suggestions for tools or methods for stripping the heavy outer-wrapping off the four wires?

The main issue in the basement at my wire cabinet, where I want a good length of the four wires unsheathed. I pick a good mark and slice the the sheath the whole way around. As you might know, the out sheath is not loose, so it doesn't just pull off at this point. I've used a combo of razor blade and scissors to then make a vertical slice from that point to the end of the wires to get the outer sheath completely off.

There has got a be a better way.

 

[daronwilson]

Yeah that stuff can be awfull. It SHOULD have a pull string in it. If you strip back the first few inches you should find a string running parallel to the cable that will let you pull it through the jacket to open it up.

To make it pretty, I always score the jacket completely around where I want it to come off. Then using either the pull string, or a knife or other stripping tool I score the jacket lengthwise and peel it off. There are scoring tools that have a depth adjustment that work pretty well for that if you aren't steady with a knife.

Good Luck!


It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

 

[rick283]

Can you suggest a site or store to look for such a scoring tool? I haven't been able to find anything that opens wide enough for a 5/8" cable. I'm not using the right name or looking in the correct place.

It does have a pull string in it, so I'll work with that a bit. Thanks!

 

[jeffmoss26]

Ideal Industries makes these tools.

jeff moss

 

[skip555]

I'm thinking something like this cable sheath stripper

http://www.pkneuses.com/n2878.jpg

http://www.pkneuses.com/cabltk.htm

I have never worked with the multi cable your talking about too pricey in my opion
I do have one of these strippers and use it on 25 pair and higher cables works great I think it would do well for your application

 

[daronwilson]

Thats a great tool, I use that one for outside plant cable with the thick black poly jacket, never tried it on the composite cable it should due the trick. One must be carefull to get the right angle on this one when using it, it's easy (at least for me) to drag it too deep and score inner conductors.

The one I use is I think made by paladin, it is a small blade with an adjustable nut around it that controls the depth. Similar to the Ideal product, there are several of them. It has a V shaped spring loaded piece of metal that hold the cable against the blade. You spring it over the cable, wind it around a few times to score it, then flip a lever to change the direction of the blade and slit the entire length of the jacket.

You're on the right track though, if there is a pull string, that's going to be the quickest I bet.


It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com