CH tools cable stripper. Cable damage problems?

[1Justin]

I am about to blame my tools.
48 hours after installing some 2 way lights, my customer called to say the switch had "blown up". (The Varilight switch has a transparent surround and she got to see the fireworks as L-E fault popped the RCBO).

Close inspection revealed that my CK tools cable stripper had put a minute (I mean really teeny, the size of a flattened full stop), nick in the L conductor, about 5mm from the place where it had cut and stripped away the grey sheath. This is also the area where the applied Earth sheath is not necessarily continuous. However hard one may try, things move when cables are bent into a back box.

Cable was 1mm 3+E and the basic insulation is quite thin and vulnerable compared to (say) 2.5 T&E. Bending the conductors into place to fit the face plate had pushed back the earth sheath a couple of mm. (Your trousers ride up when you sit down.. same thing) and enabled the two to touch just at the spot where the grey sheath ends. The touch happened after 48 hours. IR had been all excellent when first done.

What this boils down to: Do I trust the CK tools stripper any more? Shall I bin it? Must I inspect the insulation 360 degree round each conductor with a magnifying glass to detect microscopic damage on each use? - Clearly impractical.

Anyone else had problems with CK tools stripper? (Stanley make an almost identical one).

 

[telectrix]

just put it down to bad luck. i use sidecutters for all stripping up to 6mm.

 

[davesparks]

Is this a stripper designed specifically to remove the outer sheath of T&E? Or is it one designed to strip insulation which you are using to strip the sheath instead?

 

[1Justin]

The CK tools stripper is (in principle) a rather nice tool which can do both sheath and basic insulation with equal ease. It self adjusts, but does have a tensioner which actually does very little. For small cable like 1mm it needs to be set tight.

 

[Andy78]

Did it look like this one ?

C.K Automatic Wire Stripper | Cable / Wire Cutters | NoLinkingToThis

I have used an identical one, although not branded CK, and found it had issues too. The insulation was suffering damage caused by the gripping jaw as the the jaws parted. The Stanley, CK, and the unbranded one I used all look identical apart from the logo.
I used it on a job last year that involved a great many ends to strip. After a bit I resorted back to sidecutters for stripping as there did not seem to be a knack to stop the random damage occurring.
Aim it at the bin is my advice.

 

[1Justin]

just put it down to bad luck. i use sidecutters for all stripping up to 6mm.

I don't like the force needed to use sidecutters,, not to say I never do, but not always practical in small places where IMO can cause damage or stretch the insulation.

 

[1Justin]

Did it look like this one ?

That's the baby. Yes maybe there is a better place for it than the tool box, I can't afford to go scaring too many of my customers this way.

 

[davesparks]

I don't like the force needed to use sidecutters,, not to say I never do, but not always practical in small places where IMO can cause damage or stretch the insulation.

Practice and you'll soon be able to strip cables without any damage

 

[Andy78]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3cRXc3lYYM

Here is the tool's promo video. Just look at the marks left on the insulation by the jaws. The one I had, 1 time out of every 15 or so, those jaw marks would go through to copper. No amount of adjusting the tensioner or technique in using it could sort this out.

 

[1Justin]

Yes they do create those gripper marks. In this case it wasn't those which caused the cut. Damage to basic insulation was ~ 5mm beyond the end of the grey sheath. (Basic insulation and ensuing grip marks was cut back ~8cm further on, so nowhere near the damage)

 

[uksparks]

I use my CK stripper and never have any issues, so long as the screw is tight and you have no previous debris in the jaw, it strips ok, cannot complain.

Depending on much I am stripping, I'll either grab that or the side cutters, I'm good with both, just depends really.

I think you were just unlucky.

Oh, I never strip the outer grey, that's just daft, snip the end of the cable, pull it back, snip it, job done.

 

[1Justin]

Oh, I never strip the outer grey, that's just daft, snip the end of the cable, pull it back, snip it, job done.

I agree, lazy but easy. Designed to do it, but think I should stop using it that way since it was the source of the problem

 

[rompling]

CK cable stripper is brilliant on flex and have used it on cat 5 as well (98/100 perfect )but twin and earth as everyone says it leaves gripper marks

 

[Geordie Spark]

just put it down to bad luck. i use sidecutters for all stripping up to 6mm.

Sidecuttters ... you use sidecutters?? Ye big soft Scouse tart!!

We in Geordieland use our teeth on cables up to 6mm and our buttock cheeks for anything bigger!

 

[Pete999]

No one could accuse me of being a tightwad where tools are concerned, but I wouldn't waste my money on these strippers, a knife and side cutters have served me well over the years.

:wheelchair:

 

[telectrix]

Sidecuttters ... you use sidecutters?? Ye big soft Scouse tart!!

We in Geordieland use our teeth on cables up to 6mm and our buttock cheeks for anything bigger!

never use my teeth on T/E, i have to keep them in good condition for SWA. and down in the 'pool we use our bum cheeks for bending galv. conduit.

 

[Aindowsimon]

You could say you use your bum as a bender then ???

 

[7029 dave]

Well these modern tools, what the hell is wrong with knife if you are that way inclined, else pull back on the bloody cpc, it don't hurt.

 

[telectrix]

Well these modern tools, what the hell is wrong with knife if you are that way inclined, else pull back on the bloody cpc, it don't hurt.

it does bloody well hurt if the cpc snaps and your knuckles hit the wall at 20ft./sec.

 

[Geordie Spark]

it does bloody well hurt if the cpc snaps and your knuckles hit the wall at 20ft./sec.

That's just typical of you innit??


All the finesse of a dog at broth!!