How to cut SWA...

[DNS1]

Just curious really!

I had to cut some a few years ago. Today while reading 7671 I got to a section about it and it reminded me of the nightmare I'd had trying to go through the armour.

What does everyone here use to cut the stuff?

 

[Marc Atherton]

i use a junior hacksaw and some tape, but im deffo using the jubilee clip idea on some decent sized heavy gear.

 

[Des 56]

You could get yourself one of them human cable cutters,they chop cable in next to no time
You dont even have to isolate the swa,these choppers work on live circuits

There has been a few reports that some of the human type choppers have been incinerated whilst in use of late,but I'm sure that is just a glich
The advantage of using the human choppers is that they chop the cable then dispose of the discarded metal usually to the local scrappy,saving you all the cleaning up

The downside is they have a habbit of working without supervision and sometimes at night
The prison service tend to keep a healthy stock of human choppers,but there are always new tools coming on the market regularly in these poor economic times

The human Swa choppers are believed to be the most efficient in the market

 

[chronyx]

 

[Big n Daft]

Eh?
I this the plumbing forum? Must be......... sparks wouldnt be talking about summat basic such as making a swa end off. A big'un yes, but not that bell wire in that video.

Dessie, we had belter. CHP plant installed for Severn Trent. Site cleared and the bozo's lifted a 240mm 4c that was live in the night. Must have had lots of rubber, a stihl saw and big balls. The run was 55mtrs, kerrching.

 

[Guest123]

Hacksaw, job done.:stuart:


All those special gimmicky SWA strippers etc are pants!

 

[DNS1]

Eh?
I this the plumbing forum? Must be......... sparks wouldnt be talking about summat basic such as making a swa end off. A big'un yes, but not that bell wire in that video.

Hmm, apologies for starting the thread... Just trying to pick up as many tips as possible from the experienced pros. If I didn't ask for advice and just did stuff as I fancied then I'd be called a cowboy, can't really win...

Anyway, a fair few people have posted, so it can't be too silly a thread. It even appears that a few pros have picked up some ideas too (jubilee clip etc).

 

[Des 56]

DNS1
Big n Daft is no doubt a very experienced spark, who probably has the skill to make off a paper insulated lead sheathed double wired armoured cable whilst filling in his lottery numbers

Its a project in itself making those off

I suppose he then views the bog standard Swa as not very much of a challenge and is just making that sort of comparison only

It was a valid thread and it was also a realistic view of the subject, I expect

 

[DNS1]

fair enough.

probably my fault for being sensitive, i've just got used to being defensive on these forums!

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Eh?
I this the plumbing forum? Must be......... sparks wouldnt be talking about summat basic such as making a swa end off. A big'un yes, but not that bell wire in that video.

Dessie, we had belter. CHP plant installed for Severn Trent. Site cleared and the bozo's lifted a 240mm 4c that was live in the night. Must have had lots of rubber, a stihl saw and big balls. The run was 55mtrs, kerrching.

My initial post was in reference to a 300mm 4 core SWA being cut and diverted in a pit, hence the angle grinder.

 

[funtime frankie]

ive got a pair of ratchet cutters to go through the lot. when i bear them back, just use a tyrap and a junior hacksaw. Just got to make sure you score all the amour before you bend it off, or it'll be a pig to get your gland on.

 

[kung]

A knife, deep socket slid under SWA and cable tie or tape then hacksaw till your hearts content !

 

[Knobhead]

Jubilee clip, hacksaw.

Or for PILCDWA jubilee clip, hacksaw, hack knife, gas torch, paraffin, Tyzack knife, binding wire, lots of rags and last but not least a fire extinguisher. Hopefully the extinguisher isn’t needed!

 

[ackbarthestar]

I have found those Kewteck rotary cutters very useful, anything up to 10mm2 3 core, otherwise a hacksaw

 

[stansmith]

Jubilee clip, hacksaw.

Or for PILCDWA jubilee clip, hacksaw, hack knife, gas torch, paraffin, Tyzack knife, binding wire, lots of rags and last but not least a fire extinguisher. Hopefully the extinguisher isn’t needed!

luckilly ive only ever removed and replaced paper leads look like a nightmare.

hacksaw, ratchet cutters or hydraulic pump with cutting head to cut the swa....hacksaw or juniour for the armourings.

i personally dont use tape a jubilee or cable tie myself i just try not to twist or move the swa to keep a nice straight cut through the armours and just take my time. one thing i do use for the larger swas is a piece of copex to form the shape of the cable for an accurate point to cut the armourings for the gland so when you feed the cable in it should be smack on

 

[millwall ken]

Hacksaw, job done.:stuart:


All those special gimmicky SWA strippers etc are pants!

Bloody rip off too mate, why can't kids today just stick with an old fashioned Uncle Stan, Hacksaw and tape....