Todays Top Tip

[SirKit Breaker]

I was going to buy one of those all singing and dancing SWA stripping tools, as SWA is not my preferred cable to work with. Anyway I didn't get around to it. But whilst trawling through the back of the van for something else, i came across an old Pipe Cutter. It is a ratcheting handheld pipe cutting tool for plumbers, with a thumb wheel to increase the pressure on the pipe. It makes SWA work a breeze, and the cuts are perfect with a little practice. It will do 6mm O/D to 26mm O/D, I used it on 10mm 3 core amongst other sizes, and it makes it very easy, easier than swinging a hacksaw round it.

Cheers........Howard

 

[Knobhead]

I’ve used a Tyzack knife for cable stripping for over 25 years. Like a Stanley but the blade is adjusted by a screw. If you want just 1/16th of blade showing to strip the inner serving just set it and it never moves.
All electricians at the company I worked for were issued with them after a nasty accident where the ratchet slipped in a Stanley knife.