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Posted By: ComputerWizKid extension cord? - 03/03/04 09:59 PM
I bought a cord for my LED traffic light 25' orange cord. I was using it for my traffic light I got but how do you cut round cord without cutting the wires inside it?
Posted By: SvenNYC Re: extension cord? - 03/03/04 10:12 PM
I've found that using the tiny nippy cutters by Klein (designed mostly for electronic work) does good results.

I start from the cut end, working the point of the blade between two conductors and start snipping my way straight down the cord, pausing every couple of inches and separating the plastic jacket as I go along. It makes it easier if you do this cutting at two spots so you're ending with two ribbons of jacket.

I've never nicked or cut the conductors' insulation this way. It takes some practice but I've gotten pretty good at it. Take your time.
Posted By: Joe Tedesco Re: extension cord? - 03/04/04 12:46 AM
Bend the cord over a finger and use a knife to carefully scribe and ring around the outer jacket to remove it.
Posted By: JCooper Re: extension cord? - 03/04/04 12:51 AM
You can also score it then flex to snap whats left of the jacket. Just make sue to give the conductors a little tug to make sure you didn't knick them.
Posted By: ComputerWizKid Re: extension cord? - 03/04/04 04:05 AM
Thanks I got it that outter insulation is thick
Posted By: SvenNYC Re: extension cord? - 03/04/04 03:50 PM
Joe Tedesco said:

Quote
Bend the cord over a finger and use a knife to

Joe,

That is an excellent technique to use with zip cord. If you use a very sharp scalpel blade or even a very sharp, new, razor blade you don't even have to scribe.

Just lightly press the sharp edge against the point you want to strip and you'll see it literally split right under the edge, almost like butter. WOW!!!!

I think I tried that once with double-insulated cord but I split both the outside jacket and the inner insulators. Maybe I just was being a klutz. [Linked Image]
Posted By: hbiss Re: extension cord? - 03/04/04 06:20 PM
What Joe and JCooper said. This is how you strip any round cord and many cables. Score it with a knife, bend it back and forth and pull it off. This results in a nice clean jacket cut. There are several types of strippers on the market that will do the scoring for you but with a little practice you should have no problem with a knife.
Posted By: pauluk Re: extension cord? - 03/04/04 09:29 PM
Quote
Just lightly press the sharp edge against the point you want to strip and you'll see it literally split right under the edge, almost like butter. WOW!!!!

That's a technique I've often used. You need a really sharp blade for it to work at its best though.
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