Anyone have tips for stripping uf cable, 12-3 w/ground?

Rick

You have to set your mouth just right.

Usually, I cut into the outer jacket right next to the equipment ground & run along it to the length I want plus a couple of inches. Then I pull the ground out, next I strip some jacket of of the single conductor & then I can usually pull it through the thin area in the jacket that used to separate it from the ground. Repeat the same trick with the remaining conductors & do some careful trimming with your knife where you want the jacket to end.

Of course, a propane torch is much faster.

I like using two pliers, just about any flavour of pliers, one each to grip the insulated conductors on either side of the ground wire at the end of the cable. Twist the pliers in opposite directions. . .this starts a tear in the sheath 1/2" to 1" long and exposes the ground wire. Release one plier and reposition it to firmly grip the ground wire. Pull the two pliers apart. . .the ground wire acts like a zipper in the sheath, tearing through it. . .stop when enough length is exposed.

Set one plier aside. Most of the time, the sheath left around the insulated conductors will fold back just with finger pressure, exposing a short end of insulated conductor that can be gripped with the plier and pulled out.

Use a knife or side cutters to trim the sheath. Cut off the 1" of plier damaged conductor.

I just flatten the wide part out using my plyers causing it to pop open in the center...then strip it like romex

I do it similar to Tom's way, being careful to angle the Razor towards the Bare ground slightly to avoid damaging one of the insulated conductors. Then if you score the insides slightly the other conductors can be pulled out.

If it's old (or cold) cable it's not as easy as it sounds.

Bill

Haven't used this personally, but the slogan sure is catchy:
THE FASTEST WAY TO STRIP UF & KEEP YOUR BODY PARTS INTACT! http://www.seatekco.com/zs-140.htm

"I do it similar to Tom's way"

Me too.
I prefer a pocket knife, with the right knife it's easy to run the knife right down the insulated conductor without cutting into the insulation. With a sharp knife like a utility knife it's harder to control.

GJ

So that's what that Seatek tool is for!

Also, Ideal claims to have a UF stripper. Has anyone tried it?

Would I be right to say that UF cable is the same as cab tire?