No matter what industry you’re in – construction, engineering or electrical work – wire strippers are a must-have tool, and it’s likely that your toolbox has a few different pairs ready to tackle different wires or cables you may need to cut. Although they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, there are some basic safety tips you should be aware of when using wire cutters.
- Disconnect the power. Never ever strip a live wire. While that might seem like a self-evident safety hazard it’s remarkable how many times people take the risk rather than doing the correct and obvious thing. Before stripping, always disconnect the power source and where possible, disconnect the wire from the device. Even then, recheck that the wires aren’t live using a voltage detector.
- Don’t use your teeth. Dental bills always (pardon the pun) outstrip the cost of wire strippers so do the right thing and get the right tool to do the job properly. You’ve seen people use box cutters or knives but, like teeth, they simply don’t do a very good job. Plus you run the risk of damaging the wire or worse, damaging yourself.
- Always wear safety glasses or protective eyewear. When using wire strippers it’s possible that small shavings of metal could fly out unexpectedly. You only get one set of eyes – look after them.
- Protect your fingers and keep them away from the blades. All wire strippers have them and if they weren’t sharp, they wouldn’t work. By design it’s difficult to hurt yourself when using them properly, however the risk is still there Jmdhindi.
- Be careful not to over-cut. The point of wire strippers is to remove the insulation, not the wire itself. Doing this means you could expose the conductor which could create a fire hazard if not finished off properly. Cut what you need to cut; no less, no more. Make sure you use the proper sized wire cutter for the job; this minimises the risk of over cutting and damaging the wire.
- If you have damaged a wire, don’t use it. Start again. Snip off the damaged part of the wire and begin the process once more. It’s better to know the job’s been done properly rather than having to come back and fix it.
- Because wire stripping is delicate work, as discussed, you need the right tool otherwise you could risk damaging the wire or hurting yourself. So don’t buy cheap scooptimes. It’s delicate work and cheaper brands of wire cutters often do more harm than good. If nothing else, they’ll cost you in the amount of time spent fixing the problems.
Use these basic guidelines when using wire strippers, along with any other directives that apply to your job or industry. Always follow the workplace guidelines. If you’re unsure, ask someone. If you feel uncomfortable, don’t do it. It’s easy, so don’t risk your own health and safety, nor that of anyone around you. Check out a range of wire stripping tools from RS.
