Bare copper wire ???

I need to achieve 68 sq mm of copper conductor threaded up the spout of 3/4" bore non-conductive hose in approx 10 metre lengths. Ideally I would like a source of about 20 metres of fine stranded (needs to be flexible) 70mm cross sectional area bare copper wire but it seems like hens teeth. Anyone know any different??????

Best plan so far is to buy 70mm fine stranded welding cable and strip off the insulation (wire will be cooled by other contents of hose and don't want to restrict the flow too much by un-necessarily bunging it up with unwanted pvc.) But the thought of stripping 20 metres of cable is a bit daunting (no I don't want to burn it off!!!) Any cunning plans for cable stripping????

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson
Loading thread data ...

Take it to your local scrapyard, they have machines to do it in bulk!

Tim

Dutton Dry-Dock Traditional & Modern canal craft repairs Vintage diesel engine service

Reply to
Tim Leech

I've seen a tool which looks a little like a pipe cutter, except the blade is set at an angle to the axis of rotation, rather than perpendicular. It's used by simply twisting the tool down the cable (like you would if you were cutting a thread with a die) - the insulation then simply spirals off.

I can't find a source for one, but should be quite an easy tool to make.

Reply to
bigegg

Burning off the cover material is fine if you are selling it as scrap, but hardly an answer for something you expect to use.

Got a decent, flat bench ? An Olfa knife, or any other sharp, thin bladed knife ?

Lay a section of cable along the edge of the bench and slice a strip off the insulation. You will very quickly find an angle where the blade runs along the wire, without nicking it. If the blade is very sharp, it should slide through with minmal effort, and a bit of soapy water can be used for lube if required. It's kind of like filleting fish, you will find the angle that works right, and feels right, then it goes fast.

Should take about fifteen minutes or so to do this to 20 meters of cable. Maybe a little longer if it's rubber rather than PVC coated.

Then you just bend a section of it so the copper stands a bit proud of the insulation and peel it out.

Even faster, if you can live with nicked up cable is to run the blade straight in through the insulation, against the cable. Once the insulation is split full lenght, it's dead easy to strip it off in one long piece. The tool the salvage yards use basicly does this, running an edge down the side of the cable and splitting off the insulation.

Did a bit of this when I was a kid, selling scrounged up scrap metal to get beer money. Clean copper was worth more than burnt copper. :-)

Cheers Trevor Jones

Reply to
Trevor Jones

So did I, but without the bench. I've still got the 2-in scar where I sliced the heel of my palm to the bone about 3/4" deep all the way round when I slipped.

I was 12, and that's when I learnt to cut so that a slip carries the blade away from me :.)

Reply to
bigegg

Rapid electronics do a few like this, they work well:

or search for 'cable stripper'.

hth Guy

Reply to
Guy Griffin

I have a few similar scars. That's why I say use a bench! :-)

Cheers Trevor Jones

Reply to
Trevor Jones

You mean like the 3rd and 5th items on here?

formatting link
Dave Baker Puma Race Engines
formatting link
Camp American engineer minces about for high performance specialist (4,4,7)

Reply to
Dave Baker

cable

I'd go for one of those but they are 'available in over 2 months' !

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

message

Ideally I

Thanks Dave, I've popped them a quote request.

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

70mm Tri-Rated is almost as flexible without the plastic sheath as welding cable, and quite available, we may have some on a reel, we carry up to 120sq mm in Tri-Rated but on 25/35/50 in welding as we use that for charger output cables.

I'll check during the day tomorrow and see what we have.

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk Web:

formatting link

Reply to
Peter A Forbes

If you can get away with mainly one dimensional flexibility, multiple layers of copper foil is a convenient solution.

Jim

Reply to
pentagrid

Cunning, but no cigar ! I need 3D flexibility, but a good idea.

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

How about one of these from RS ?

formatting link

formatting link
I think I've got something similar to this if you want to borrow it, but not sure if it's big enough for 70mm^2. What's the sheath diameter?

-adrian

Reply to
Adrian Godwin

We've got nearly a full 100m roll of 70mm Tri-Rated.

Peter

-- Peter A Forbes Prepair Ltd, Luton, UK snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk

formatting link

Reply to
Prepair Ltd

Peter,

Very many thanks but I've just committed to someone else.

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.