[RE-wrenches] Power Crimper and Stripper Recommendations and Questions

[Jason Szumlanski]

My go-to is the Knipex Cable Cutter. It's a small handheld ratcheting
cutter that fits nicely in my tool bag. Not cheap. Not cheap at all. But
worth it.

On Wed, Oct 23, 2024, 8:36 PM Chris Sparadeo <sparadeo.chris at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I’ve also noticed that the method of cutting the cable plays a big part in
> how effectively it goes into the lug. When I use a bandsaw, loose jawed
> cable cutters or even a really sharp circularity saw blade, strands get
> slightly frayed and won’t fit properly. I’ve concluded that a long handled
> and well tightened fine stranded cable cutter is the best option. It
> compresses the cable from all sides and compresses circumference so it’s
> less of an uphill battle when stripping and shoving.
>
> On Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 6:01 PM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> I use that Greenlee stripper (buta cheap knockoff) sometimes when using
>> Allan's suggested double radial cut method, and it works well, but you have
>> to make sure the depth adjustment is set properly for the cable you are
>> using. With practice it can make nice cuts around the circumference.
>>
>> Jason Szumlanski
>> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
>> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
>> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
>> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 5:22 PM Sam Haraldson via RE-wrenches <
>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for the great discussion on this topic.  It's always a treat to
>>> see the wide variety of preferences and knowledge this list offers.  I
>>> contacted PV-Cables separately and Bryan had some good old school knowledge
>>> to add that he said I could share here for posterity and those interested.
>>>
>>> *Hey Sam, *
>>>
>>> *Just getting back from lunch and saw the wrenches list.*
>>>
>>> *We build battery and inverter cables in house, one of our specialties
>>> other than building PV Cable assemblies.*
>>> *We use Hydraulic Crimping stations and strippers to build cables.*
>>>
>>> *I am not very familiar with the battery-operated tools.   *
>>> *But I do have experience with the manual bench mount crimpers and
>>> handheld crimpers.  We sell both that are specific for the Quick Cable lugs
>>> we also sell.*
>>>
>>>
>>> *The quick cable lugs are the best fit for both Cobra "X-flex" and the
>>> Direct Wire "All-Flex" fine stranded cable.  *
>>>
>>> *For hand strippers, I am very old school and use these when in the
>>> field building cables for friends and family. *
>>> *https://www.greenlee.com/us/en/cable-stripper-1903*
>>> <https://www.greenlee.com/us/en/cable-stripper-1903>
>>> *But at work for our production builds,  we use table top strippers that
>>> were designed for the battery cable we use.*
>>>
>>>
>>> *Feel free to share this if you would like on the wrenches list*
>>>
>>>
>>> *Bryan Norkunas *
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