Tool for flat antenna wire?
 

I'm designing a thingie that requires 20 to 24 ga 300 ohm flat antenna
wire. I find it's a real PITA to separate the ends of the wire, trim
that 1/4" of insulation out from between them, and strip the ends. Is
there a tool that simplifies this job? If so, what is it called and
where might I find it?

Thanks!

"Dhakala" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm designing a thingie that requires 20 to 24 ga 300 ohm flat antenna
wire. I find it's a real PITA to separate the ends of the wire, trim
that 1/4" of insulation out from between them, and strip the ends. Is
there a tool that simplifies this job? If so, what is it called and
where might I find it?

Thanks!

A good pair of scissors and a wire stripper

Dhakala wrote:
I'm designing a thingie that requires 20 to 24 ga 300 ohm flat antenna
wire. I find it's a real PITA to separate the ends of the wire, trim
that 1/4" of insulation out from between them, and strip the ends. Is
there a tool that simplifies this job? If so, what is it called and
where might I find it?

Use 300 ohm ladder-line (window-line). Remove the inside dielectric
with an Exacto knife and treat the remaining wires normally.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp


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I'm afraid scissors and wire stripper are what's taking so long. I'm
hoping to find something that will chop out 1-2" of flat insulation at
a pull of a lever or something, leaving the insulation-wrapped wires
ready for stripping.

Thanks for the advice. Why would it be easier to cut the insulation
from the inside of 300 ohm ladder-line wire than from flat antenna wire?

Dhakala wrote:
I'm afraid scissors and wire stripper are what's taking so long. I'm
hoping to find something that will chop out 1-2" of flat insulation at
a pull of a lever or something, leaving the insulation-wrapped wires
ready for stripping.

Forget the scissors and use an Exacto knife on the center insulation.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp


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Dhakala wrote:
Thanks for the advice. Why would it be easier to cut the insulation
from the inside of 300 ohm ladder-line wire than from flat antenna wire?

Because more than half has been chopped out already. You can cut
the ladder-line at a place where there's no center insulation and
have one inch wire tails needing only a wire stripper. If you
need longer wire tails than that, you only need to cut out about
1/4" of center insulation with an Exacto knife to achieve two inch
wire tails.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp


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On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 08:24:20 -0600, Cecil Moore
wrote:

Dhakala wrote:
Thanks for the advice. Why would it be easier to cut the insulation
from the inside of 300 ohm ladder-line wire than from flat antenna wire?

Because more than half has been chopped out already. You can cut
the ladder-line at a place where there's no center insulation and
have one inch wire tails needing only a wire stripper. If you
need longer wire tails than that, you only need to cut out about
1/4" of center insulation with an Exacto knife to achieve two inch
wire tails.

I have an Exacto knife, but find a no. 199 Stanley box cutter, with
its bigger blade, a good tool for something like this. Either way, it
only takes a couple of seconds...

THere's probably a special stripper for 300-ohm line, but it probably
costs a pretty penny, too.

Bob
k5qwg

Thanks, Cecil. Now that I've seen a pic of ladder-line I know what you
mean. Two short, lengthwise cuts and I'm done! :-)

Thanks for the box cutter suggestion, Bob!

Perhaps I can fashion a metal stamp for this sort of thing. Just a
U-shaped piece of lawn mower blade or something like that. A good whack
with a mallet would cut out an appropriate chunk neatly and
consistently. But I'll use the box cutter and ladder-line until volume
gets really heavy.

In article , Cecil Moore
wrote:

Dhakala wrote:
I'm afraid scissors and wire stripper are what's taking so long. I'm
hoping to find something that will chop out 1-2" of flat insulation at
a pull of a lever or something, leaving the insulation-wrapped wires
ready for stripping.

Forget the scissors and use an Exacto knife on the center insulation.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp


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You can try one of thouse 'automatic' wire stripper things , radioshack
used to sell them sure other places must perhaps sears and junk
stores the goodones like i got cost 20$$usd, seen cheepies at flea
mkts and such for like $5bucks

they claim to strip anything it's mouth on mine is 3" i got the model
designed to also strip ribbon cable but the smaller ones will strip tv
antenna style no trouble it will also strip telco flat 'satin' cable
either silver only or silver and wires all w/one squeeze! wow

it also strips the wire w/o nicking the copper and you don't have to
set it for diff ga , just squeeze handle seems unbelieavlbe looks
cheep but so far it worked for me,

if you use it alot buy a few spare blades onece they go dull it will do
bad things