Cheap automatic stripper "settings"?

[kalel]

I know there might be a thread, but this question is about this specific model:

https://youtu.be/NWLhnqxdM7k?t=390

I have one of these as well, and they always seem to cut the insulation as well, so I wonder the same thing as the video author. I don't think there are any settings to make it work, are there?

[John B]

I have the other variety, the ones that pull sideways. Even though mine are pretty good quality and generally are very accurate where they strip, I usually use a blade (box cutter etc) to partially cut through the insulation. Even cheaper strippers should then make a perfect disconnection at the desired point.

[Brumby]

I have one of these as well, and they always seem to cut the insulation as well,

Do you mean they cut the conductors as well?

so I wonder the same thing as the video author. I don't think there are any settings to make it work, are there?

Yes.  That silver thumbscrew.

https://youtu.be/_6yq6FaIFAY?t=207

[kalel]

I have one of these as well, and they always seem to cut the insulation as well,

Do you mean they cut the conductors as well?

so I wonder the same thing as the video author. I don't think there are any settings to make it work, are there?

Yes.  That silver thumbscrew.

https://youtu.be/_6yq6FaIFAY?t=207

Sometimes the conductors, but generally I mean the insulation can get damaged a bit where the cable is "held".

A crude drawing:


The "wire" is visible on the right, but there's some damage represented by the yellow line. It's usually not jagged and the wire seldom looks like that, cables are not usually rectangles either, just a crude drawing.

Yes, I understand there are settings on the back, and I tried adjusting the screws but with not much luck. Probably I'm not using the optimal size cables (I'm not sure what those are). I get much better results with manually cutting the insulation with something as lightly as will allow pulling it off with fingers. This method is much slower, and it is possible to cut too much (possible with the automatic strippers as well).

[Brumby]

Sometimes the conductors, but generally I mean the insulation can get damaged a bit where the cable is "held".

Unfortunately, that's something which is not uncommon.

Some things that can affect how bad this problem are:
 - the quality and thickness of the insulation.  Thin and/or weak materials are going to crush more easily.
 - the speed at which you operate the stripper.  A slow, deliberate squeeze gives more time for the insulation to deform, but a quick action might yield a better result.
 - the gripping area of the jaws around the insulation.  These "T-Rex" type strippers don't have a large area to grip the insulation, so the force required to hold it in placed creates greater pressure, giving more deformation.  Increasing this contact area/reducing the pressure isn't easy as anything you might try - such as sleeving or a piece of tape - may not offer the same grip and the insulation could slip through.

I just dug out my old set of these ... and discovered the top jaw has cracked.  They wouldn't strip the skin off a custard now....