Cable stripping tool for small dia FEP/PTFE coax (RG316 and a like)

[Yansi]

Hello,

could you please recommend any suitable coax cable stripping tool, that could strip thin coax cables like  RG316, RG174, RG179, etc? Most tools I could find are for the more common installation cables like RG58, R59, RG6, RG11.

I searched a bit throughout the usual sources from the far east, but could not find anything that would look it could do the job.

Of course I can use a plain knife, but it becomes pretty damn annoying job, when you need to strip more than 1 cable end in  a row. Those this PTFE core and FEP insulated coaxes are a pain!

Thanks for any tips, others may find also useful.

PS: By stripping the insulation I don't mean just the outer FEP jacket, I can do that with just a knife, however the braided shield needs to get cut shorter, so you can for example crimp a connector on the end.

[mag_therm]

RG316 clear outer can be stripped with electrician's stripper using 1.5mm position.
The core insulation can be stripped using electronics stripper 0.65mm position.

I used a straw from a lube spray can to hold pin  firmly in the vice during assembly (see photo)

But.... there are 2 vendors with forms on order page to allow selecting the cable type and length,
the connector at each end, and the length.
I need a few RG316 BNC to SMC and at $16.50 per cable I think I will try that.
Google "custom SMC cables" should give one vendor's order page (for all connectors, not just SMC)

[Yansi]

That is not what I was asking - or maybe I do not understand your suggestion.

I do not want a ready-made cabling. That can be ordered from many many vendors, including from China directly.  Most of the times, I need to make custom cables myself and right away, without overpaying nonsense for what would otherwise be a 5 minute job with the right tools.

I need a tool that can cut the outer jacket including the braided shield.  Stripping just the FEP or the inner PTFE core is easy with almost anything. But what will cleanly cut off the braid?  Or do you suggest that those stripping pliers can be carefully used to cut off the braid?

So far I've been using a knife and carefully cutting it out strand after strand, which is an annoying work to do.

The usual coax stripping tools make two or three cuts at the same time, at different adjustable depths, to cut: Just the jacket, jacket+braid and jacket, braid and the dielectric, to expose the core at the end.
I unfortunately can't find any such tool, that could be adjusted or had a die for such thin coax cable, such as RG316 or similar.   

$16 for a custom cable is not that bad if you think about it, add shipping and other shit included like the delivery time, you end up paying premium. That does not make sense, if you need custom cables quite often (both repairs and device prototyping).

Thanks for any further suggestions.

[Alex Eisenhut]

I think this four-sided dingus could do it?

https://www.radioshack.com/products/deluxe-coax-cable-stripper

The blades are adjustable from underneath by two set screws.

[Yansi]

I have this very exact dingus, and the small cable diameter is unfortunately out of range of the blades - does not cut correctly and you need to crank the screws hard in for the blades to even touch the thin cable - and then it more like tears the cable into a mess, as the angle of the blades is incorrect at such setting. 

But for striping RG58/59 it is an awesome tool for the price. 

[Alex Eisenhut]

Maybe you can make the orange thing opening even smaller so the cable is lower in the cavity?

[Yansi]

probably the orange part could be 3D printed with a groove to support a thin coax cable. That would likely work. Interesting idea, unfortunately I have 0 skill with 3D modelling and no 3D printer. Maybe I could convince someone to try that for me. 

Meanwhile I have found this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32814911874.html?
At least has RG174 listed, so it seems it can chew on small cables. I will buy one to test.

[2N3055]

I have this very exact dingus, and the small cable diameter is unfortunately out of range of the blades - does not cut correctly and you need to crank the screws hard in for the blades to even touch the thin cable - and then it more like tears the cable into a mess, as the angle of the blades is incorrect at such setting. 

But for striping RG58/59 it is an awesome tool for the price. 

You have to get one specifically for  RG-174:

https://www.amazon.com/ConnectoRF-Coaxial-Stripper-2-Blade-HT-332D/dp/B0771S97R5

[Yansi]

That is the exact same tool as above.  The "D" marked slot should cut RG174. I don't have any piece of RG174 at hand, but I am pretty sure it does not cut RG316. (174 is slightly thicker I guess).

[2N3055]

That is the exact same tool as above.  The "D" marked slot should cut RG174. I don't have any piece of RG174 at hand, but I am pretty sure it does not cut RG316. (174 is slightly thicker I guess).

Knives for outside are referenced to outside diameter, so only depth of cut is important.
These tools have to be very precise and have sharp blades. Those are some of the tools that look deceptively simple,but need to be good quality..

[james_s]

I have this very exact dingus, and the small cable diameter is unfortunately out of range of the blades - does not cut correctly and you need to crank the screws hard in for the blades to even touch the thin cable - and then it more like tears the cable into a mess, as the angle of the blades is incorrect at such setting. 

But for striping RG58/59 it is an awesome tool for the price. 

You have to get one specifically for  RG-174:

https://www.amazon.com/ConnectoRF-Coaxial-Stripper-2-Blade-HT-332D/dp/B0771S97R5

I have a couple of those exact same tools. They are adjustable with set screws on the bottom, the adjustment is a bit fiddly though and takes some time to get dialed in so I have one for RG316 and one for RG174.

[Alex Eisenhut]

You can also take it apart down to the blades but I don't think it's easy to make custom blades. That metal is very hard and brittle.

[Yansi]

I have this very exact dingus, and the small cable diameter is unfortunately out of range of the blades - does not cut correctly and you need to crank the screws hard in for the blades to even touch the thin cable - and then it more like tears the cable into a mess, as the angle of the blades is incorrect at such setting. 

But for striping RG58/59 it is an awesome tool for the price. 

You have to get one specifically for  RG-174:

https://www.amazon.com/ConnectoRF-Coaxial-Stripper-2-Blade-HT-332D/dp/B0771S97R5

I have a couple of those exact same tools. They are adjustable with set screws on the bottom, the adjustment is a bit fiddly though and takes some time to get dialed in so I have one for RG316 and one for RG174.

I couldn't set it for RG316. How did you do that? It clearly is out of range of the adjust, when sticking the RG316 through the "D" marked die.

[cdev]

All of the mini coax sizes are slightly different. But the old style wire strippers with the set screw and yellow handle (they are also really cheap) if the hole size is adjusted right cause no problems as far as I can tell testing the resultant pigtails with a network analyzer.

I have three of them. I could strip RG-174 all day with them. (removing the jacketing so the wire's shield is exposed)

They don't work as precisely with the center wire, on the very thin coax thats used in u.fl connector pigtails, but they still work. (Note, I wouldnt try u.fl male connectors, it seems impossibly difficult, so I buy them pre made when I need them.

I should buy several to have around so if I am stripping multiple sizes I don't have to keep switching the adjustment screw.

I usually also use a pointy pair of tweezers to make a hole between the wire in the braid and work it open enough to pull the center part through. the resultant connection is neat.

It is the cheapest wire stripper around, I have had all three of mine literally since I was a kid and they are still the ones I use the most. You just have to use the screw to set the size properly. They never wear out.

I should actually buy a few more so I can work faster when I have several sizes to strip. I wouldn't pay $8 for one, (there is one listed one page up on Amazon) that's too expensive.

The kind of cable strippers that use a razor blade make a nice neat cut but the chance of cutting the copper braiding and increasing the risk of a short seems to me to be higher.

All of mine look like the picture, but slightly smaller. They cost maybe $3 (if that) at radio shack. The way they are designed with the screw makes them reliably adjustable over a wide range of wire sizes.

[james_s]

I have this very exact dingus, and the small cable diameter is unfortunately out of range of the blades - does not cut correctly and you need to crank the screws hard in for the blades to even touch the thin cable - and then it more like tears the cable into a mess, as the angle of the blades is incorrect at such setting. 

But for striping RG58/59 it is an awesome tool for the price. 

You have to get one specifically for  RG-174:

https://www.amazon.com/ConnectoRF-Coaxial-Stripper-2-Blade-HT-332D/dp/B0771S97R5

I have a couple of those exact same tools. They are adjustable with set screws on the bottom, the adjustment is a bit fiddly though and takes some time to get dialed in so I have one for RG316 and one for RG174.

I couldn't set it for RG316. How did you do that? It clearly is out of range of the adjust, when sticking the RG316 through the "D" marked die.

Mine may actually be slightly different although it sure looks similar. I just went through and checked my order history and found this exact one I bought. https://www.amazon.com/ProsKit-902-334-Stripper-for-RG-174/dp/B00OSLRBZO/ref=sr_1_1

[tooki]

For what it’s worth, I can now confirm that Weidmüller’s CST Vario stripper works for RG-174. (Presumably, the non-Vario CST model would also work, since it states the same minimum cable diameter; it just uses cassettes with fixed strip lengths, but still has the blade depth adjustability.)