Stripping "Romex" type wire...

[Augus7us]

The title ***** but I don't know what kind of wire this is. Its basically romex but the jacket is not a tube, each wire is 'encased' in the jacket if that makes sense. I can't use my lil stripper tool, I literally have to cut each wire out individually...

What is the proper way to strip this stuff? Sorry I don't have a photo of it but i figured you guys would know what I'm talking about. Last time I buy this type of wire!

Edit:

Found this photo on HD's website, this is what it looks like.

 

[Bert_]

It's UF or underground wire.

Just use a pocket knife and strip off the coating. Do it by feel and you can run the knife alongside the inner wire without cutting it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

UF-b

There is no stripping tool for it

Use utility knife and go slow.

Score one side of the gray jacket above each conductor then pull the conductors out.

What are you using this for?

 

[mm08822]

Ideal makes a uf cable stripper. Its only good for about 6-8". Anytbing longer, then it becomes very difficult to use.

 

[Chevota Guy]

The uf cable is a pita and I used this brute force method when I wired my outdoor landscaping boxes. It isn't pretty but it works. A guy on you tube did a short video

.

 

[Jim greengo]

Uf ***** to work with.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Ideal makes a uf cable stripper. Its only good for about 6-8". Anytbing longer, then it becomes very difficult to use.

Interesting.

I obviously didnt know that.

Have a link?

 

[mm08822]

Interesting.

I obviously didnt know that.

Have a link?

Google ideal 45-235

 

[rlitman]

I strip it like I strip regular Romex. I use my cutters to expose about 1/16” of ground. I’ll then grab the ground with my pliers and pull it hard sideways so it rips its way out of the jacket. Romex splits easy like this, UF, not so much.

Once split, I pull the wires out of the Romex jacket, angling the wires one way, and the jacket and paper the other, and I’ll snip the waste.

For UF, once the ground it out, I’ll look closely at how it ripped. The ground will always pull a little off center, so one wire will be easier to extract than the other. At this point, I’ll grab the easier wire with my pliers and tear it out of the grey. Last, I’ll use my cutters to nick the grey at the base of the other wire and strip it off.

 

[Norcal]

Cut/ score the sheathing at the grounding conductor, then you have access where the plastic sheathing is thinner.

 

[Bert_]

Use utility knife and go slow.

Maybe just me but I find a pocket knife or an electrician's knife with a hooked blade to be much easier than a utility knife. With a utility knife I nick the wire all the time, with a regular knife hardly ever.

 

[sparky 1971]

Maybe just me but I find a pocket knife or an electrician's knife with a hooked blade to be much easier than a utility knife. With a utility knife I nick the wire all the time, with a regular knife hardly ever.

It's not just you. Maybe there are only two of us, but utility knives are too sharp for me to use on UF. I use a Klein cable splicers knife for almost everything. When I have forgotten to sharpen it and it's too dull to use anymore, out comes the pocket knife with the coping blade.

 

[ard]

I hate it so much, I use conduit....

 

[Norcal]

I hate it so much, I use conduit....

Not a fan of direct buried cables myself.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Google ideal 45-235

Thanks for the info! Just when I think I've seen every tool, there's always something new.