What's the best way to strip wire?

Question

wire meaning the big thick commercial types (e.g., aluminum, copper, etc.). There's got to be an easier way than my current method!

Answer 1

The question is are you trying to strip it all off for recycling or just the ends to make a connection. If you want to get it all off, a razor knife run down the length of the wire works great. If just the ends, a pair of Klein lineman pliers is best. Put the cutting edges around the wire with a little tension on the handles and spin them around a couple times and pull.

Answer 2

Burning wire is illegal in most states, but downright nasty no matter where you do it. The insulation is plastic, and harmful to the environment. If you do burn it, please stand close to the fire and breath the smoke in deep for at least an hour. That should permanently remove you from the gene pool.

If you are going to strip it to take it for recycling: If it is in long pieces, say 100 feet long, wrap one end around the trunk of a tree, and the other end around another tree trunk. Take a knife, and with the blade flat against the wire, strip it lengthwise, as if you were stripping the skin of a cucumber. You only have to make one pass down the wire with the knife, it will all peel off. If you don't have long pieces of wire, well, it is just going to take some time.

Answer 3

Gotta go w/ dave.
However......
You might be careful about recycling "commercial" cable unless you have receipts from the source.
They have to protect themselves if the material could have been stolen from a construction site or utility co.

Answer 4

Get it all liquored up and put on some Tone Loc, like Funky Cold Medina.......shouldn't take long after that.

Answer 5

A friend of mine waits til he gets a bunch of it and burns it off in a metal drum.

Answer 6

burn baby burn