Ever had to strip wire with a sawzall?

I havent until today. My dad has been telling me to call my uncle for awhile because he repairs appliances and used to scrap but is now too old to finish up what he has started. I finally call him and go by. He points out an aluminum wound transformer and a short aluminum pipe. I'm feeling rather disappointed until he says "now on to the real goodies" and walks around the side of his shop.

My eyeholes rest upon a huge pile of the thickest wire i have ever picked up. Big enough that i had to ask him if he knocked down a powerline lol. I cant post pics but i took some in case I ever get a lap or desktop and internet there will be a ketchup thread. Anywho i put so much of this wire in my truckbed that I had to come back to get the motors appliances etc. If you say "pics or it didnt happen" im going to freak out fair warning. Also a plus he is going to teach me his trade which is appliance repair im super excited!

Btw just from what i could strip this morning i got 33 pounds of #1. In about an hour, mostly cuz stripping wire with a saw takes some getting used to lol. I will post shred weight tomorrow sometime if i dont get called in to work

Sounds like you scored more ways than one! Tell us about method of wire stripping with a saw, honestly sounds like "do at your own risk" kind of thing. But you got my attention so details please.

Well not only is this insulation thick but its axtremely tough. My uncle told me i couldnt do it with a razor or knife and showed me a technique for doing it with a sawzall. I really didnt believe him because i have a very sharp sturdy knife that can cut darn near anything.

Well it wouldnt cut this so i'm using my sawzall on high speed with a 18 tpi blade. I ziptie one end of the wire around a piece of sucker rod i pounded into the ground and then stretch the cable (wire doesnt do it justice) taught and clamp it in my vice. I then proceed to use the sawzall as you would use a knife except with both hands for safety. At your own risk is right though im comfortable with power tools and have been using them a long time so if you havent dont try this at home!

Just cause I think it'd be fun to see you freak out...

Pics or it didn't happen!

:p

Signed, your friend,

Sirscrapalot - Causing freak outs since 1979

Hey maybe i found a use for all those barrels.

lol i kid i kid

LOL

Doya you crack me up man.

Using a sawzall..crazy. If it works tho...who am I to argue. lol.

I want pictures when you do the ketchup.

I imagine we're going to get a ton of photos when you finally get it figured out how to post them from the phone app.

Sirscrapalot - Tweaking the tail of the tiger.

does using the 18tpi work good and quick? maybe try grinding an old 18tpi smooth with a good edge on it to make it a knife blade

its cutting it beautifully. just made 116 bucks in two hours. wish i knew where to get a steady supply i could quit my jobby job

NICE!! but I hope your copper price is better than mine. They said $2.30 per # today when I called. I've never seen it that low...

Know when to hold em and when to fold em.

Try the diamond grit blade, it won't gunk up on the insulation. Also there is a company out there...if and when I find the link I will post it that does carbide bi metal blades for sawzalls where each tip is carbide brazed to a regular blade, it's for demo and while occasionally they do break teeth off I've got the same blade I bought with two missing teeth for the last three years.

I want to see someone try a circular saw

DOYOU - I have stripped some wire before, but never with a saw (has anyone else used a saw!). I know a reciprocating saw used on some materiel and bad blade selection is a bad experience. Lets just say it would be like an "E" ticket at Disneyland on a bad day! What exactly is the wire gauge of this wire? is it wire or cable? Don't want to see "ketchup" on anybody.

Mr. Wolf,

I have used Diablo brand carbide sawzall blades for cutting aluminum doors. Never tried cutting insulation off copper cable though. I got them from a specialty tool store. I picked up some Bosch brand carbide blades from the big blue box store for $18.97 for a two-pack.

Dremal with a cutting blade might work. Reckon it might depend on the disc tho.

Just an idea. I'm waiting to see someone try it with a table saw, an a push stick. Heh..cut along the side...

an no I don't advise trying it. I'm waiting to see it in a episode of.."how not to do things.." lol

Sirscrapalot - I like my fingers thank you.

I cut through some cable insulation with an angle grinder before, it worked ok. Didn't think of the sawsall

im gonna try the grinder tomorrow probly. sorry for the slow replies ive been workin since 6 pm yesterday just got off a few minutes ago so its nap time before i have to go back. fraccing waits for no man

its cable i suppose. i dont know what guage thats above my paygrade im just the guy with the saw. really idk how to guesstimate guage at all. thanks for the idears yall