What is this tool? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

chriswood1900 · 24th Apr 2017, 11:40 am

Acquired in a recent job lot of spares was this tool, it is branded MHJ and was made in Sweden. It has some small sharp points that point down into the V of the plate on the base. It has Electronics scratched into the handle. Has anyone ever used one or seen one before.
Thanks Chris

Cobaltblue · 24th Apr 2017, 11:47 am

Seems to have some similarities with a Jakari knife

That's used for stripping cable I still have mine (Jakari) that was issued back in 1978........ Somewhere

Cheers

Mike T

g8jzyian · 24th Apr 2017, 11:56 am

Hi
Yes it is for stripping the outer jacket from cables.
I used one in the 1980's to strip multipair telephone cables.
It required careful setting to avoid nicking the insulation on the pairs but was safer for unpractised users than the stanley knife!

Ian

chriswood1900 · 24th Apr 2017, 12:31 pm

Thanks that's useful to know, I thought it might be something like that, I will give it a try and see if it is useful.
Does that mean it can cut around the cable and length ways?

Chris

g8jzyian · 24th Apr 2017, 12:43 pm

Hi
Yes Thats the method although I never used it on anything smaller than a 20 pair cable.

Ian

frankmcvey · 24th Apr 2017, 1:09 pm

Handy bit of kit. Never knew it existed!

YouTube

chriswood1900 · 24th Apr 2017, 2:28 pm

Up to now my preferred tool was the Cyclops and where that didn't work a Stanley knife was used. When I just tried the tool in post #1 I found that with small flexible cable it rotated with the tool so it looks like it needs a thicker rigid cable to work well.
Chris

Biggles · 24th Apr 2017, 5:37 pm

We have them at work but I never use mine. I prefer the old Stanley knife for stripping armoured cables. As long as you are careful and cut away from you it's fine. Unarmoured cables are a bit trickier. You have to be careful not to nick the insulation on the pairs, which gives problems later on when the damp gets in and corrodes the copper. Always right in the neck of the cable. I use a junior hacksaw to nick the armour strands once stripped and this makes snapping them easier and gives a clean break.

24th Apr 2017, 11:47 am	#2
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: What is this tool? Seems to have some similarities with a Jakari knife That's used for stripping cable I still have mine (Jakari) that was issued back in 1978........ Somewhere Cheers Mike T Attached Thumbnails __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

24th Apr 2017, 11:56 am	#3
g8jzyian Pentode Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 149	Re: What is this tool? Hi Yes it is for stripping the outer jacket from cables. I used one in the 1980's to strip multipair telephone cables. It required careful setting to avoid nicking the insulation on the pairs but was safer for unpractised users than the stanley knife! Ian

24th Apr 2017, 12:31 pm	#4
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,483	Re: What is this tool? Thanks that's useful to know, I thought it might be something like that, I will give it a try and see if it is useful. Does that mean it can cut around the cable and length ways? Chris

24th Apr 2017, 12:43 pm	#5
g8jzyian Pentode Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 149	Re: What is this tool? Hi Yes Thats the method although I never used it on anything smaller than a 20 pair cable. Ian

24th Apr 2017, 1:09 pm	#6
frankmcvey Rest in Peace Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Cottesmore, East Midlands, UK. Posts: 858	Re: What is this tool? Handy bit of kit. Never knew it existed! YouTube

24th Apr 2017, 11:40 am	#1
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,483	What is this tool? Acquired in a recent job lot of spares was this tool, it is branded MHJ and was made in Sweden. It has some small sharp points that point down into the V of the plate on the base. It has Electronics scratched into the handle. Has anyone ever used one or seen one before. Thanks Chris Attached Thumbnails

24th Apr 2017, 2:28 pm	#7
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,483	Re: What is this tool? Up to now my preferred tool was the Cyclops and where that didn't work a Stanley knife was used. When I just tried the tool in post #1 I found that with small flexible cable it rotated with the tool so it looks like it needs a thicker rigid cable to work well. Chris Attached Thumbnails

24th Apr 2017, 5:37 pm	#8
Biggles Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 2,234	Re: What is this tool? We have them at work but I never use mine. I prefer the old Stanley knife for stripping armoured cables. As long as you are careful and cut away from you it's fine. Unarmoured cables are a bit trickier. You have to be careful not to nick the insulation on the pairs, which gives problems later on when the damp gets in and corrodes the copper. Always right in the neck of the cable. I use a junior hacksaw to nick the armour strands once stripped and this makes snapping them easier and gives a clean break.