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Vintage Test Gear and Workshop Equipment For discussions about vintage test gear and workshop equipment such as coil winders. |
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Thread Tools |
9th Jun 2018, 4:58 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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Mystery tool
Hi.
Please see attached pics. I have had this unusual hand tool for a few years which was in a box of electronic junk. My guess is it's some kind of marking out tool. The right-angled knuckle would appear to fit around a circular section bar. The knuckle, which is spring-loaded, slides along to presumably allow the bar to be inserted. There's a small blade in the chuck which rotates when the round button is pressed. The little label says "Made in Malta for AB Engineering Co." I've never come across this type of tool before despite using many different workshop tools and equipment. I know someone will recognise it. Regards Symon. |
9th Jun 2018, 5:10 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,558
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Re: Mystery tool
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9th Jun 2018, 5:12 pm | #3 |
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK.
Posts: 6,866
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Re: Mystery tool
It's a cable stripping knife.
Mine is by Jokari Cheers Mike T
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9th Jun 2018, 5:12 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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Re: Mystery tool
Ah, that's interesting. Thanks, I'll have a look at trying that out.
Regards Symon. |
9th Jun 2018, 5:15 pm | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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Re: Mystery tool
Hi
Out of interest, what type of cables/wire would you use this tool for stripping the insulation? Regards Symon. EDIT: Just seen link from Barry |
9th Jun 2018, 5:53 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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Re: Mystery tool
Hi
It looks to be very useful for round 3-core mains cables and coax cables of course. Thanks for clearing the mystery, the Forum very helpful as usual. Regards Symon. |
9th Jun 2018, 5:59 pm | #7 |
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK.
Posts: 6,866
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Re: Mystery tool
We mostly use ours to strip the inner sheaths of armoured multicore pvc cables
Cheers Mike T
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Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk |
9th Jun 2018, 6:24 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,998
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Re: Mystery tool
It's for quickly denuding coax of its outer sheath. Fit over the cable, do a single turn to cut the circumference of the sheath, turn the knob through 90 degrees and pull along the length of the coax, the blade then doing a longitudinal slit so the stripped piece of sheath is easy to peel off.
[In the dim mists of time I had a big one for doing 100-pair telco cables too] |
9th Jun 2018, 6:25 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,553
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Re: Mystery tool
I worked at a place that had one.
We used it for stripping the outer insulation of all PVC multicore cables. It did quite a neat job. |
9th Jun 2018, 6:38 pm | #10 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oban, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 1,129
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Re: Mystery tool
Quote:
I used to wire up ships in boat yards (fit the electronics) and used one for years. Still got it! |
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9th Jun 2018, 10:18 pm | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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Re: Mystery tool
Hi.
Well, I tried this tool out on some 3-core 6A mains lead and didn't get very far. I can see how it works though, but the problem in my case is that the blade is as blunt as old Harry. The tool is well made and I've dismantled it to reveal the blade itself. Hopefully I'll be able to obtain a replacement. Regards Symon |
9th Jun 2018, 11:48 pm | #12 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK.
Posts: 2,234
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Re: Mystery tool
Common tool in the U/G telephone cable trade. We have them at work but to be honest although I have dutifully carried one in my work vehicle for a number of years, I prefer to use a stanley knife to strip the outer insulation from armoured cable, run a junior hacksaw round the armoured strands, break them off by working them backwards and forwards, then back to the stanley knife to remove the inner insulation covering the pairs. You have less chance of damaging the pairs in my opinion, although there will no doubt be P.O. engineers on here who will disagree.
Alan. |
10th Jun 2018, 9:19 am | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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Re: Mystery tool
Hi.
I've just seen it being demonstrated here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1YdgNiRBos What I like about this tool is you can cut out a section of outer insulation with relative ease. I didn't know about the flick hook which comes out of the base of the tool, which is shown in the demo. I looked at the replacement blades but they seem quite pricey. I might try redressing the existing blade first. Regards Symon. |
10th Jun 2018, 10:33 am | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
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Re: Mystery tool
They're great for coax/screened cable outers, not so sure about multicore with only a few conductors- too easy to nick the inners. Practice on an offcut first to get the depth setting just right!
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10th Jun 2018, 10:57 am | #15 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,558
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Re: Mystery tool
I`ve been using mine for over 30 years on coax / multicore screened / unscreened / mains / cat 5 - just about anything that's round. It's done many thousands of ends, one of the best tools I ever bought.
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10th Jun 2018, 12:37 pm | #16 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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Re: Mystery tool
Hi
A few pics attached showing the dismantled tool. The first pic shows the blade holder/adjuster after first undoing the pozidriv screw. The second pic shows the flick hook which can be used to unscrew the blade holder from the plastic housing. Note the indented 'hole' in the metal shank. The third pic shows the various parts including the cranked blade. The last pic is of the blade. Regards Symon. |
10th Jun 2018, 2:03 pm | #17 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Posts: 538
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Re: Mystery tool
Hi Simon,
you can can sharpen your blade with moisty (water or oil) whetstone or moisty fine sandpaper too (ie 500 and after that1000 and 2000)... rgds, Karl |
10th Jun 2018, 3:13 pm | #18 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,532
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Re: Mystery tool
Yes, recognised it straight away. You can set the depth of cut to just take the sheath and leave the braid alone, or cut the braid as well. I have one somewhere but so rarely do coax I'm not even sure where it is.
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11th Jun 2018, 11:16 pm | #19 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 3,310
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Re: Mystery tool
Yes a cable sheath stripper. Have a very similar one in my toolbox. Used for stripping multicore telecom cables( 10-50 pair) etc.
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13th Jun 2018, 12:04 am | #20 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
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Re: Mystery tool
Quote:
"Wet'n'dry" paper with silicon carbide grit looks like what is being suggested and would certainly do the deed.
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