Wire Outer Insulation Cutter

thingiverse

I prefer using HolidayCoro's 3-wire connectors and wire for all my lights, but stripping the outer insulation at the ends takes time and sometimes I nick the insulation around the wires. This insulation cutter uses an ordinary utility knife blade that sticks up about 0.7 mm from the surface, which is just enough to cut through the outer insulation without cutting the insulation around the inner wires. The blade slot is a bit thicker than typical blades but adding a piece of electrical tape along one face gives it a snug fit that doesn't slip easily. I used a small piece of wood to press on the blade edge to get it all the way down and even across the top. To use it, simply place the wire on the table, put the cutter on top with the blade where you want the cut, and then push the cutter forward which will roll the wire while cutting. There may be a little insulation left that didn't get cut, but bending the wire right at the cut should break free the remaining portion. If you choose to cut the wire with the blade up, I recommend using something other than your hand to roll the wire, like a piece of wood, to prevent cutting your fingers. Because utility blades may vary in size a little, you might need to add tape layers to adjust how far the blade sticks up. 9/13 - I added a cover for the cutter.