How-To
How to Strip Cable Inside Electrical Boxes
Electrician Cliff Popejoy demonstrates the time-tested way to meet code without making it difficult to fit everything in the box.
In this gem from the Fine Homebuilding Video Vault, electrician Cliff Popejoy shows how he strips cable inside electrical boxes, leaving the minimal amount of sheathing to meet code while keeping it possible to fit everything in the box. The dated video includes tools and tips that stand up to the test of time.
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the dedicated tool is nice. anything is better than a normal utility knife, which always seems to find the hand that is holding the wire instead of the wire itself when slitting or trimming the sheath.
I've been using the first method for 36 years. I like the second method better and I'll be trying it within the week. Got any more electrical videos? I went to the "Videos" page and see nothing.
Great video! Love it!
Don't know who this person is but I take exception to his methods of stripping romex. I have been doing electrical for over 30 years and seen a lot of good as well as sloppy wiring. First is never use a utility knife inside a box as this person did. Why? Because if you slip and cut across the wire coating you have now made that conductor useless according to code. Second off you leave way to much jacket inside the box which is considered a part of the box fill. The second method is much better but I was taught to strip the jacket off before putting the wire in the box. Very quick easiest way of rough wiring. I also leave about one inch of jacket inside the box. Next is why the two makings on the stud? All you floor boxes should be at one height and all you switch boxes should be at another height. If you go around having multiple marking on the stud you boxes could be at different heights which is unacceptable. This guy could never work for me.......
just use lineman's tool, cut at the end of the wire and pull the jacket to split....why complicate things with "special" tools?
Newer color coded jackets are self scored and all you have to do is pull up the ground wire to strip it.