Hi,
There have been positive responses here, and with many other customers, as to
our Cable Prep Tools (cutter, strippers,crimp tools, braid cutters, etc).
There is now a page on our web site with full descriptions and pricing. Also,
I have a separate writeup that may be helpful, just contact me.
Web page: go to www.DavisRF.com ; click on "Amateur Radio" then click on
"Cable Prep Tools". Also, to solve the concern raised that most sources do not
relate the type connector to stripping measurements, go to our "Technical
Papers", and look for the "R.F.I. Assembly Guide". First look at our
"Connector" section and find the part # you need by type cable and type
connector, then go to the " Tech Articles " on the main menu , on that page is
the "R.F.I. Assembly Guide". Eventually we should have a cross between these
two pages to save a step. Our RFI connectors are high grade commercial
quality, we've sold them for around 18 years, and the price is very
competitive. As with most items we carry that can also be bought at Tessco,
you will receive a much better price from us unless you are buying through your
co. or employer at high volume sales per year with them. And, we're friendly
!! HI
73, Steve K1PEK
Davis RF Company
Electronic Wire, Cable and Cable Design Engineering
RF Coaxial Cable Connectors and Telecom Parts
A Division of Orion Wire Company, Inc.
www.DavisRF.com
Main office, NH: Tel: 1-800-DAVIS RF
> Steve Davis, Direct line, MA Branch: 1-978-369-1738
> sdavis@DavisRF.com----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:58:38 -0500
> From: "Roger (K8RI)" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] cable strippers, cheaper
> To: "Tower and HF antenna construction topics."
> <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Message-ID: <4B88A67E.6020004@tm.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I wish these companies would learn to list strippers by cable (they do)
> and connectors (they don't)instead of just measurements, even if they'd
> keep it to UHF and N types. Most of us would find that a lot more
> informative.
>
> There are a lot of strippers out there and I've found that price doesn't
> always determine the best and I've tried quite a few. I picked up
> several from Steve (Davis RF - I have no business connection with them,
> just a satisfied customer) from simple to the big one for LMR-600. They
> have one that looks similar to the one in this link except the plastic
> insert is a "half pipe" in which the coax fits snugly. Unlike the
> "V-notch" found in most, this keeps the coax held in place.
>
> I have strippers for both N and UHF types, as well as clamp and crimp
> connectors for each size cable.
> All I have do have adjustable cutters BUT each one is basically used as
> a "one size only".
>
> A couple of suggestions for those who end up with the ones using
> adjustable cutters. If they are working fine, DON'T MESS WITH THEM!".
> <:-)) Normally and I emphasize the *normally* when they aren't cutting
> as well as you'd like, it's probably time to change cutters. If the
> cutters get nicked, or just dull, no amount of adjustment will make them
> do better and then you have to adjust them with new cutters starting
> from scratch. Believe me when I say it's a lot easier to tweak them in
> with new cutters if the settings have not been changed. If you have to
> back out the adjustment screws to get the cutters out, "count the number
> of turns for each screw and write them down. My memory for the number of
> turns on the first screw lasts about two turns into the second screw. <:-))
> There are a couple of points in regards to stripping the newer cables
> with the "foil plus braid". Do not nick the braid when stripping. The
> stripper should cut the jacket, but not into the braid. Generally if it
> is cut just slightly less than all the way through, a slight bending
> motion will snap the jacket off. This is idea. Smaller cables such as
> CNT and LMR 240 are fairly stiff with very fragile braids. Even when you
> get a good connection, if the blade made it all the way through the
> jacket it is likely to fail, or become intermittent with a bit of
> flexing out in the wind. I came to this great conclusion from two
> perspectives. Noting the loose strands of braid falling off even after
> being careful and noting how easily some of the others broke off at the
> score mark with just slight bending. The other was using CNT-240 to feed
> sloping dipoles. I was getting failures at the connectors in 4 to 5
> months...or less.
> I know as hams it is part of our way to make things do double and triple
> duty, but life is just a whole lot easier if you have a stripper set up
> for each size coax and fitting rather than trying to make them do double
> duty. OTOH most LMR-400 size cables will happily use the same stripper.
>
> There is one type of cable I've found the good old "box cutter stripper"
> works far better on than cable strippers and that is the LMR UF
> versions. The jacket is rubbery AND it is loose against the braid.
> Being stretchy with nothing holding it, the jacket will just bunch up
> under the stripper and become a royal nuisance. I've never tried it, but
> a bit of silicon grease on the surface of the jacket at the point where
> the stripper rides *might* make life easier. I've tried a lot of
> strippers and not found one yet that works well...or at all on the Ultra
> flex versions of the cable.
>
> Oh! one other suggestion. When getting strippers, get some extra blades
> because you will need them at the most inopportune time. Now all I have
> to do is remember when I put the extra blades.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
> jimlux wrote:
>> L-com has
>> http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=22861
>>
>> which is a single sized stripper for $20 for LMR-400 sized coax. You'd
>> have to check what the trim lengths are. They also have some
>> inexpensive adjustable units.
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:34:53 -0800
> From: jimlux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] cable strippers, cheaper
> To: "Tower and HF antenna construction topics."
> <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Message-ID: <4B88BD0D.6010708@earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>> I wish these companies would learn to list strippers by cable (they do)
>> and connectors (they don't)instead of just measurements, even if they'd
>> keep it to UHF and N types. Most of us would find that a lot more
>> informative.
>
> The problem is that not all PL-259s and Ns have the same required strip
> dimensions. The coax dimensions are known, so that's easy.
>
>>
>
>
>>
>> A couple of suggestions for those who end up with the ones using
>> adjustable cutters. If they are working fine, DON'T MESS WITH THEM!".
>> <:-))
>
>> I know as hams it is part of our way to make things do double and triple
>> duty, but life is just a whole lot easier if you have a stripper set up
>> for each size coax and fitting rather than trying to make them do double
>> duty.
> That's the idea behind the swapable cassettes in the CST Vario. On mine,
> you can flip it over, so you basically have two presets in one stripper.
>
> However, as you say, a purpose configured stripper for each kind of
> coax/connector is definitely the way to go, and if the $20 widgets do
> the job, you can buy 4 for the price of the CST Vario, which can only do
> 2 (at best).
>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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