Miller MK02 cable sheath cutter

[YorkshireMidge]

I was clearing out a late colleagues collection of electrical/electronic tools when I came across something odd looking, which through a google image search, the mystery item has turned out to be a Miller MK02 cable sheath cutter.

It looks like it might be quite a handy bit of kit , as pressing the button rotates the blade and allows you to do lengthways cuts as well as around the circumference of the cable. But although the tool is supplied by a small number of UK suppliers, this is missing its blade and those seem to be a bit more difficult to get your hands on and quite expensive.

I was wondering if anyone out there uses one of these and can comment on whether its good enough to be worth the effort of tracking down new blades?

Thanks!

 

[SUNRAY]

I used to get them from CPC, a pack of 5 was about the same price as a tool. They don't seem to list them now but:

https://uk.farnell.com/abeco/06301/spare-blade-for-mko2-pk5/dp/202277

They were a bit of a Marmite thing but if setup correctly they work ok but not something to easily use on multiple cable sizes.

Personally I haven't seen one in use for years.

 

[fourtytwo]

I use mine quite a lot as I am often dealing with assorted multi-core cables BUT they can be a pain on the thinner jacketed varieties for example 4-core alarm cable where it is quite easy to knife the cores. I usually try a short inch strip first to get the knife setup. I must admit it languishes around the bottom of the toolbox in between times but I wouldn't be without it as the alternative stanley knife is much more fiddly and liable to damage the cores (or my fingers). Sorry no idea where to get blades from.

 

[Murdochcat]

I used to have one until I mislaid it. Excellent tool for specific uses

 

[YorkshireMidge]

Thanks all. When I've had a further look around, they seem to crop up on sites relating to fibre optic cable outer sheaths and I can see why it would would work well on plastic that tough. Equally @fourtytwo I can see why it would be unsuitable for alarm or telephony cable as the spring is fairly strong and I can see it distorting the shape (I'd be using the stripping cord you get in those types of cable anyway). I don't think it's worth me bothering with it as I'd probably only use it for mains flex, so rather than chuck it, I might put it up on ebay and see if anyone wants it.

@Murdochcat - if you have any spare blades for the one you lost, and might want to replace yours, by all means PM me.

 

[Murdochcat]

I had it for years but never bought any replacement parts

 

[ebee]

Must admit that first years I’d always stripped T&E by hand with a sharp Stanley type knife.
Alarm cable I’d used small electronics cutters, the type with a rotatable cam stop but I’d remove the cam anyway and rely on the feel of finger pressure.
Once you’ve cut a lot you can get pretty slick with them, practice makes perfik sort of thing.
I was taught years ago to slide a sharp knife resting on the earthwire of T&E and sliding it down the length with the blade touching the earthwire but the point not touching, it becomes second nature after a while.

Automatic Wire Stripper Pro | CK (T3943)

Made life easier for my poor dry hands (dry skin might be an insulation resistance advantage first an electrician but skin cracks far too easy, ouch!)

BIB Wire Stripper & Cutter by Multicore Solders Ltd prov. pat 31408/53 | eBay UK

The BIB Wire Stripper & Cutter by Multicore Solders Ltd is a vintage tool known for its collectable value. Manufactured in the United Kingdom by BIB, this wire stripper is a versatile piece with a proven track record. Perfect for those interested in traditional craftsmanship and British...

www.ebay.co.uk

Same as in light engineering using a 0 to 1 inch micrometer without applying the ratchet you can measure to within a tenth of a thou once you practiced the feel of it.
I did know a fellow who insisted a 3/4 inch diameter bar always measured about half a thou down but a few of us considered that he had the feel of a baby elephant. You would think he was using it as a G clamp!

In industry you have to adopt the attitude of “We the unwilling”

We the unwilling,
Attempt the impossible for the ungrateful,
We have done so much, with so little, for so long,
That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing!

 

[JohnW2]

Alarm cable I’d used small electronics cutters, the type with a rotatable cam stop but I’d remove the cam anyway and rely on the feel of finger pressure. Once you’ve cut a lot you can get pretty slick with them, practice makes perfik sort of thing.

Similar with me. Even with some T+E.

I was taught years ago to slide a sharp knife resting on the earthwire of T&E and sliding it down the length with the blade touching the earthwire but the point not touching, it becomes second nature after a while.

Again, ditto. Mind you, I was also at one time 'taught' to use pliers (and some violence!) on the 'earth wire' to strip the sheath, and I'm not sure that's such a clever idea

Kind Regards, John

 

[ebee]

Yup I know it’s common practice John but I do not like abusing the earthwire by using it like a cheese wire on sometimes stiff PVC sheath.

 

[JohnW2]

Yup I know it’s common practice John but I do not like abusing the earthwire by using it like a cheese wire on sometimes stiff PVC sheath.

I agree, which is why I said that it is "not a good idea".
I'm sure that it only very rarely does any significant harm, but the amount of force needed is often such as to stretch the conductor a bit (thereby decreasing CSA slightly) and, indeed, may very occasionally actually cause the CPC to 'rupture' ("come off in one's hand")

 

[ebee]

Yup agreed.

A shoddy practice as I consider it

 

[SUNRAY]

I agree, which is why I said that it is "not a good idea".
I'm sure that it only very rarely does any significant harm, but the amount of force needed is often such as to stretch the conductor a bit (thereby decreasing CSA slightly) and, indeed, may very occasionally actually cause the CPC to 'rupture' ("come off in one's hand")

Like you I learnt to do that from my elders. I while ago I was wiring sockets with A. N. Other in dado trunking, maybe 30 DSSOs along one side of a classroom. Several times the PC wasn't the same length as lives but plenty of spare so it didn't occur to me to queery it... until I didn't find CPC and the cable had to be replaced.

It didn't occur to the herbert I was working with that he was cutting off more spare CPC than lives or if he did why it was longer. All pieces were sub 1m and CPC was simply pulling through.