What type of wire is the TS-7000 Twisted Stripper designed for?
How do I identify the type of twisted shielded wire that I have?
What can happen to a nicked shield?
What can happen to a nicked conductor in a solder sleeve area?
Why is the TS-7000 Twisted Stripper superior to razor blades?
How does the TS-7000 protect the wire braided shield and center conductors?
How long do Twisted Stripper Wire Dies last?
When will new wire die sizes be available?
How much time does the Twisted Striper save?
Where can I purchase a TSK-7000 Twisted Stripper Kit?

Q. What type of wire is the TS-7000 Twisted Stripper designed for?
A. Current Die Sets are designed for M27500-(xx)TG2T14 series MIL-Spec wire (Sednal Die Set P/N's TDA-18-2, TDA-20-2, TDA-22-2, TDA24-2). These Dies service the majority of Tefzel jacket twisted shielded wire used in aviation-related electronics installations.

Q. How do I identify the type of twisted shielded wire that I have?
A. The MIL-Spec part number for this type of wire is typically printed on a paper ribbon that is wrapped together with the center conductor wires. Click HERE for image.

Q. What can happen to a nicked shield?
A. The braided shield used in Mil Spec Tefzel twisted shielded wiring is constructed of .004" Dia. tin coated copper wire strands. These strands are easily severed with a very small amount of force. Even when the braid wires remain intact after the use of a razor blade type knife to remove the outer jacket, hidden damage will most likely be incurred to the shield. When a wire is nicked by a blade, the area affected becomes a "stress riser", meaning that the reduced cross sectional area of the wire at the damage point results in a highly concentrated area of increased bending force. This concentrated bending force (usually caused by the repetitive movement associated with airframe vibration) over time results in embrittlement of the shield wires at the damage site with eventual wire failure. Over time, this means that an intermittent ground fault may occur.

Q. What can happen to a nicked conductor in a solder sleeve area?
A. Just one slight step beyond shield damage from a razor blade is center conductor damage caused by cutting through the shield and grazing the jacket of one or more center conductor wires. This unacceptable condition, when coupled with the use of a solder sleeve for shield termination, can result in intermittent or hard shorts between the braided shield and one or more center conductors. When a solder shield is heated to melt its internal solder ring and shrink the hermetic seal, the heat used will cause any damaged areas of wire jacket to expand, allowing solder to flow in to and harden in the damaged areas. Most often the solder does not create an immediate bridged connection between the shield and a damaged center conductor, but rather excaberates the higher stress point condition in the damaged jacket area of a center conductor. Over time, this can result in one of the hardest-to-trace types of electrical problems - an intermittent ground fault short.

Q. Why is the TS-7000 Twisted Stripper superior to razor blades?
A. It is clear that hand use of a razor blade or knife to remove TSP (Twisted Shielded Pair) outer jacket is fraught with hidden danger. Physical damage to the installer (loss of blood and productivity) and physical damage to the wire (see above) are the most common side effects. The TS-7000 Twisted Stripper eliminates both conditions by precisely controlling the blade's depth of cut and position on the wire jacket. The TS-7000 dies are designed to slit the outer jacket in the valley between the center conductors using a patented design that eliminates shield conductor damage.

Q. How does the TS-7000 protect the wire braided shield and center conductors?
A. The blades used in TS-7000 dies are factory set to the proper cutting depth. No in-field adjustment or calibration of the tool is necessary for proper operation (NOTE: New Rev A Die Sets (available 10/2009) are calibrated). Shield and center conductor damage is avoided by precisely controlling the blade's depth of cut and position on the wire jacket. The TS-7000 dies are designed to slit the outer jacket in the valley between the center conductors using a patented design that eliminates shield conductor damage. When used properly, The TS-7000 gives the installer the ability to quickly, safely, and efficiently strip TSP type wire.

Q. How long do Twisted Stripper Wire Dies last?
A. Initial testing indicates a die life well over 1000 2.5" strips (2,500 linear inches of jacket). Further testing will prove the ultimate die life cycle.

Q. When will new wire die sizes be available?
A. Revision A calibrated 18G 2C, 20G 2C, 22G 2C, and 24G 2C dies will be available by October 2009, with 20-24AWG 3C dies following.

Q. How much time does the Twisted Stripper save?
A. The TS-7000 Twisted Stripper is proven to be at least 3x faster than standard shop methods when prepping TSP wire on the bench. This time savings easily grows to 10x faster when TSP prep happens in the aircraft. This time savings factor only takes into account the actual removal of the outer wire jacket. It does not factor in the countless hours that are wasted re-terminating a harness after the failure of one wire, or the time spent chasing down intermittent failures.

Q. Where can I purchase a TSK-7000 Twisted Stripper Kit?
A. The TSK-7000 is sold directly by Sednal Consulting Services (Click HERE). You may also purchase your kit from EDMO Distributors (www.edmo.com).