There are many fiber optic tools on the market today, but which one is the best way to cut your cables? When it comes to armored fiber cable, there are a few different ways that you can go about cutting it. In this blog post, we will discuss the different methods and help you decide which one is right for you!
What is armored fiber cable and why do you need a special tool to cut it?
Armored fiber cable is a type of fiber optic cable that has an extra layer of protection. This layer is made up of metal wires or bands that help to protect the fiber from environmental factors, such as weather or rodents. In order to cut this type of cable, you need a special tool that can shear the armor off.
The different ways to cut armored fiber cable
There are three main ways to cut armored fiber cable: using a fiber optic cable cutter, using a fiber optic stripper, or using wire cutters.
Fiber optic armored cable cutter or rotary cutter
A armored cable cutter is a tool that is specifically designed to cut armored cables. It has a sharp blade that easily cuts through the armor, making it the preferred method for cutting armored fiber cable.
One of the preferred tools is the Southwire Rotary Cutter w/ Lever. This comes recommended from several within our Facebook Community:
Fiber optic stripper
A fiber optic stripper is a tool that is used to strip the jacket off of fiber optic cables. While it can also be used to cut the armor off of armored fiber cable, it is not as effective as a armor cable cutter.
Jonard makes armored cable strippers. The also come recommended from the LVN Facebook Group
Wire cutters or snips
While wire cutters can be used to cut the armor off of armored fiber cable, they are not as effective as a fiber optic cable cutter. The blade is not as sharp and it can be difficult to cut through the armor.
Some people just use snips or cutters
