Stripping plastic from coated guardrails.

[jac]

I have plastic coated guardrails and would like to replace with proper ones. The wires themselves look fine however so I'm keen to know if it is feasible to strip the plastic from the wire. I did try a sample with a sharp knife but with 4 lengths on a 36footer to do I fear I might go mad before I finished if I did it that way.

Anyone know of a relatively pain free way to remove it?

 

[Poignard]

Something like this perhaps?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sheath-Stri...1151498&sr=8-1&keywords=cable+sheath+stripper

 

[michael_w]

Stanley knife and a good supply of blades. Best done whilst the wires are tensioned

 

[Vara]

Stanley knife and a good supply of blades. Best done whilst the wires are tensioned

Yep, did mine like that, once I'd got the hang of it only took about half an hour on a 34 footer.

 

[jac]

Yep, did mine like that, once I'd got the hang of it only took about half an hour on a 34 footer.

Ok- that's not bad. Any particular tricks before I go and buy a shed load of Stanley blades.

 

[rivonia]

Push away from you with the blade upside down=safer.

 

[Poignard]

You could always ask your local pikey to do it for you. They're well used to stripping insulation off wires.

 

[Vara]

Easier to do when it's warm, blade away from you, take off a strip on top about a foot long and with luck the whole lot can be pulled off using the wire to open the split.

 

[mrming]

I did ours with a Stanley knife. I ultimately found areas of rust underneath the plastic, and we ended up replacing them with normal S/S wire.

 

[cliff]

Spoke shave - done in minutes - sod the "stanley knife" - should be banned those things.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_11?url=search-alias%3Ddiy&field-keywords=spokeshave&sprefix=spoke+shave%2Cgarden%2C451&rh=n%3A79903031%2Ck%3Aspokeshave

or a draw knife
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...w+knife,garden,608&rh=n:79903031,k:draw+knife

 

[LadyInBed]

I did mine, no problem.
Leave the wire tensioned, then run a sharp knife along it holding blade and handle (spoke shave fashion). That removes a thin sliver, you can then pull the remaining U bit off. Then disconnect one end of wire and remove bits under the stanchions. Simple!

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Spoke shave - done in minutes -

Now why didn't I think of that?!? Thank you, Sir, for an excellent idea.

 

[catlotion]

We did exactly the same on our 1986 Beneteau Oceanis as the coating was nasty and coming off in places. Was pretty easy - as people say strip a sliver off and then pull the coating off in long pieces.

The only caveat is that the wire might not be designed to be exposed. Ours was a little rough and a possibly thinner gauge than you'd specify but it's fine in reality and looks much smarter...

 

[rob2]

The down side to stripping successfully is that it is still an old wire and there are only two ways of testing it - both painful. First you fall against the wire and if it fails you go swimming. The second option is to run your hand along it and when you get a metal splinter you know it's past its sell-by date.

Rob.

 

[jac]

We did exactly the same on our 1986 Beneteau Oceanis as the coating was nasty and coming off in places. Was pretty easy - as people say strip a sliver off and then pull the coating off in long pieces.

The only caveat is that the wire might not be designed to be exposed. Ours was a little rough and a possibly thinner gauge than you'd specify but it's fine in reality and looks much smarter...

That's a fair point but I can't believe that the plastic coating can add in that much strength.

As for testing strength - doesn't take that long to visually inspect for corrosion or a strand that has let go - could be done whilst stripping of course.

Spoke shave looks like the best way to do this I have to say. Why didn't I think of that. Also gives me the opportunity to go and buy something I don't already have so a win/win. Now to hide the evidence from SWMBO.

 

[pagoda]

I did ours with a Stanley knife. I ultimately found areas of rust underneath the plastic, and we ended up replacing them with normal S/S wire.

I replaced the covered guardwire with the plain wire. The old ones I removed the plastic by stanley blade and re-rigged one as an indestructable washing line. SWMBO was doubtful at first , but she has come round to liking the nautical touch with bottle screws at each pole!:encouragement:

 

[Alfie168]

If you are using anything sharp, just put on a thick pair of leather gardening gloves. They will let you off a host of silly errors and slips with a knife blade.

Tim

 

[Robin]

I replaced the original plastic coated wires on our Jeanneau Sun legende 41 we had in the UK with uncoated wires one size up (5mm) for less of a cheese cutter effect when grabbing them, I was told the ORC rules now insist on them being uncoated and thicker too. On our current Benneteau I fell into the wires when I stood on the spring line getting off the boat and it rolled underfoot and one wire kinked whilst also damaging the plastic coating where it passed through a stanchion. I replaced with new plastic coated wire because changing to a larger uncoated size would have required new end fittings in the larger size and over here such things are very expensive. In the event I just replaced the damaged top and middle wires on that port side and settled for a very thorough inspection of the ones on the other side which still looked like new. My preference would have been to switch to uncoated 5mm wires all round had money been less tight.

 

[2Tizwoz]

.....option is to run your hand along it and when you get a metal splinter you know it's past its sell-by date....Rob.

Standard way to check wire rope is to run it through a rag to find if it catches any broken wires. Less blood involved.

 

[tudorsailor]

What a selection of spoke shavers. Any advice as to which one / what size to get?

TS