How to Cut Armored Wiring Cable
Armored wiring cable consists of three or more wires surrounded by a spiral wrapped metal sheathing. The overlapping metal joints of the sheathing allow the cable to bend around corners without the need for fittings.
Things You Will Need
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Cable cutter
- Hacksaw
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
Cutting a piece of armored cable to length and exposing its inner wires requires separating a joint in the metal sheathing. Causing a break in the metal sheathing keeps the remaining section of sheathing undamaged.
-
Measure the length you need to cut the armored cable with a tape measure. Mark the location on the exterior metal sheathing with a pencil.
-
Cut the armored cable to length with cable cutters.
-
Measure back eight inches from the cut end of the armored cable with the tape measure. Place a pencil mark on the exterior sheathing.
-
Support the end of the armored cable with one knee.
-
Hold a hacksaw parallel to the armored cable with the saw blade aligned with the pencil mark. Start cutting through the metal sheathing using a back and forth motion with a hacksaw. Stop sawing frequently to check the depth of the cut. Stop cutting when you see the internal wires of the cable through the cut.
-
Pull the cut length of metal sheathing from the cable with a pair of pliers. Cut through sections of the sheathing not completely cut with the hacksaw with a pair of wire cutters.
Check out this related video.
