How To Remove Old-Fashioned Cloth Wire Insulation?

Cloth-covered wiring is an electric wiring insulated or covered with cloth, which emerged in the late 19th century and gained popularity in the early 20th century as a safe method for electrical installations. It typically consists of copper wires covered in cloth. To strip the inner plastic insulation from the cloth covering, first cut the cloth covering with a sharp Xacto knife or razor blade, then strip the inner wire with a regular wire stripping tool.

Vintage style push back cloth wire is used to expose the wire by pinching the cloth and pushing it back. Cut the wire to length, push back the outer to expose the inner for soldering, and let the outer spring back. This magically covers all the bare wire.

To strip the cloth covering, cut a piece of electrical tape about 1 to 1.5″ long and cut it in half long ways to end up with two long skinny strips. Use old-fashioned automatic wire strippers with a sharp blade for clean, safe cuts without nicking the wires.

In my experience with cloth covered wire, the cloth will deteriorate in water, starting to unravel and become almost powdery after many years. To ensure a clean and safe stripping process, use a sharp blade and avoid cutting into the protective sheath.