Struggling to strip lead sheath from cable...

[pcplod]

Hi All,
I'm just replacing a light pendant in my lounge, and snipped the end from the cable in order to tidy it up a bit before refitting, however I'm now really struggling to cleanly remove the lead sheath, is there a knack to doing it, or is a speacial tool required?
Cheers,
John.

Untitled

• pcplod
• 11 Oct 2010
• 1

 

[JohnD]

Are you sure it is really lead sheathing? That would make it about 50 years old. Internal insulation likely to be rubber and perished.

Start saving up for a rewire...

 

[electronicsuk]

I assume this is a windup?

 

[pcplod]

Are you sure it is really lead sheathing? That would make it about 50 years old. Internal insulation likely to be rubber and perished.

Start saving up for a rewire...

It looks like lead, -a cold heavy metal with an oxidised surface that can be scratched to reveal a shiny surface underneath.

I am planning a full rewire in a couple of years, when I have an extension built, but was issued a periodic inspection certificate by an electrician a couple of weeks ago, which states that all circuits are safe.

 

[pcplod]

I assume this is a windup?

I assume it's possible to strip this sheathing, - it must have been done when the cabling was installed?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

was issued a periodic inspection certificate by an electrician a couple of weeks ago, which states that all circuits are safe.

Could you scan or photograph, and upload, the schedule of test results?

 

[JohnD]

I assume it's possible to strip this sheathing, - it must have been done when the cabling was installed?

I have removed lead-sheathed, but the only person I know who used to install it died many years ago.

OOI, if you bend or strip the sheathing, the rubber/cotton insulation is likely to crack, break, flake and possibly fall away as powder.

What was the consistency of the insulation on the bits you cut off to tidy up, and what was the reason you wanted to cut it away?

 

[OwainDIYer]

Have you found a source for the lead-sheathed wiring system fittings to clamp and bond the lead sheath?

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[sparkybird]

is it lead sheath? The cable clip looks suspiciously new - or maybe the OP installed it? Hope the light fitting doesn't require an earth as I bet it's not connected to earth at the other end!

 

[londonboy]

 

[AndyPRK]

HAHAHA

Does look like a new cable !

 

[RF Lighting]

Why are you putting a pendant up when you don't have a ceiling?

 

[sparkwright]

Can't you replace that one length of cable?

Then replace all the others while you're at it.