atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Outside Plant OSP Construction Unusual Request

Had a guy call tonight looking for --- get this --- a hand wrap tool to terminate 100 pair of 24 ga. cable on a frame mount BET.

Haven't found the spinner, but I did find my electric spin pistol for 22-24 ga. I'll send it and a unwrap tool to him for the project.

You newbies, I'll let the C O guys explain this.

E-Bay has some of this stuff listed under "Western Electric". I sort of chuckled at first when I saw the listing, but then I thought that I still have plenty of customers with these frames and it might be worth the investment. Then I came to my senses.

We do a ton of work for a local college. The switch room is loaded with these frames. The hand spinner tool is in the top right hand drawer. If it's not look out there is he?? to pay on the last tech to use it and not put it in its proper place.

Oh I almost forgot, I carry one in a tool box in my truck. I've not been in this busimess all my life, it just came with the truck

Well I'd never want to spin down more than a pair or two with it, but I have one of the old unwrapper/wrappers. They looked just like the unwrapper, but had the hole for the 24/22 gauge wire to spin on the pins. Took a little getting use to to get a tight spin. I prefer the wrapping gun, but for big jobs the electric gun is best. I'll have to see what my Telco buddies have hidden away.

I never got to use an electric wrapper. But, I spent a couple of years flying around the country installing T-3 muxes, everything wire wrapped to ADC DSX patch panels. I haven't use the gun for years but still carry a wrapper/unwrapper in the tool case, not sure why. I did finally stop carrying (acutally lost) my burnishing tools.

I like the feedback a regular squeeze-grip gun gives you. It would be fine for a 100 pair job. An electric for me is not appreciably faster. The small manual combination wrap/unwrap tool would be way too slow for a job this size. An unwrap tool is a must. We had incredibly bad luck with the battery powered version of the wrap gun, so much so that it sat in a desk drawer for a year or so before it was thrown out. Just a poor performer that everyone disliked.

Specialized Tools (https://www.specialized.net), Jensen Tools (https://www.jensentools.com), Tecra Tools (https://www.tecratools.com) are all places to find this stuff. OK Industries & Jonard (https://www.jonard.com) are manufacturers and have info on their website.

It's also critical to pay attention to the scheme on the block. On the rear of most panels, the numbering is backwards to it's correct on the front. For large unwrap jobs, simply take your unwrap tool and chuck it up in your DeWalt, set for reverse and start unwrapping. This is great for large panels (read decommission or mistake).

Also, for wire wrap you'll need a "Strip N Clip" tool. This strip the correct amount of insulation off the wires; standards call for 7 complete turns around the pin. They also clip it to length. Avoid the Harris MCO & OK Industries ST-100. The OK Industries OK-3907 or Jonard JIC-4473 are better choices.

I get neater wraps with far fewer shiners and flags with our electric wrapping gun as opposed to our squeeze-grip guns (Plus I don't find myself popping Tylanol after I'm done with my orders if I use the electric gun) :thumb:

This is great !!
I have been retired for 16 years and I just found this site and it looks like I have another place to waste my time!!!
Every thread I read I relive all the good experiences I had in the OSP and Frame and Engineering.
I have had to ask some questions and you folks have been right on on the answers.

Thanks Again for the help.

This is probaly not the right place for this but it broght back some good thoughts!!

Bob

Bob:

Welcome aboard! We are glad to have some new people who can share their experience in the industry. Not just the current technology, but the older technology that seems to be becoming forgotten. There are many of us here who appreciate the original standards and you appear to be one of "us".

One thing to remember. You should check the original posting date of the last message when you reply. The "outside wire construction" category isn't very busy, so you may be jumping onto a thread that may be months-old. I do it all the time, so don't be embarassed.

Glad I found this thread, I've been looking for an unwrap tool as I've been having to remove a good number of DSX panels that are corroding away (They're located next to the ocean). Now at least I have some manufacturer names to go after.