{"id":3547,"date":"2026-10-26T12:50:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T04:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/?p=3547"},"modified":"2026-10-26T12:50:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T04:50:27","slug":"what-are-the-installation-tools-needed-for-special-industrial-cables-457c-3dea36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/26\/what-are-the-installation-tools-needed-for-special-industrial-cables-457c-3dea36\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the installation tools needed for special industrial cables?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone, if you\u2019re working with special industrial cables\u2014whether you\u2019re a plant maintenance lead, electrical contractor, or even a new engineer trying to wrap your head around why your last cable install went sideways\u2014you know these aren\u2019t the basic ethernet cords you run to your office printer. These cables are built for heavy stuff: extreme heat in a steel mill, toxic fumes in a chemical plant, deep submersion in wastewater treatment, or rugged vibrations in a mining site. And here\u2019s the tea: using the wrong installation tools doesn\u2019t just lead to messy cable runs\u2014it can void your cable warranty, cause unexpected downtime, or even put your team at risk. As someone who\u2019s been in the special industrial cable game for years, I\u2019ve seen it all (from a contractor using a butter knife to strip high-voltage armoured cable to a plant that skipped a core puller and messed up a $10k data cable). Today, I\u2019m breaking down the exact tools you actually need for different special industrial cable types\u2014no fluff, just real stuff that works. Special Industrial Cable<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s get one thing straight: not all special industrial cables are the same. I categorize them in my head based on what they\u2019re built to withstand, because that directly dictates what tools you can (and can\u2019t) use. There\u2019s armoured cable (AC), mineral-insulated copper-clad (MICC) cable, submersible cable, and high-temperature silicone rubber cable\u2014four of the most common ones my team supplies, and each has its own unique set of installation headaches. Let\u2019s go one by one, starting with armoured cable, which is probably the most requested from clients doing power runs in harsh industrial environments.<\/p>\n

Armoured cable has that thick steel (or sometimes aluminium) jacket around the conductors for physical protection. Trying to strip that jacket with a regular cable stripper? Don\u2019t do it. I\u2019ve seen someone snap a stripper blade in half and have to cut the entire armoured length with a hacksaw, which left burrs that scraped the inner insulation and caused a short a month later. The tool you need<\/em> here is a rotary armoured cable stripper. It\u2019s not as scary as it sounds\u2014you wrap it around the cable, twist it a few times, and it cuts through the armoured jacket cleanly without nicking the inner insulation. There are different sizes for different armoured cable diameters, so make sure you match it to the cable you\u2019re working with (check the cable spec sheet, that\u2019s non-negotiable). Also, for the inner insulation, a precision thermal stripper works way better than a manual one for small conductors\u2014no more crumpled insulation or uneven cuts that make terminating a pain later.<\/p>\n

Next up: MICC cable. This is the fire-resistant gold standard for places like server rooms, chemical plants, or even residential high-rises, since it can withstand 1000\u00b0C+ without melting. But stripping MICC is a whole beast. It has a magnesium oxide core, and if you damage that core during installation, the cable becomes useless. The go-to tool here is a dedicated MICC cable stripper, specifically designed to split the outer copper sheath and expose the ceramic-like core without cracking it. A lot of new installers try to use a hacksaw for MICC\u2014big mistake. Even a tiny crack in the magnesium oxide can let moisture in, leading to corrosion and total cable failure. If you\u2019re terminating MICC, you\u2019ll also need a crimping tool with a die set made for the special terminals MICC uses\u2014regular crimpers won\u2019t give you the tight, sealable connection you need. I always tell clients to rent the stripper if they\u2019re only doing a small job; buying one is a waste if you don\u2019t use it often, but never skip it.<\/p>\n

Now, submersible industrial cable\u2014used for pumps, wastewater treatment, and deep-water mining. These cables are built to keep water out, so any mistake during installation can lead to leaks inside the cable, even if you handled it correctly. The key tool here is a cable gland crimping kit with a waterproof sealant (usually a heat-shrink sleeve or silicone gel, but the crimping tool that applies the seal is non-negotiable). Wait, also a cable sealer tool, sometimes called a potting tool, which applies a waterproof compound to the end of the cable after stripping to make sure no water gets in. I once had a client install submersible cable without a sealer tool; within two weeks, the pump shorted and cost them $50k in downtime and repairs. Don\u2019t be that guy. Also, for running submersible cable through tight conduits (since you often have to snake it down wells), a cable puller with a lubricant made for industrial cable\u2014regular pulling lube can break down in water. The puller should be rated for the cable\u2019s weight, which is usually heavier than standard cables because they have extra insulation and armour.<\/p>\n

High-temperature silicone rubber cable is another big one, used in furnaces, kilns, and other places where standard cable would melt. Silicone insulation is soft and stretchy, so using a regular stripper can squish the insulation and expose conductors you don\u2019t want exposed. A silicone cable stripper has soft, rounded blades that cut through the silicone jacket without damaging the inner conductors. If you\u2019re terminating high-temperature cable, you\u2019ll also need a heat gun (obviously, since it\u2019s high-temp stuff) and heat-shrink tubing rated for high temperatures\u2014regular heat-shrink will shrink at too low a temp and not create a secure seal. Pro tip: never use a lighter to shrink the heat-shrink for these cables. The flame can leave carbon deposits on the silicone, which weakens the insulation over time. I see that mistake all the time, so save yourself the hassle and grab a heat gun rated for at least 200\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

Wait, there are a few tools that work for almost every special industrial cable type\u2014these are the \u201cworkhorses\u201d I keep in my van at all times, no matter what job I\u2019m on. First, a heavy-duty cable cutter, not the cheap one from your local hardware store. Special industrial cables are thicker, have armour, or heavy insulation, so a standard cutter will dull in five uses. Look for a cutter with replaceable blades, rated for at least 1000V, and able to handle the largest diameter cable you usually work with. Second, a cable tester. This isn\u2019t just the basic continuity tester\u2014get one that can test for voltage, insulation resistance, and even faults in armoured cables. A lot of installers skip this, but catching a fault right after installation is way cheaper than fixing it a month later, especially if that means shutting down a whole plant. Third, cable ties made of stainless steel, not nylon. Nylon breaks down in UV light, chemicals, and extreme temperatures\u2014stainless steel ties will hold up for years, even in harsh environments. I\u2019ve had clients tell me they thought stainless steel ties were overkill, until their nylon ties melted and their cable fell down in a chemical plant last summer.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about tools you don\u2019t<\/em> need\u2014because I\u2019ve wasted so much time and money on these. First, manual cable strippers for armoured or MICC cable. They just don\u2019t have the precision or power to avoid damaging the cable. Second, regular crimpers for high-voltage or submersible cable. Third, generic heat-shrink tubing for high-temp or submersible use. Fourth, butter knives, hacksaws, or any household tools\u2014yes, I\u2019ve seen all of these, and they never end well. The last thing I\u2019ll mention is training. Even if you have the right tools, if you don\u2019t know how to use them, you\u2019re going to mess up. Most industrial supply places (including us, when we sell cables) offer quick training sessions or guides on tool use\u2014take advantage of that. It\u2019s 30 minutes of your time that can save you thousands in downtime.<\/p>\n

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As a special industrial cable supplier, my goal isn\u2019t just to sell you a cable that works in your environment\u2014it\u2019s to make sure you install it correctly, so it lasts as long as it\u2019s supposed to, and keeps your team safe. I\u2019ve heard so many horror stories from clients who used the wrong tools and ended up dealing with way bigger problems than they needed to. If you\u2019re not sure which tools you need for your specific cable, or if you need help sizing up tools for your next job, hit me up for a chat. Whether you\u2019re a small contractor needing a rental or a plant lead looking to build out your tool kit, I can point you in the right direction. Don\u2019t risk your cable, your time, or your money on bad tools\u2014let\u2019s get this install right.<\/p>\n

Reeling Cables<\/a> References<\/p>\n

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  1. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standard WC 1-2019: Standard for Industrial Control and Power Cables.<\/li>\n
  2. International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard 60227: Insulated Cables for Rated Voltages Up to and Including 450\/750 V.<\/li>\n
  3. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 1581: Reference Standard for Electrical Wires, Cables, and Flexible Cords.<\/li>\n
  4. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard 1910.305: Electrical Systems – Installation and Use.<\/li>\n
  5. Special Cable Council (SCC) Installation Best Practices Guide for Harsh Environment Cables, 2022.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Huayu Cable Group Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional special industrial cable manufacturers and suppliers in China, we are committed to providing high quality custom service and OEM&ODM service to global clients. Please rest assured to wholesale bulk durable special industrial cable made in China here from our factory.
    Address: High-tech industrial Zone, Wuwei, Wuhu City, Anhui, China
    E-mail: sales@huayucablegroup.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.huayucablegroup.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey everyone, if you\u2019re working with special industrial cables\u2014whether you\u2019re a plant maintenance lead, electrical contractor, … What are the installation tools needed for special industrial cables?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":850,"featured_media":3547,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3510],"class_list":["post-3547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-special-industrial-cable-47ee-3f3fa7"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/850"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.niranjanahandicraft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}