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Reviews For: DX Engineering DXE-UT-808X Stripping Tool for RG-8X

Category: Tools & Test Equipment for the amateur radio work bench

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Review Summary For : DX Engineering DXE-UT-808X Stripping Tool for RG-8X
Reviews: 4MSRP: 42.95
Description:
Tool to Remove Outer Jacket and Center Dielectric in Preparation of RG-8X for Connector Installation
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.dxengineering.com/search/department/tools-and-supplies/part-type/coaxial-cable-prep-tools/product-line/dx-engineering-coax-cable-stripping-tools/strips-cable-type/rg-8x?autoview=SKU
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0044
KD6CCP Rating: 2020-05-19
How did I live without it. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I thought anyone buying a coax prep tool was just throwing their money away. For decades I used a razor blade, wire cutters, ruler pliers etc. Well I thought might as well try one as I have a lot of jumpers to make. Order one and within a few days it arrived. So I made a few jumpers and broke out this funny looking tool. Read the instructions and tried it. Stuck the coax in one end made a few twists then the other end. Pulled it out and a perfectly cut section of coax appeared. Popped on a connector which fit perfectly. No fray wires no cut copper perfect. So I went on to make all new connectors on everything because it was just the easy and fun, like I had my own factory.

I can’t say enough about this little gem. Wish I would have bought one years ago. Try one your going to be impressed!
K0REX Rating: 2020-03-10
Easier than stripping coax by hand. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I found this tool easy to use when I followed the youtube video instructions on the website. Very little force is needed. I did not have the trouble mentioned by the previous reviewers.

I also own the tool for the RG-8/213 coax.
AA7LX Rating: 2016-07-12
Tried And Tried but Needs Re-Design Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I love DX Engineering... However, the DXE-UT-808X didn't work for me. I have returned this product. Before I purchased this item, I read the previous review. I tried and tried but, the poor DX-8X Cable really got messed up. It took much time to clean-up the DX-8X cable after using the DXE-UT-808X before putting on the PL-259. I've been putting on PL-259's manually and by the book for 25 years. I really wanted this tool to work! Recommend re-design both ends of this tool for RG-8X/DXE-8X. Yes, I was disappointed!
KQ6EA Rating: 2013-10-19
GREAT, but requires learning Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a pretty neat tool, and now that I've learned how to use it, I like it even better.

The amount of "push" you use when inserting the coax as you turn the tool is CRITICAL to getting a good, clean cut.

I picked it up right away when stripping the jacket, but it took more than a few failures to get the "feel" needed to strip the dielectric properly.

When doing the "1st Cut", you have to apply enough "push" on the coax (or tool, depending on your viewpoint) to make the tool "feel" like it's threading itself onto the coax. When you have this amount of "push" correct, it magically strips the coax jacket off clean and square every time, without twisting up or otherwise mangling the shield braid.

The "2nd Cut" is of the dielectric, and two things are important here.

First, make sure the tool is clean! I check mine after every strip, and make sure no little bits of dielectric material or other material is jammed in between the blade and the housing. If foreign material is in there, the dielectric will not feed properly into the cutting blade, and the tool will not cut the dielectric cleanly.

The second is the amount of "push" you apply as you feed the coax into the tool and turn it. I push the dielectric into the tool until I feel it stop, and then back off, relieving the "springyness" that the foam dielectric has. Then I apply a slight amount of pressure, and start turning the tool, watching through the slot in the housing to see how the cutting is progressing.

Don't use too much "push" doing either the 1st or 2nd cuts!

Let the tool feed itself onto the coax with just a bit of assistance for the "push" you give it.

Be prepared to ruin your first few strips (especially the 2nd cut of the dielectric) until you get a feel for this tool, but once you "get it", it makes stripping RG-8X a breeze.