Whoa. You can get a thermal wire stripper from eBay in good used condition for around $100 that should do the trick as well.
Home Depot has 8-20 AWG Solid /10-22 AWG Stranded wire stripper for $30. I've used this and older version for years and no problems they are both like new. This newer one has wire cutter in the center.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Katapult-Wire-Stripper-and-Cutter-for-8-20-AWG-Solid-and-10-22-AWG-Stranded-Wire-11063W/204660476?MERCH=REC-_-PLP_Browse-_-NA-_-204660476-_-N&I just completed my GR cable build with spade/banana connectors and ended up using the Vise-Grip Wire Stripping Tool/Wire Cutter, 8-Inch (2078309) amazon $10.98
https://www.amazon.com/VISE-GRIP-Stripping-Cutter-8-Inch-2078309/dp/B095KJV33D/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=irwin%2Bwire%2Bstripper&qid=1626632564&sr=8-3&th=1.
Because with the Klein auto stripper (same as the Ideal but 1/8th the cost) I started cutting the odd strand. On the Irwin I ended up using the smallest hole to just cut the insulation with one squeeze on the handles, then I used the next smallest hole #18 to push the insulation off. Sometimes I would do the pushing with a thumb nail.
As much as I absolutely appreciate the build attention to detail and photos here by Rock Ball I stuck with GR's recommendation on the 24-strand cable to simply grab the first 6 conductors to insert them into the connector, rather than separate out the larger individual strands. Doing the separation does give a nicer build for sure, but that's where I drew the line.
The spade connectors have a slightly larger hole that the bananas or tubes. I was able to spiral all 24-conductors together, then after soldering used the knarly teeth on electricians pliers to gently taper the end, clip to the right length, insert, crimp and final solder.
The bananas came with single set-screws. I tossed these and used solder to fill - this seems to work nicely. To do this again I would insert 9 conductors instead of 6, and wrap the remaining 3, as I believe 8 or 9 conductors will fit snugly. As discussed above I also ran out of solder, fortunately I had some Cardas on hand which is likely the same stuff. Cardas Soldering Wire Quad Eutectic Silver Solder with rosin flux 1/4 lbs $32 at Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Cardas-Soldering-Eutectic-Silver-Solder/dp/B015X68HXW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwos-HBhB3EiwAe4xM9xnMsUSEmOZJqsfo0iXTqUHdRZiKgJXqInzTzvxlUnJX8V_CklAqmBoC79cQAvD_BwE&hvadid=410003278523&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9032587&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2556977277036610102&hvtargid=kwd-3660914565&hydadcr=24662_11410883&keywords=cardas+solder&qid=1626635814&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A1O44Z2C3OZAM9&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFTVFYySzhSTldFVDQmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxODkxMTkyS0pRNTZRTVRQWkIzJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0ODgxNzIxVEZRUTdQVDVCTUlLJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==I am not sure why, but unlike Danny's video where the ESR tape wrapped around the cable more than once, mine barely went around once. I assume I should have wrapped it past where the rope ended where the overall diameter is smaller. I wonder what the impact might be on RFI/EMI and if I need to move it. I just bought a Rigol DS1054X scope and am very curious if it can measure the differences.
I had the same problem covered above with the heat shrink tube barely fitting over the joints. I did not resort to lube but it took a lot of coaxing.
At the end of the day if I were to do it again I would probably go with the 16-strand. With 16-strands they would all fit into the connectors. No doubt going with the 24-strand is an expression of my own OCD
I do have a 12-ft cables (closer to 11'-1" with large cotton rope installed) and what I understand is a high-current speaker/amp setup, but I bet the 16-strand would be fine.
Total time spent was 3 hours on the first cable and and 2 on the second. After this learning curve I reckon I could do them both in under 2 hours the next time
