Gather the necessary tools and materials, such as fiber optic strippers, cleavers, polishers, and connectors. Ensure that you have a clean, dust-free work area. What happens if you damage the fiber during this production step? A tiny scratch or nick in the optical fiber is like a time bomb. Step 1: Mark the armor (if the cable has armor) with the tip of your knife to note a length sufficient to expose the cable's ripcord, being careful not to go through the armor and cut the ripcords. In our continuing discussion of installing FO cables, let's use a step-by-step approach in detailing how to strip and clean indoor and. Stripping and preparing fibre optic cables for termination is a critical step in the installation and maintenance of fibre optic networks.