theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Recommend a wire stripper for 20AWG - 26AWG.
Small gauge wire strippers
- Thread starter theoldwizard1
- Start date
RTM
Well-known member
Single job, or a commercial sized quantity?
OP
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
dnschmidt
Well-known member
HF makes an exact copy of a very good Snap-On stripper: https://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-wire-stripper-cutter-and-crimper-70592.html Works like a charm. Only goes up to 24 AWG. Finer than 24 gauge is harder to find. Ideal makes a stripmaster that goes to 26 gauge but considering that you're the Old Wizard it might be out of your price range. https://www.amazon.com/Ideal-Indust...-Stripper/dp/B000RFSWF8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
mgeoffriau
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 10, 2012
- Messages
- 81
I got these Milwaukee low voltage wire strippers a while ago when I had the need. They are just fine, quality seems comparable to my Irwin strippers. 20-32 AWG.
bwringer
Well-known member
Would a thermal wire stripper work? That's what is often used in actual production work with very thin stranded wire. By melting a small segment of the insulation, there's no chance of cutting the strands.
Like so:
I have no idea how this Jokari device works, but it strips down to 36AWG:
Like so:
I have no idea how this Jokari device works, but it strips down to 36AWG:
Wamsutta
Well-known member
KLEIN 11057
Wamsutta
Well-known member
WILLIAMS 23535
(picture shown is the 23533 version)
(picture shown is the 23533 version)
Den69rs96
Well-known member
I have these capri wire strippers. They also sell different size dies for different gauges
Brownsfan
Well-known member
This is the one I use. Daily. No complaints. Works well and decent priceKLEIN 11057
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
Klein ^^^
cbracer
Well-known member
Get the best, stainless steel will last so much longer
Or a nice set of these:
I use both regularly
Or a nice set of these:
I use both regularly
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The Williams is the same as an Imperial IE-159.
Imperial Tools is the manufacturer and they do a lot of private label stuff for other brands.
I have a pair of Craftsman branded Imperials that I got from Sears before they went out of business.
Imperial makes very nice pliers. You guys might remember Milbar safety wire pliers. Another Imperial made brand.
Imperial Tools is the manufacturer and they do a lot of private label stuff for other brands.
I have a pair of Craftsman branded Imperials that I got from Sears before they went out of business.
Imperial makes very nice pliers. You guys might remember Milbar safety wire pliers. Another Imperial made brand.
OP
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I can not find the different size dies.
signcrafter
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 9, 2012
- Messages
- 12,683
I just clicked on the link in the post you quoted and scrolled down and it shows 6 dies available to purchase.
Last edited:
rooster59
Well-known member
These are both excellent. Ideal Industries 16-26g stranded and Harbor Freight 14-24g
OP
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I bought these and the 16 to 26 AWG blades. I will let you know how well they work.
Why will stainless steel last longer?
cbracer
Well-known member
good question. I can say from experience they have lasted much longer and I use both types stripping wires for work often. One reason is resistance to corrosion which I experience in my travel tool bag that goes on planes all the time. Every tool gets some rust even inside the pelican travel case with all of my trips. But I still use them in my office in the tool drawer that doesn't travel and they keep sharp longer.
From google likely from the manufacturer:
High-grade stainless steel maintains its structural integrity and sharp edges through thousands of repetitive stripping and cutting cycles without warping or wearing down as fast as softer standard steel
But I posted both stainless and non stainless, but I've had to replace the non stainless once and not yet replaced the stainless one over my 8 years of use. It's easy to see the wear on the non-stainless because the black oxide coating comes off quickly. Then the edge gets dull and that's easy to see when cutting tiny stranded wire.
From google likely from the manufacturer:
High-grade stainless steel maintains its structural integrity and sharp edges through thousands of repetitive stripping and cutting cycles without warping or wearing down as fast as softer standard steel
But I posted both stainless and non stainless, but I've had to replace the non stainless once and not yet replaced the stainless one over my 8 years of use. It's easy to see the wear on the non-stainless because the black oxide coating comes off quickly. Then the edge gets dull and that's easy to see when cutting tiny stranded wire.
OP
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I just got them and have tried them on a few small gauge wires and ...
I LIKE THEM !
Of course the reason I like them is probably the reason many people will NOT like them ! They are NOT automatic ! This means you need to choose the proper size hole in the die when stripping !
I have NOT received the smaller dies yet so it fails to strip 24AWG.
The one thing I don't like about them is they are quite bulky so they take up a fair mount of room in my tool box drawer.
Attachments
KnurledNut
Well-known member
I have a small toolbag set up for electronics, appliances, tool maintenance and other small product repairs.
I replaced two individual strippers with the Klein 1019 as they strip and crimp a wide range of sizes.
I also really like the cushiony grips and the lack of a spring which I often find annoying more than helpful on smaller wires.
https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/...n-kurve-wire-strippercrimpercutter-multi-tool
I replaced two individual strippers with the Klein 1019 as they strip and crimp a wide range of sizes.
I also really like the cushiony grips and the lack of a spring which I often find annoying more than helpful on smaller wires.
https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/...n-kurve-wire-strippercrimpercutter-multi-tool
OP
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I actually have 2 sets of the old style Ideal T-strippers (straight handles, no spring) plus the Ideal 30-428 combination stripper, crimper machine screw cutter.I have a small toolbag set up for electronics, appliances, tool maintenance and other small product repairs.
I replaced two individual strippers with the Klein 1019 as they strip and crimp a wide range of sizes.
I also really like the cushiony grips and the lack of a spring which I often find annoying more than helpful on smaller wires.
https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/...n-kurve-wire-strippercrimpercutter-multi-tool
I might retire one set for these !
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
I have the Klein for residential (normal) wire, and the same basic model with fine gauge wire cut outs instead of the larger ones. Makes it easy to use and muscle memory is nice.
gtae07
Well-known member
I have a couple of these between my house and the hangar. They work very well on smaller wire gauges and I much prefer them over pliers-style strippers.
I just got them and have tried them on a few small gauge wires and ...
I LIKE THEM !
Of course the reason I like them is probably the reason many people will NOT like them ! They are NOT automatic ! This means you need to choose the proper size hole in the die when stripping !
I have NOT received the smaller dies yet so it fails to strip 24AWG.
The one thing I don't like about them is they are quite bulky so they take up a fair mount of room in my tool box drawer.
How come you don’t like the automatic ones? I have the HF automatic stripper and it’s been fantastic for me
I just got them and have tried them on a few small gauge wires and ...
I LIKE THEM !
Of course the reason I like them is probably the reason many people will NOT like them ! They are NOT automatic ! This means you need to choose the proper size hole in the die when stripping !
I have NOT received the smaller dies yet so it fails to strip 24AWG.
The one thing I don't like about them is they are quite bulky so they take up a fair mount of room in my tool box drawer.
Torque&Recoil
Well-known member
No, no, no. I think I have about 8 pairs of wire strippers. The best performing ones do not "look" the best. But they do the best job of stripping small gauge wire. These. Made by Ideal. Trust me on this.
bandc.com
Ideal Stripmaster 45-097 - B&C Specialty Products
The Ideal Stripmaster® 45-097 features a die-cast frame, precision-sharpened knifetype blades, and a smooth spring-action motion. For use with 16-26 AWG wire. This is the tool of choice in our shop for clean, accurate work with Tefzel® wire. USA made. The L-5290 Adjustable Wire Stop is a...
bandc.com
We used Stripmasters in the Navy in my avionics shop and they're still widely used at avionics Depot repair (Navy FRC). They have dies for Tefzel, which says how highly regarded they are for aerospace work. I still have my first set from the 90s still cutting nicely. Ideal also makes the T Stripper which IMHO is a lot more reliable and the current plier styles out there.No, no, no. I think I have about 8 pairs of wire strippers. The best performing ones do not "look" the best. But they do the best job of stripping small gauge wire. These. Made by Ideal. Trust me on this.
Ideal Stripmaster 45-097 - B&C Specialty Products
The Ideal Stripmaster® 45-097 features a die-cast frame, precision-sharpened knifetype blades, and a smooth spring-action motion. For use with 16-26 AWG wire. This is the tool of choice in our shop for clean, accurate work with Tefzel® wire. USA made. The L-5290 Adjustable Wire Stop is a...
The Tefzel dies make them pretty expensive. I think it was around $250 for my tefzel stripmaster. Works perfect though. In fact, its the only stripers I found that works well on Tefzel. Once you start screwing with aerospace wire you notice that stripper hole diameters are really just taking a shot in the dark until they are made for the exact wire you are stripping. This is probably why different people come up with different opinions on the same model strippers. If they aren't using the same wire, performance will change.
OP
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Automatic stripper work fine up to about 18AWG. I don't trust the on stranded wire above 20AWH.
OP
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Which cane first ? The chicken or the egg ,?No, no, no. I think I have about 8 pairs of wire strippers. The best performing ones do not "look" the best. But they do the best job of stripping small gauge wire. These. Made by Ideal. Trust me on this.
Ideal Stripmaster 45-097 - B&C Specialty Products
The Ideal Stripmaster® 45-097 features a die-cast frame, precision-sharpened knifetype blades, and a smooth spring-action motion. For use with 16-26 AWG wire. This is the tool of choice in our shop for clean, accurate work with Tefzel® wire. USA made. The L-5290 Adjustable Wire Stop is a...
The Capri 20010 look like a straight knock off of the Stripmaste 45-097 !
Designed by Stuart Wood in 1915. Rights acquired by Ideal following WW2.
Not something I already knew, but your question made me curious to look into if Ideal did actually invent it and when.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
For solid wire I use my Klein snips, they have notches for 22 and 24 gauge. For stranded I have a few pairs of these https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/combination-cutting-tools/wire-strippercutter-16-26-awg-stranded
cbracer
Well-known member
For automatic strippers, I prefer this:
www.buydeutsch.com
EMBLA VBC - Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper - 12-28 AWG - V Blade
The Embla is a self-adjusting stripping and cutting tool for a wide variety of insulated wires and cables. This includes PVC and PTFE insulations, power wire, equipment wire, and communications cables. It is sold including a stripping and cutting cassette with a specific AWG range, and other...
www.buydeutsch.com
I agree with this. I have some Klein automatic ones and they work perfectly for very small wires.