Automatic Wire Stripper suggestions?

djcrunkmix · May 21, 2011

Hey guys,

I have been researching a lot from past week or so to invest in a nice pair of automatic wire strippers (10 to 28 AWG). It could be self-adjusting or not, doesn't concern me. Looking for a high quality since its going to be a long term investment

So for I've found these:
Any recommendations?

Paladin

Wiha

Klein

shampoop · May 21, 2011

I have the super cheap harbor freight ones.http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-self-adjusting-wire-stripper-36810.html
There probably aren't many that are worse, yet it still works awesome. You have to get the correct "feel" for it, but once you do it's very easy and consistent. I could only imagine all of those would be much better. I say go with whatever is most versatile for the best price.

DHCrocks · May 21, 2011

I have an Ideal that is similar the the Klein one pictured. I like it, easy to use and it's been reliable. it's good in tight spots where you only have a little bit of wire sticking out, you don't need much room to work it. I think the range is only from 10ga-22ga though.

Solid Lifters · May 21, 2011

I have a Knipex. Works great for the wire it's rated for. Past that, it gets difficult to use with bad results.

Monte · May 21, 2011

Jokari www.jokari.de

Knipex

Weicon www.weicon.de

i heard the Snap-On stripper is good too

Weidmüller

Pressmaster www.pressmaster.se

"Xcelite"

"Gedore"

bobcatdan · May 21, 2011

Ideal makes a nice USA made one, got it from menards for around $25, sears had it in store too. Works very good. I also have one like Monte posted, like the weicon, I got from mac. Works good in tight spots.

diesel research · May 21, 2011

I have the orange HF shampoop has. It *****. At first it was ok. Eventually it seemed to slip instead of bite, even when adjusted. Finally, the linkage on the back side fell off.

I used to use those orange/blue SG Toolaid ones that everybody relabels (one of them came off the snapon truck) They were never too great and often bit into fine strand wire.

I've about given up, and considering going back to manual strippers. Maybe Ideal.

sawatch · May 21, 2011

I was looking for a pair too and a member offered the Ideal unit [like the Klien above]with the 10-20something blade, brand new for $25 shipped. I jumped on it. My electrician buddy uses Idel but the $100+ models.

Avgas · May 21, 2011

Ideal stripmaster, used throughout the aviation field.

NOZZLEMAN · May 21, 2011

Ideal stripmaster... i've used it for years stripping wires for Weatherpack and Deutsh electrical connectors that are finacy about having a square cut on the insulation... never a problem

nperkins · May 21, 2011

i've used the Knipex & the Snap Ons... And I LOVE my kleins...

And for thick stuff... I have one of these puppies (But not the Snap On Brand)

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=hand&item_ID=7218&group_ID=798&store=&dir=catalog

diesel research · May 21, 2011

nperkins said:
And for thick stuff... I have one of these puppies (But not the Snap On Brand)

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=hand&item_ID=7218&group_ID=798&store=&dir=catalog

I am a hack....

jesko10 · May 21, 2011

That should work too!

Roots · May 21, 2011

jesko10 said:
That should work too!

Some wiring and equipment are far too sensitive for that.

The Ideal/Klein wire strippers are basically the gold standard. The heads are exchangable as well, for various wire sizes.

I've personally never used the pistol grip style strippers.

cheap bastard · May 21, 2011

I have an Ideal set now. they work very well. My old Paladins were wonderful to use, though. They were lost a couple years ago. Should I ever find myself needing strippers to make a living again, the Paladins will be replaced.

shampoop · May 21, 2011

diesel research said:
I have the orange HF shampoop has. It *****. At first it was ok. Eventually it seemed to slip instead of bite, even when adjusted. Finally, the linkage on the back side fell off.

I used to use those orange/blue SG Toolaid ones that everybody relabels (one of them came off the snapon truck) They were never too great and often bit into fine strand wire.

I've about given up, and considering going back to manual strippers. Maybe Ideal.

Hmm, good to know. Maybe I'll pick up a set of the kleins that everyone seems to like so much before my HF ones take a dump. I rarely ever use them at work, so they only see pretty light duty use on my personal cars and audio stuff.

edit: What's the difference between these 2 auto stripping kleins?

11062
http://www.service.kleintools.com/T... STRIPPERS-WIRESTRIP-AUTOSTRPSS/Product/11062

11063
http://www.service.kleintools.com/T... STRIPPERS-WIRESTRIP-AUTOSTRPSS/Product/11063

nperkins · May 21, 2011

one set is a little bit bigger and will do 8-22ga vs 10-22ga

diesel research · May 21, 2011

Roots said:
Some wiring and equipment are far too sensitive for that.

The Ideal/Klein wire strippers are basically the gold standard. The heads are exchangable as well, for various wire sizes.

I've personally never used the pistol grip style strippers.

I was responding to someone who was talking about larger cables. That would be your starting/charging cables.

I have yet to meet the typical battery cable (6ga-0000) that is far too sensitive for the ol' stanley (as opposed to the snappy special tool listed) Hence my admission I am a hack for skinning battery cable with a box cutter.

______________________
Shampoop, I splice everyday since almost all of our lights are hardwired into vehicle w/o any connectors. Not to mention wiring harness damage. 14-18ga

nate379 · May 21, 2011

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/...6998/Top-Quality-Automatic-Wire-Stripper.html

I have something kinda like that. Bought at KMart close to 20 years ago, for around $15 and it's one of the most used tools I own. Will strip anything from thin 20-22 gauge auto wire up to 10 gauge house wire. I used a knife for the other bigger stuff (big house wiring, battery cables, etc) It's not all that often I have to deal with those so it wouldn't make sense to buy a special tool for it.

diesel research · May 21, 2011

nate379 said:
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/...6998/Top-Quality-Automatic-Wire-Stripper.html

I have something kinda like that. Bought at KMart close to 20 years ago, for around $15 and it's one of the most used tools I own. Will strip anything from thin 20-22 gauge auto wire up to 10 gauge house wire. I used a knife for the other bigger stuff (big house wiring, battery cables, etc) It's not all that often I have to deal with those so it wouldn't make sense to buy a special tool for it.

Looks very similar to the one I am complaining about. Does it have some kind of link on the backside held in place with a ball?

shampoop · May 21, 2011

Also, just remembered, the crimpers and cutting edge on my HF stripper do ****, but then again, all of the stamped steel ones i've used **** just as bad. Which is why I am getting one of these for my crimping duties.

http://www.tooltopia.com/channellock-909.aspx
http://www.tooltopia.com/channellock-909cb.aspx

djcrunkmix · May 21, 2011

Seems like most people like Klein although I was looking for something made in Germany

. I have TONS of Wiha screwdrivers and I can attest - its good stuff.

The Wiha stripper from an Amazon.com review says it makes a loud "pop" sound.

jesko10 · May 21, 2011

djcrunkmix said:
Seems like most people like Klein although I was looking for something made in Germany .

In all companies I worked so far, the electricians used Weidmüller. I have one too. Works great.

07Forester · May 21, 2011

jride200 · May 21, 2011

Avgas said:
Ideal stripmaster, used throughout the aviation field.

Indeed used throughout the aviation field, but often a special version of the stripmaster... For teflon-type insulation (Tefzel), you'd better have a set of these: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=7204&group_ID=796&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog. They're super expensive, and, although some in aviation will argue that other strippers can be substituted, they are the best--and only correct--tool for the job. They're interesting strippers as they don't have any cutting edges to speak of, rather they have dies which "smash" then push away the insulation. They work beautifully.

Crasen · May 21, 2011

We use the Ideal stripmasters at work and they work great with everyday use for a few years, they typically will break after 2-3 years. We have found the type of strippers linked earlier http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/...6998/Top-Quality-Automatic-Wire-Stripper.html to be great for stripping the outer jacket off of multi-
conductor while leaving the rest of te insulation untouched. But they do not seem to work well on individual wires.

JustBob · May 21, 2011

djcrunkmix said:
Seems like most people like Klein although I was looking for something made in Germany . I have TONS of Wiha screwdrivers and I can attest - its good stuff.

The Wiha stripper from an Amazon.com review says it makes a loud "pop" sound.

Here is a german made set of auto strippers from Knipex, same style as the Ideal Stripmasters and the Klein auto strippers

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=groups&groupID=1363

Here is another recent thread about wire strippers...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95311

kab00m · May 21, 2011

I use the Ideal Stripmaster. No complaints.

Appleyard · May 21, 2011

07Forester said:

+1 those look exactly like the pair I got from Matco. Rebranded I imagine. They work extremely well though.

nperkins · May 22, 2011

07Forester said:

I used these for awhile.. They work great when new, but not once they start getting worn in (250-500 strips in)..

diesel research · May 22, 2011

shampoop said:
Also, just remembered, the crimpers and cutting edge on my HF stripper do ****, but then again, all of the stamped steel ones i've used **** just as bad. Which is why I am getting one of these for my crimping duties.

http://www.tooltopia.com/channellock-909.aspx

Mine arrived on my doorstep friday morning, and by friday night I had made my first uninsulated crimps with them. Very much better than me previously using the wrong tools.

That is really a separate topic though.

No, those blue and orange ones are NOT awesome. Been there, done that, as previously mentioned.

Krokodil · May 22, 2011

Thomas & Betts

domain · May 22, 2011

+1 For the Ideal Stripmaster. I have had a set for a few years and LOVE those things. So simply to use and strip wires great!

Avgas · May 22, 2011

jride200 said:
Indeed used throughout the aviation field, but often a special version of the stripmaster... For teflon-type insulation (Tefzel), you'd better have a set of these: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=7204&group_ID=796&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog. They're super expensive, and, although some in aviation will argue that other strippers can be substituted, they are the best--and only correct--tool for the job. They're interesting strippers as they don't have any cutting edges to speak of, rather they have dies which "smash" then push away the insulation. They work beautifully.

Thanks for that info jride, although the company I work for supplies calibrated strippers and crimpers, I am looking to get a set of my own, I'll keep that in mind.

07Forester · May 22, 2011

nperkins said:
I used these for awhile.. They work great when new, but not once they start getting worn in (250-500 strips in)..

The sets I have have seen ATLEAST 10,000 strips a each and still work like new.

tradesmanschoice · May 22, 2011

I've done a lot of testing on wire strippers. The two I can recommend are the ideal stripmaster and the Weicon Super No.5.

http://www.tradesmanschoice.com/catalog/Weicon/No.5.html

The weicon is exactly the same design as snap-on, jokari etc - tried and tested. I've also tested many much more expensive ones such as weidmuller stripax etc and found them to be inferior to these two.

Mark.

JustBob · May 22, 2011

jride200 said:
Indeed used throughout the aviation field, but often a special version of the stripmaster... For teflon-type insulation (Tefzel), you'd better have a set of these: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=7204&group_ID=796&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog. They're super expensive, and, although some in aviation will argue that other strippers can be substituted, they are the best--and only correct--tool for the job. They're interesting strippers as they don't have any cutting edges to speak of, rather they have dies which "smash" then push away the insulation. They work beautifully.

Ideal makes the auto strippers for SnapOn, the model you quoted is an Ideal Stripmaster 45-177, found here...

http://www.idealindustries.com/prodDetail.do?prodId=45-177&div=6&l1=hand_tools&l1b=&l2=custom_stripmaster

The 45-177 custom teflon strippers can be purchased online for less than $200, often as low as $150, whereas SnapOn charges $229. Ideal has a pretty large selection of Custom Stripmasters...

http://www.idealindustries.com/products/wire_processing/hand_tools/custom_stripmaster.jsp

Rye425 · May 22, 2011

Automatic strippers...pfftt

I like my strippers like I like my cars, manual

tradesmanschoice · May 23, 2011

Rye425 said:
Automatic strippers...pfftt

I like my strippers like I like my cars, manual

Which manual strippers do you like best?

Automatic Wire Stripper suggestions?

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