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Irwin Self Adjusting Wire Stripper
- Thread starter marshak
- Start date
I think they reworked that tool and the quality isn’t there anymore. I bought one online and it won’t strip 12 gauge thnn. I contacted Irwin they sent me a link on how to adjust but still didn’t work so they sent me a new pair same problem. I noticed on Lowe’s they have 2 part numbers and one has great reviews and 1 has poor.
Ron Swanson
Well-known member
I bought that stripper last year at this time from amazon.
Its become my favorite set of strippers. I strip 22-8ga wires with no problems wiring tail lights and strobes on trucks at work.
The only time I use any of my other drastically more expensive strippers is when Im working in very tight quarters and cant fit them in.
The only gripe I have is the piece of insulation will fall back inside the tool and you need to tip it to the side for it to drop out before stripping the next wire.
If they added a hole for it to fall out on its own it would be perfect.
Its become my favorite set of strippers. I strip 22-8ga wires with no problems wiring tail lights and strobes on trucks at work.
The only time I use any of my other drastically more expensive strippers is when Im working in very tight quarters and cant fit them in.
The only gripe I have is the piece of insulation will fall back inside the tool and you need to tip it to the side for it to drop out before stripping the next wire.
If they added a hole for it to fall out on its own it would be perfect.
techieman33
Well-known member
I'm not a fan. But to be fair it's not really designed for a left handed person.
71goldss
Well-known member
I bought mine about 4 years ago and love mine. Only issue I’ve had recently is that the wire insulation has been staying in the strippers instead of falling out on it’s own. I’ve been having to tap the stripper on something (like the floor) to empty the tool before stripping the next wire. I hadn’t noticed thiis issue with previous uses. Still love them though!
fourjeepin
Well-known member
Great price. I bought mine several years ago. I think they are great for stranded wire, but I have trouble with romex. So much so that I won’t even try them with it anymore. Could be user error. If so, I’d love to know how to make them work cause they are the greatest with small wire.
Great price. I bought mine several years ago. I think they are great for stranded wire, but I have trouble with romex. So much so that I won’t even try them with it anymore. Could be user error. If so, I’d love to know how to make them work cause they are the greatest with small wire.
I'm not an electrician but I use it on the outer insulation then use regular wire strippers on the inner insulation. I have several different types of auto wire strippers and all excel at a few things and are useless for others. The Knipex/Felo auto strippers would work well on the inner insulation but the Irwin doesn't do well there.
Have been pretty happy with mine after a year or so. I agree on the waste getting caught in the innards. Have to tip it out of there. I have also found that on very slick insulation (not sure type) it will not grab and hold to strip. Does well on most wire though.
Ign
Well-known member
I agree don't really work on THHN. But my favorite strippers for most stranded wire in automotive applications
I'm not an electrician but I use it on the outer insulation then use regular wire strippers on the inner insulation. I have several different types of auto wire strippers and all excel at a few things and are useless for others. The Knipex/Felo auto strippers would work well on the inner insulation but the Irwin doesn't do well there.
If you do a lot of romex try these out no need to carry 2 strippers
https://www.zoro.com/ideal-wire-str...MI1eiWpY6M3wIVj8BkCh287wJEEAQYDiABEgKG1_D_BwE
If you do a lot of romex try these out no need to carry 2 strippers
https://www.zoro.com/ideal-wire-str...MI1eiWpY6M3wIVj8BkCh287wJEEAQYDiABEgKG1_D_BwE
How do those work for stripping off 9" of sheathing for cables going into boxes? Seems like it would be impossible?
Am I the only one that uses a "cable ripper"? So cheap, and so effective! I don't think it's possible to nick the wire insulation with one of these tools.
https://www.zoro.com/gardner-bender-cable-ripper-and-wire-gauge-4-cr-100/i/G6924902/
Personally, I use that ripper to cut about 9" of sheathing. Then, without removing the sheathing, feed the romex into the box, leaving 1/2" to 1" of uncut sheathing exposed in the box and then tighten the clamp. Then remove the sheathing which exposes the individual wires. Then I use the Irwin stripper to remove each wire's insulation.
Alexander
Well-known member
They appear to be the exact same as the Neiko wire strippers. They are only $11.04.
I can't post a link because I don't have enough posts, but they are Neiko 01924A on Amazon.
I own both the irwin and neiko pairs. For my needs they function the same and may very well be from the same manufacturer as you suggest. I'm very happy with both pairs, though I don't use them every day like an electrician might.
I do notice the insulation doesn't fall out sometimes, but it doesn't bother me. Some types of wires react differently, but once you get a feel for how to treat each one, they will usually perform just fine. I like being able to strip an outer jacket, and I love being able to strip multiple wires at once.
At the time I paid 13.99 for the neiko in august of 2017, and 12.08 for the irwins in february of 2018.
shteii01
Well-known member
Neiko: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IYTCG6/?tag=atomicindus08-20They appear to be the exact same as the Neiko wire strippers. They are only $11.04.
I can't post a link because I don't have enough posts, but they are Neiko 01924A on Amazon.
Capri: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01018CYV8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
joeysh03
Well-known member
I have the exact same ones at work and hate them, use them to strip 18g wire on lighting ballast. Work maybe half the time. Use to have an older pair of Ideal that worked perfect every time