Klein Katapult wire strippers..

[ADSR]

Anyone have these?

Review?

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

 

[joshuadavid04]

I have been eyeing them for months myself

 

[m33p0n3]

I just got a pair myself a few days ago, haven't had a chance to use them yet. I've used similar strippers in the past and they work pretty great as long as you get the wire in the correct size slot. Also makes a t splice really easy since it'll spread the insulation without risking cutting the wire.

 

[diesel research]

if they are the same, then yes. If they are not, then these are the ones you want

http://www.idealindustries.com/prod...pmaster_wire_stripper&div=3&l1=wire_strippers

(used them for as small as 28ga before)

 

[Holt]

I have the ideal version. Myself. They work great as long as you chooose correct hole for the wire. This is not a quick use stripped. If you choose a hole to small and you have standed wire you are taking some strands with you. I really want to get a front end stripped myself and I still like using the old fasion strippers.

 

[ATC]

How do those versions compare to the Irwin's? Are they supposed to be better or something?

 

[rockchucker]

Anyone have these?

Review?

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

I have the exact same as in the picture in your post. The site is down right now for some reason and the link is dead. I bought a set and my buddy saw them, he about lost his load. So I gave them to him as a gift then went out and bought another set.

I think they work very well to say the least. Of course if you don't get the right size wire in the hole they ****. Kind of a no brainer there. There is a reason you need to get the wire size right.


I would highly recommend them to buy. Although they are not compact and they don't really store well as they are pretty large. Regardless their performance is of high quality. I like them a lot.

I found them at Home Depot FWIW.

 

[nahuebsch82]

HAve to say I love these

 

[awdblazer]

have to also say i love them
use to use them on a daily basis as i was stripping cable for days and sure saved the hands from blisters

 

[SCscoutguy]

How do those versions compare to the Irwin's? Are they supposed to be better or something?

I had that exact pair from Irwin and they broke on me during a project so I went and bought the HF version to finish it and have been using them for years now and they work awesome.
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-self-adjusting-wire-stripper-36810.html

 

[KEH]

The design as shown by the op is great. I bought one of this type years ago, don't remember maker, and like it. Got another as a gift for SIL later from good local electronics supply house, don't remember maker either, but it was US made. He likes it also.

KEH

 

[flippin]

I purchased a set last fall. I do a tremendous amount of wiring work and was hoping they were going to be faster and more efficient. Unfortunately given that you have to carefully select the appropriate hole there is little time saved if any. I had an inexpensive pair of "automatic' wire strippers similar in design to the Vise-Grip pair and was hoping that these Kleins would be great. I ordered them online sight unseen and probably wouldn't have otherwise.

They are very well made as most Klein tools are but they are only marginally better than a good pair of conventional wire strippers. That said I am still on the lookout for a good pair of automatics which don't require specific slot placement.

 

[Roots]

Anyone have these?

I was given a pair of the Kleins a year or so ago, they're still in the original wrapper in a cabinet of spare tools that I have. They looked, like they were just an updated licensed copy of the Ideal model mentioned above, if that's true... they're simply amazing.

The Ideal model mentioned above has been the gold standard for industrial wiring for a long time. They're really appreciated when you're working in a panel, landing hundreds of wires. They also meet the specs for the termination manufacturers, which is critically important in certain industries. I keep about 3 of them in my wiring box (of different wiring sizes), and the more commonly used (10-12-14 model) in my general work tool bag.

How do those versions compare to the Irwin's? Are they supposed to be better or something?

Yes, they're better (specifically the Ideal model mentioned above). They've been out a long time before those automatic adjusting ones started being licensed by everyone for automotive electrical work. They're almost always aimed at automotive wiring and almost never sold by industrial supply houses, as I believe they don't meet the higher standards for wire stripping/terminations. If you look at the specs for the Ideal, they're within thousandths of a millimeter, for proper insulation stripping without damaging the conductor. In addition to them having different Blades for different types of insulation. The automatic kind, like the Irwins, will never have that level of precision. Which likely isn't needed for simple automotive wiring, but is required with many types of industrial wiring.

 

[pault28]

I have the ideal model and absolutely love it. It works really well. I will say since I am a lefty it took some time adjusting and holding it the right way. Instinctively I wanted to feed the wire in one way, but it was the wrong way with the cutter blade so I had to switch hands. I just wired my entire basement and it really was great and made for fast work of stripping and terminating everything in the boxes and main panel. I think that the combo drive screwdriver for electrical fittings and the ideal stripper were two of the more useful electrical tools I have bought.

 

[kngelv]

They are great for panel builders and anyone sitting at a bench. If you are working in the field they are way too finicky.

James

 

[RKA]

I have the katapults and love them, but as mentioned, for old eyes, lining up the wire in the correct hole can be a pita. I don't use it that often though, so I can't speak for longevity, but I trust Kleins will provide a decent service life.

 

[diesel research]

The HF ones similar to the above mentioned Irwins, ****!

The ideals work great in vehicle repair shop setting. Not at all difficult to identify proper hole.

 

[wait4me]

I used to do a lot of cable wiring on a consistent basis and used the ideal rg6 stripmasters which are nearly identical to what you've posted. Love them.

 

[fotoflojoe]

A buddy gave me a set of the HF version of what the OP posted. Hated 'em, they were sloppy as hell. After some research, I got a pair of Paladin Stripax Pro 6. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006BHCFO.
They're lightning fast to use and extremely accurate.

 

[Greatbear]

If they are indeed similar to Ideal strippers, they'd be excellent strippers. The Ideals cut the full circumference of the insulation which results in a very clean strip with all sorts of insulation types. Strippers like the Irwins pictured above "pinch off" the insulation then pull it free. This works for PVC insulated wire, but some of the higher temp wire with Teflon, silicone or textile overbraid tend to shred or not strip at all in the pinch-cut strippers. The Ideals are often used in aerospace industries, where they are very fussy about wire stripping and dressing.

 

[ADSR]

Found em on sale for 30 bucks. Based on the reviews here, i'll give them a shot.

Will report back.

Thanks guys.