Twisting wires for wirenuts

[ollie76]

Hello all,

I was wondering what you guys usually do when you pre-twist your solid wires in preparation for installing a wirenut?

Every time I have ever done this, I nick the **** out of the ends of the bare conductors with the lineman pliers. The grip on the pliers is pretty aggressive and it damages the conductors no matter how careful I am. Do you guys strip an extra long length, cut the marred up ends off to length, and then attach the wirenut? Or do you just put the wirenut over the wires and go for it?

Am I being too picky?

 

[Zeke]

Twist up an inch using 1/2 " for grabbing and cut that part off when finished twisting.

I have been thinking about grinding a smooth concave groove along the long way of the nose of some 9 inch pliers for twisting only. Still need to trim the ends even.

 

[Beemer533]

Twist up an inch using 1/2 " for grabbing and cut that part off when finished twisting.

I have been thinking about grinding a smooth concave groove along the long way of the nose of some 9 inch pliers for twisting only. Still need to trim the ends even.

This is what I do, works well.

I like the groove idea though.. I might be stealing that

 

[188slo50]

Twist up an inch using 1/2 " for grabbing and cut that part off when finished twisting.

I have been thinking about grinding a smooth concave groove along the long way of the nose of some 9 inch pliers for twisting only. Still need to trim the ends even.

This way has worked for me for years. I did my linemen pliers this way with my Dremel a few yrs back and seems to of gotten easier the more you do.

 

[ollie76]

Dammit I should have said this in my first post but I gave you too much credit I guess.

We are NOT debating the pre-twist vs. no twist argument on this thread. That has been done at least 1000 times on this forum and we're not getting into it here. Next thing you know we will be talking about putting electrical tape around the nuts......and then the next thing you know we're arguing over soldered vs. crimp connections. And so it goes....

This thread is for people who DO pre-twist wires before installing wire nuts and only them. If you do not pre-twist, then I don't want to hear from you and do not reply.

 

[gasaxeman]

I strip long, twist em up and trim back before putting wire nut on.
I do the same for solid or stranded.
Been doing it this way for a long time.

 

[sberry]

The little nicks you give it wont mean much. I get more concerned about cuts around it from strip tools.

 

[larry_g]

Didja ever remove the nut and look at all the nicks in the wire from the metal insert in the nut?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Zeke]

Dammit I should have said this in my first post but I gave you too much credit I guess.

We are NOT debating the pre-twist vs. no twist argument on this thread. That has been done at least 1000 times on this forum and we're not getting into it here. Next thing you know we will be talking about putting electrical tape around the nuts......and then the next thing you know we're arguing over soldered vs. crimp connections. And so it goes....

This thread is for people who DO pre-twist wires before installing wire nuts and only them. If you do not pre-twist, then I don't want to hear from you and do not reply.

Must have been some deleted posts before I came back to this. Poor ol' Ollie is all twisted up.

 

[Mustang51js]

I twist and pull away at same time, then cut the end even

 

[Elmo4895]

I just twist and cut even on the ends. A few scratches Will not hurt anything. Been doing it this way since 1965 and never a problem!

 

[ollie76]

Didja ever remove the nut and look at all the nicks in the wire from the metal insert in the nut?

lg
no neat sig line

I have noticed that many times. Kinda why I was asking if I'm being too picky. Good info here though

 

[Todd.Brock]

I strip , twist with linesmen and then cut ends flush and then wire nut. HD

 

[Zeke]

Didja ever remove the nut and look at all the nicks in the wire from the metal insert in the nut?

lg
no neat sig line

Two wrongs never made a right. Seriously, the grooves the nuts make are intended and have been tested. Not so much for your galling of the wires.

 

[Elmo4895]

Two wrongs never made a right. Seriously, the grooves the nuts make are intended and have been tested. Not so much for your galling of the wires.

Tell me what difference it will make.

 

[Zeke]

Well, I have seen wires break off inside the wire nut right at where they were nicked pretty good. You don't see the break and many times it makes contact, sometimes intermittently.

 

[Rickster55]

Dammit I should have said this in my first post but I gave you too much credit I guess.

We are NOT debating the pre-twist vs. no twist argument on this thread. That has been done at least 1000 times on this forum and we're not getting into it here. Next thing you know we will be talking about putting electrical tape around the nuts......and then the next thing you know we're arguing over soldered vs. crimp connections. And so it goes....

This thread is for people who DO pre-twist wires before installing wire nuts and only them. If you do not pre-twist, then I don't want to hear from you and do not reply.

I totally agree. However......I think it's fair to point out 188slo50's avatar! :hitit:

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Hello all,

I was wondering what you guys usually do when you pre-twist your solid wires in preparation for installing a wirenut?

Every time I have ever done this, I nick the **** out of the ends of the bare conductors with the lineman pliers. The grip on the pliers is pretty aggressive and it damages the conductors no matter how careful I am. Do you guys strip an extra long length, cut the marred up ends off to length, and then attach the wirenut? Or do you just put the wirenut over the wires and go for it?

Am I being too picky?

So do you want to hear from the people who just put the wirenut over the wires and just go for it or not?
Im one of those,only time I pretwist solid wires is before I solder them.