Upgrading automatic wire stripper for small scale production

[R-mm]

A year ago I got a simple automatic wire stripper from Felo (I am a german tool fan) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QWYNPGY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It works far better than using a hand stripper and I love the repeatability but 12ga wire insul often gets stuck in its knives and ive found it minimum strip length too long for some specialty terminals I'm working with to many a small run of automotive harnesses. In addition the Felo creates a slightly angled strip that is not perfectly perpendicular to the length of wire.

Knipex seems to have 10 versions of all of their products which leaves me bewildered. I'm looking for a high quality automatic stripper up to $100 maybe $150 which can handle ~20ga up to ~10ga and produce strips less than the "standard" 6mm length that is common on the cheaper tools like mine.

Suggestions based on experience welcome, thanks.

 

[ray h]

Many years ago I did a lot of wiring on Military jobs for my company. We used the die cast metal strippers by Ideal. I needed to have 2 tools to cover that range of wire gauges. Set up right they won't nick your bare wire.

 

[Aquamoose]

My company uses a bench top automatic wire stripping machine. Punch in the specs and it’ll spit out wires in bulk with however many we need. Even pre-strips too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[R-mm]

Thats above my pay grade. I did just upgrade to a Pressmaster swedish made crimp tool and like it a lot. Has anyone used their stripper? https://www.pressmaster.se/product/embla_16

 

[Dustball]

We give every technician at our place (custom automation builder) a Weidmuller 9005000000 and they're very durable.

28-7 AWG
Strip length is adjustable all the way down to almost nothing.

https://www.newark.com/weidmuller/9005000000/stripping-tool-28-7awg-25mm/dp/14C2265

 

[R-mm]

Thanks. That looks a lot like the pressmaster (my post above) and knipex - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R895YM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[R-mm]

The pressmaster has changable dies but this 8-34 (!) looks like the one I'd use https://www.wirecare.com/category/t...l-8awg-34awg-straight-blade-apex-part-sas3210

 

[dsaabm]

I often have to build wiring harnesses for prototype or small run, I am also fan of the Ideal Stripmaster series. Not automatic sizing obviously.

All of them are well built and many die options depending on application requirements, they also offer a wire stop.

https://www.idealindustries.ca/products/electrical/stripping-cutting-fastening/stripping/stripmasterar.html

https://www.idealindustries.ca/products/l-5270.html

 

[Dustball]

Thanks. That looks a lot like the pressmaster (my post above) and knipex - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R895YM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Looks like the Knipex has a solid flat blade.

The Pressmaster has a solid circular blade.

The Weidmuller uses an array of spring loaded "plates" I'd guess you'd say. They deform to the wire diameter.

I do have to say that I tried my Weidmuller on some 12 AWG I had laying around and the strip isn't the cleanest. For the thicker insulation wires, I prefer to use my Jokari spinner. Spin back and forth once then pull.

 

[R-mm]

The pressmaster has a straight, v or curved blade depending on which cassette you use. I decided to give it a go with the 8-34awg straight blade. Here's the best price I found. I'll let you all know how she strips.

https://www.wirecare.com/category/t...CM7A9zqrugxzVZC1OmyiXaGsMc0CarN8aAtRgEALw_wcB

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

I'd give the regular Knipex automatic strippers a try (12 62 180). They're a little more stout than the Felo strippers, and will probably work a little better for you.

If you still feel those are lacking, I would step up to the Knipex 12 40 200. I think they're more awkward to use, but they do seem to be more capable.

I own all 3, and use the Knipex 12 62 180 90% of the time. Its a very well made tool.

 

[R-mm]

The pressmaster has a straight, v or curved blade depending on which cassette you use. I decided to give it a go with the 8-34awg straight blade. Here's the best price I found. I'll let you all know how she strips.

https://www.wirecare.com/category/t...CM7A9zqrugxzVZC1OmyiXaGsMc0CarN8aAtRgEALw_wcB

edit - out of stock at Wire Care but in stock (with Waytek branding) at a lower price - https://www.waytekwire.com/item/555/Self-Adjusting-Wire-Stripper-Cutter-/

I did call to confirm these are Pressmaster / made in Sweden.

 

[MattN03]

We use Phoenix Contact wire strippers at work and they work well and hold up for job shop type production requirements. https://www.phoenixcontact.com/online/portal/us?uri=pxc-oc-itemdetail:pid=1212156&library=usen&tab=1

We also have a automatic strip/pre-strip machine that the operator can input the required lengths. It works well, but I think it around $10k or so.

 

[Uofime]

I’ve got a TE 734185-1 revB I’ve been using for a few months now and really like. It works great for XLPE insulation on most of the wire i use but it does struggle a bit with gummy insulation used on some datalink wire. I’ve used it on a pretty wire variety of gauges some 24 and 22, lots of 18, some 14, and 12.
No issues with the different sizes, can do short strip lengths like for molex mighty spox

 

[R-mm]

Update on the pressmaster -

I found the straight blade to be almost useless it look like it was tearing the insulation rather than stripping it and I frequently got cuts in the strands. On someone’s advice I upgraded to the V-shaped cassette which is marked PTFE. This was night and day and produces beautiful strips on everything I have used it for

 

[rivahmon]

Waytek does have a good price on the Pressmaster 4320-0612 (EMBLA SBC). I think the Xcelite SAS3210 may be the same tool.
The easily interchangeable blade cassettes in V or straight (although expensive) may make this a winner.
Not sure about performance on THHN or silicone but some reviewers like it for PTFE.