Wire Stripper Advice

[J.A.F.E.]

I need to get new wire strippers. I've looked at the Ideal Stripmaster but would like some opinions first.
They will get intermittent use but when used it can be heavy. First job will wiring 31 Ford 5 window.

Hot linked image from http://www.idealindustries.com/products/tools_totes/wire_strippers/stripmaster.jsp

 

[billymade]

A stripper that I love is made in Germany! This thing is awesome!
Ideal and Snap-On sell this under their name but I am sure it is a German OEM;

http://www.idealindustries.com/prodDetail.do?prodId=45-227&div=3&l1=wire_strippers&l2=grip-n-strip

http://www.google.com/products?clie...pper&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf

Check your local Lowe's or Home Depot; I think both stores carry Ideal products!

Snap-On version is more expensive but AFAIK is the exact same thing!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...1&group_ID=796&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I have a similar stripper to the one shown above; works fine and probably will do higher gage wire as well but I always reach for the Snap-on/Ideal stripper for pretty much all my wiring work!

 

[J.A.F.E.]

So page lists the country of origin as Germany so you're likely correct, as usual. I kind of overlooked these because of the plastic body but based on your recommendation these are now at the top of the list.

Thanks

 

[CRAZYASTRO]

I`m using this one:

and for thicker cables like power for the stereo or compressors I got this one:

but should have got me this one, because it comes with twodifferent size hooks, so u can go with even bigger cables...

range for the knipex is 6mm-29mm and the gedore isfrom 4,5mm-40mm diameter

 

[mrb]

that ideal stripmaster....just wait until you pinch your hand in that thing.

going against the grain of fancy strippers, i use the xuron 501 wire strippers http://www.xuron.com/industrial/specialty_products.htm after getting a feel for them I am able to strip any size wire without nicking the wire (this is without setting the stop) theyre fast to use, and the blades are precision ground and are very sharp.

 

[Monte]

The original manufacturer of the snap-on etc. stripper: http://jokari.de/

 

[garfunkle24]

I've had a couple of the kind that Billymade posted as well as some of these:

I really liked both kinds but thought they wore out quickly. After a while they 'release' too early and begin failing to properly strip wires at the smaller end of their capacity range.

because of that I recently bought some Klein strippers very similar to the Ideals you posted and they were fairly expensive. I already hate having to put the wires in the right channel. Maybe it's just me but it really seems to slow me down.

I will very soon be replacing them with some automatic type strippers again. I think next time I'm going to try the Knipex ones that Crazyastro posted and see if they hold up a little longer.

 

[Crasen]

I have the Ideal Stripmasters and they work well. I have a set of the automatic size wire stripper just like the Mac ones and they work as long as the insulation for the wire is soft. We use a lot of aircraft wire so they do not work well. I have found them to work great at stripping the outer jacket of CatIII and other small multi condustor wire though.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

I need to get new wire strippers. I've looked at the Ideal Stripmaster but would like some opinions first.
They will get intermittent use but when used it can be heavy. First job will wiring 31 Ford 5 window.

Hot linked image from http://www.idealindustries.com/products/tools_totes/wire_strippers/stripmaster.jsp

This is the type you want to keep close by and which you will come to love - especially if you strip teflon wire. What is great about this stripper, is that its done with one hand to hold the conductor and strip it - otherwise - you need two hands and if you are on a ladder, etc - its a pain. This is also great for 12/10 awg stripping unless you are Arnie Shwartzenegger. This type is my favorite stripper and its well worth the money.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I use the ideals, they work well.

 

[NAYLOR]

We use the Ideals at work (and trust me, we strip a ton of wires) and they are great. I've never had a problem with them breaking or pinching. Don't put your fingers where the wires go and you won't get pinched.

 

[Stuey]

I've had a couple of the kind that Billymade posted as well as some of these:

I use a pair like that when I have non-conventional wire that my standard strippers cannot handle easily.

For example. Monster Cable speaker wires (hey, they were cheap yet durable) are funky since they're wrapped around a dielectric core of some kind. They have no gauge specs but are around 16ga. Normal strippers tear them to shreds, but those auto-strippers work wonders.

 

[speed bump]

Just your basic Klein wire strippers are about 100 times faster if you have a lot of wire to strip. I a set of those Ideal Strippers and they see nowhere the use that my kleins do.

 

[FakeName]

A LONG time ago, I had a pair of Channellock dykes that were a bit unusual. The head was slightly elongated when compared to regular dykes, and there was a single hole in the middle of the cutting surfaces. You place the wire (size unimportant) in the hole, close the dykes turn the handle slightly acute against the wire and pull. Made a perfect strip every time. It was made for small wires, say 16 or smaller. But it was great, and I wish I had a pair again.

 

[nissan_crawler]

It's hard to beat a wiry stripper...wait, what

 

[Firetrucks]

Since I know how to wire things and not release the magic smoke within I do lots of wiring/rewiring (automotive) for people.

I use these Iriwn strippers and they work well. They were kinda hard to find, but worth it (to me). I have a set like the Mac shown above, but prefer the Irwin strippers.

 

[FNFS2000]

Can't go wrong with Knipex, they are the king, everyone else just tries to duplicate them.

 

[caper]

This may be strange with all the wiring I do and all the tools I own but I do almost all of my wire stripping with my channelock crimper's cutting edge or my snap on side cutters.I have used the automatic strippers in the past and have many types of manual strippers but I find it faster to just use the one tool for everything.I strip the wire and cimp with the same tool.

http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/909_-_THE_CRIMPER_trade_-_Cr_P90C17.cfm

 

[Fedwrench]

If you're doing alot of automotive wiring, the Snap on PWC22 pictured earlier in the thread is the best thing since sliced bread. It's nose allows you to reach areas under a dash and elswhere that you may not have space for a regular stripper. I've had one for several years and I wouldn't want to be without it. It's not cheap but, it's ease of use and durability will pay for itself over time.