High Quality Wire Strippers - What To Buy?

[leno]

i think knipex are worth a shot
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=groups&parentID=1298&groupID=1363

[vk6zgo]

After 45 years I still use cutters for almost everything.   I'm going to pick up a set of these and try them though.  It says they will work down to 22 and it looks like they might work in the center of the wire as long as the insulation will slide.   Check out the video.

http://www.irwin.com/tools/pliers-adjustable-wrenches/self-adjusting-wire-stripper


Update:


OK, I was out today and picked up a pair.  They seem to work very well.  Don't need to pick a hole as they size automatically.  The design allows them to easily slip over the middle of a wire.   Tried them on 22 gauge, 18 gauge, and some silicone test lead wire.  No problems on any.  If you take a look at the red 18 gauge wire in the middle you will see they had no problem striping a bare section in the middle of the wire. I did it with the ends cut flush first and it did not push the insulation beyond the wire on either end. I then striped the ends.  I think these should work just fine for striping a section of automobile wire in the middle.  Gauge range looks like it will work with most rubber or plastic plastic type insulation from 10 down to 22 gauge.  Have not tried it on teflon insulated wire yet.

I'm the same!
Usually,at work,there was one good wire stripper among a bunch of Techs,so you were lucky to get your hands on it,so I learnt to just "suck it up: & use sidecutters!
Now I'm retired,maybe I should get a good set of strippers,

[nanofrog]

Pressmaster Embla (sold under other names as well, such as Xcelite and Wiha).

Video of how it works

[Hardcorefs]

Klippon Stripax.
I have a set that have been used for 25 years and they are still going strong, yep they were expensive but I cannot fault the quality

[Fezder]

i personally prefer sharp knife over sidecutters.....just personal preferring, i was/am carpenter before EE studying, so knife is like multi-tool to me ...

[M. András]

i prefer the knipex one cos its self adjusting i even managed to strip a cat5e wire whit it without damaging the conductor

[metalphreak]

Top to bottom:

Blue ratcheted insulated crimper
Engineer PA-21 / Engineer PA-09 / Yellow Coax/Cat5 stripper
Blue ratcheted RJ12/45 crimper / Engineer PA-01 / Yellow $1 Cat5/6 stripper & punchdown tool
Altima/Excelta cutters (get a decent set of these if you buy any good tools) / One of the above automatic strippers
6point Wire Ferrule Crimper / Automatic Stripper small gauges / Automatic stripper medium gauges


The Engineer PA-01 (white) is super handy as it does insulated and non-insulated crimps, crimps with the two-part wire and sheath foldover wings, bolt cutting, wire stripping etc.

Apart from the excelta cutters and engineer stuff, its all made in china spec. Blue ratcheting crimpers were <$15 delivered. Coax stripper was a few $, the punchdown/stripper for ethernet cabling are a buck a piece. I think I pretty much have all my stripping and crimping needs covered. There's a big hydraulic hex crimper somewhere that does up to 70mm^2 cable. It's very handy to have the tools to do everything even if you don't think you'll use it much. If you do find yourself using one heaps, then you can feel confident spending $50-100 on a good brand one knowing it'll be worthwhile. I just can't justify $100 on an RJ45 crimper when I'll only use it occasionally (and this one actually works really well).

[M. András]

its off topic but anyone have a few part number for crimping tools for molex and like connectors from the 2.54mm pitch ones(fan header) to the larger minifit and like connectors, i dislike their ratcheting tools for the price they ask for it and only  do 1 type of connector you have to buy another one for the other family

[metalphreak]

I use the PA-09's above to do the KK series of Molex headers (ie 3pin and 4pin CPU fans).

They do an application chart: http://www.engineer.jp/en/products/pa09_20applicatn_chart.html

Show's which type are best served by what tool. You have to do  the wire crimp and the insulation crimp in separate steps but that's the price you pay for flexibility.

[M. András]

so its basicly the same as these profiles for plug connectors?

[nukie]

I love those mid priced Japanese made Engineer stuff, the are very innovative and quality wise is good.

[krivx]

If I were to buy one of those Engineer tools from Rakuten, which to go for? It looks like the PA-20 covers the most ground.

[metalphreak]

PA-21s if you mainly crimp 2.54mm 0.1" or larger type connectors. PA-20's are very similar but have a bit wider die which might be useful. Don't think there's much difference.

PA-09s do 2.54mm 0.1" and below nicely. Definitely the ones to get if you do really tiny crimps like the mini JST type on lipos etc. These are more inclined for small power electronics whereas the 20/21s are for electrical/higher power electronic.

I tend to use the PA-09s the most. It's the first set I bought with the PA-21 being purchased much later.

[Shale]

I have a set of klein automatic wire strippers and electrician scissors. I love them both. i work with both every day in the field, and at home for hobby stuff.

[cwalex]

Hi Shale,

I'm curious what the scissors are used for, I have a pair of heavy duty scissors and only really used them so far for cutting things I would normally use regular scissors for like paper and card, a few rare occasions I have used them to cut ribbon cable. The klein tools look nice 

Cheers,

Alex

[wb3fsr]

The heavy duty scissors are excellent for trimming  braid/shield wire when making RF connectors.

BNC's, N's PL's etc...

PeterV

[danjenkins]

Weidmuller would be my first choice. They are made in Germany with highest quality. They are a bit expensive though.

http://www.clrwtr.com/PDF/Weidmuller/Weidmuller-Stripping-Tools.pdf

[Dago]

Pressmaster Embla (sold under other names as well, such as Xcelite and Wiha).

Video of how it works

I have these branded as Würth. They were quite expensive (120€ or so), thankfully I got them as a present.

I'd say they are great. Only complaint I have is that they don't seem to work well on really thin wire (like for bodging PCBs) but I doubt they are even specified to do that.

[GreyWoolfe]

Hi Shale,

I'm curious what the scissors are used for, I have a pair of heavy duty scissors and only really used them so far for cutting things I would normally use regular scissors for like paper and card, a few rare occasions I have used them to cut ribbon cable. The klein tools look nice 

Cheers,

Alex

I use a pair of round tip children's safety scissors to remove the insulation on CAT 5 cable and then use them to trim with wires evenly. 

[London Lad]

I've used nearly every one of the strippers shown in this thread over the last 40 years but none work as well as these:
 http://www.facom.com/Facom/webcatalogue/facom/fiches-produit/sku_html/en/985761_en.html

[robrenz]

Wow, never saw that mechanism style, how much are they?

[London Lad]

Expensive, about £90 street price, but 100% reliable every cut / strip.
I have one pair that is about 15 years old and a newer pair. Both work the same and I've never replaced blades or had to service them.

[Vgkid]

They are $170 at Allied(not in stock) or $250 at Newark( only 4 in uk stock).

[John Coloccia]

IMHO, the best strippers are thermal strippers.  I have a Hakko thermal stripper.  Second best, IMHO, is this style:

http://www.newark.com/duratool-formerly-from-spc/3613/wire-stripper-30awg-to-10awg-127mm/dp/84N1038?MER=PPSO_N_P_Wire_None

I have about a half dozen in my shop, labelled for different gauges.  There are lots of people that don't like these because they say it cuts the wire, but that's nonsense.  Setup properly, you never get anywhere near the wire.  It just scores the insulation, you tug and it breaks off neatly and cleanly without touching the wire at all.  They're cheap and they work very reliably.

The other contraptions are interesting, but you have to buy a very high quality one, with high quality dies, and for that price you should just buy a thermal stripper IMHO.

[HP-ILnerd]

Agree on the thermal strippers.
I got an Ideal Thermo-Strip on ebay for $65 (!) complete with a whole bunch of spare tips.  If you keep an eye peeled, and are patient, it's amazing what can show up being sold as surplus.  Mine looks new too--not a mark on it.  It's ace on really fine gauge wire.  No nicks!