Wire strippers

[nanofrog]

I looked at the Knipex pictured, as well as the Weidmuller Stripaxe, Embla, and a few others.

Ended up with the Pressmaster Embla out of sheer dumb luck as I got it for free  (perk due to hassle dealing with defective crimpers and die sets <phone calls, emails, and sent them a large bag full of test crimps>). As it turns out, it's cheaper here in the US at least than the others listed as a rebranded Waytek (555 stripper), and the additional blade cartridges make it more flexible for wire insulation types and sizes FWIW.

Pressmaster seems to be more commonly available under their own name in other parts of the world, Europe in particular, but I'm not sure how it compares price wise. 

[npelov]

Can someone show how these strippers work on a thin cable? What's the smallest strip you can do? Also can someone make a close up of the blades. They look like flat blades - no curve to allow the wire to pass through it. If so many people say they work well - I believe you. I'm just curious how they work.

[neslekkim]

Can someone show how these strippers work on a thin cable? What's the smallest strip you can do? Also can someone make a close up of the blades. They look like flat blades - no curve to allow the wire to pass through it. If so many people say they work well - I believe you. I'm just curious how they work.

Which strippers? The knipex:


I strip easily awg 30 with this, kynar type wires, no problem, clean cut of the isolation, no mark on the wire itself

But remember there are other knipex strippers that looks like this one, but different range, its the 12-42-195 that I found was the best suited.

[plesa]

I have following ones for almost three years
http://se.farnell.com/knipex/121202/wire-stripper-ptfe/dp/3947877
here you can see blades
http://se.farnell.com/knipex/12-19-02/spare-blade-pliers/dp/5714321

They are capable to strip AWG28 PTFE wire without any issue.

[128er]

Can someone show how these strippers work on a thin cable? What's the smallest strip you can do? Also can someone make a close up of the blades. They look like flat blades - no curve to allow the wire to pass through it. If so many people say they work well - I believe you. I'm just curious how they work.

Here are closeups (as good as i can get it) from the new model of the Weidmüller Stripax. Its a type of lamellar arrangement. Many thin sheets form the whole blade.

[robrenz]

I have following ones for almost three years
http://se.farnell.com/knipex/121202/wire-stripper-ptfe/dp/3947877
here you can see blades
http://se.farnell.com/knipex/12-19-02/spare-blade-pliers/dp/5714321

They are capable to strip AWG28 PTFE wire without any issue.

I have that one also and I agree it does an outstanding job on Teflon insulation. But I only use it for the difficult insulations because it is not as handy and quick as the KNIPEX 1242195

[kingoftaurus]

My first wire strippers were my thumbnails. I was blessed to have thick strong nails, and I never struggled with just grabbing wire and ripping it right off.

One time when I was younger, I carved a V shape into my thumbnail and made them work even better lol.

But now I use either http://www.rsrelectronics.com/tools/100X_103S.jpg  (100x)
and http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item_Lg.asp?picFile=/images/PWCS7.jpg  (my favorite)

[hemdale]

Hi guys,

First time for me here 

It seems it's difficult to tell if Weidmuller is reranding Embla or the other way around... :confused:

Also, it seems the front jaws of the Knipex 12 42 195 are made of metal ? Would that be any better than the plasticky ones ?

http://www.weidmueller.com/int/products/tools/stripping/product-overview




Pressmaster by Embla

http://www.pressmaster.se/products/#strip_and_cut



and Klauke...

http://www.klauke.com/katalog/en/k-43-2-automatic-stripping-tool-0-02-10mm/


All these three VERY similar strippers. Does anyone know if one of them (I'm assuming the original designer / manufacturer) would be better ?

So far, I have the Weicon S4-28 Multi http://www.weicon.com/pages/ca/products/stripping-tools/cable-stripper/cable-stripper-multi.php and http://www.weicon.com/pages/en/download/technical-datasheet/TDS_50057328_EN_EN-Cable-Stripper-No.-S-4---28-Multi.pdf which works fine but I find the cable rotative stripper to regularly cut straight (so you end up cutting a spiral...  )

Many thanks.

Cheers guys.

[Pjotr]

Al those automatic strippers that come along here are based on the original AMP automatic stripper. At first sight those days, such a plastic thing can't be good. But... it is now in my toolbox for over 35 years and still stripping fine anything between 0.1mm2 and 2.5mm2. Only not pure PTFE (it flows too much).  The Patent is over now and the design is widely copied by most major brands. My personal experience with the Knipex one is it stopped working after 5 years of use. Have no experience with the other brands.

[nanofrog]

It seems it's difficult to tell if Weidmuller is reranding Embla or the other way around... :confused:

Neither. 

Both Weidmuller and Pressmaster manufacture their own products, and they both do ODM contracts as well. For example, the Embla is rebranded as the Klauke you linked, as well as Xcelite and Wiha for example. In the case of Weidmuller, they rebrand their strippers for Paladin, and it seems Knipex as well (hint: metal jaws).

Also, it seems the front jaws of the Knipex 12 42 195 are made of metal ? Would that be any better than the plasticky ones ?

You'd think so, but as previously mentioned, they last a long time. I've a pair of automatic Jokari strippers that are from the '80's that are still going strong (AFAIK, Jokari actually invented the first automatic stripper). FWIW, you can even replace the plastic jaws on the Embla, and I'd imagine the Weidmuller's too (assuming you can find the parts).

If you do decide to go for metal jaws, Weidmuller is the only company that makes them AFAIK (appear to rebrand several models for Knipex; Jokari too).

[wraper]

Also, it seems the front jaws of the Knipex 12 42 195 are made of metal ? Would that be any better than the plasticky ones ?

Yes they are from matal. But I cannot recommend it as I have it myself. Better buy Stripax which is adjustable. This self adjustment of knipex does not work well with too many wires and you have no way to adjust it. In such cases blades pierce the insulation too shallow and just scrape the insulation instead of removing it.

[nanofrog]

Yes they are from matal. But I cannot recommend it as I have it myself. Better buy Stripax which is adjustable. This self adjustment of knipex does not work well with too many wires and you have no way to adjust it. In such cases blades pierce the insulation too shallow and just scrape the insulation instead of removing it.

FWIW, I've run into this with the Embla on old wire (hardened insulation), and they do have the ability to adjust the jaw pressure. In such cases, I grab the jaws and squeeze a bit during the strip cycle so they bite sufficiently into the insulation and strip the wire instead of just scraping it.

[Pjotr]

The metal (aluminium?) jaws of the Knipex are not a favour. They wear out over time and lose grip.

[wraper]

Yes they are from matal. But I cannot recommend it as I have it myself. Better buy Stripax which is adjustable. This self adjustment of knipex does not work well with too many wires and you have no way to adjust it. In such cases blades pierce the insulation too shallow and just scrape the insulation instead of removing it.

and they do have the ability to adjust the jaw pressure. In such cases, I grab the jaws and squeeze a bit during the strip cycle so they bite sufficiently into the insulation and strip the wire instead of just scraping it.

I've done this too. But it's a crap workaround and does not always work. Moreover it cannot strip multiple wires at once unlike stripax.

[nanofrog]

Yes they are from matal. But I cannot recommend it as I have it myself. Better buy Stripax which is adjustable. This self adjustment of knipex does not work well with too many wires and you have no way to adjust it. In such cases blades pierce the insulation too shallow and just scrape the insulation instead of removing it.

and they do have the ability to adjust the jaw pressure. In such cases, I grab the jaws and squeeze a bit during the strip cycle so they bite sufficiently into the insulation and strip the wire instead of just scraping it.

I've done this too. But it's a crap workaround and does not always work. Moreover it cannot strip multiple wires at once unlike stripax.

True, but it's better than nothing (and more convenient than digging around for a stripper that uses a die nest or a screw to adjust the cut depth).   

I know the Wiedmuller Stripax has form fitting blades (tiny individual blades in a row that are like teeth), but it's odd to me that the Knipex won't strip multiple conductors so long as it's flat and fits, and not PTFE insulation. The Embla will at any rate with the standard cartridge. My Jokari's don't as they've V shaped blades, as is the PTFE/Teflon cartridge for the Embla.

[calexanian]

Al those automatic strippers that come along here are based on the original AMP automatic stripper. At first sight those days, such a plastic thing can't be good. But... it is now in my toolbox for over 35 years and still stripping fine anything between 0.1mm2 and 2.5mm2. Only not pure PTFE (it flows too much).  The Patent is over now and the design is widely copied by most major brands. My personal experience with the Knipex one is it stopped working after 5 years of use. Have no experience with the other brands.

This has me wondering. Who was the original manufacturer of this very tool. I have two identical ones from pre 1980. one labeled Paladin,and the other stripax. Can anybody find a patent?

[Pjotr]

The first one I saw dated from the mid '70s and was labelled Stripax, at least here in Europe. This exactly was the same as the AMP I pictured. IMHO Stripax was taken over by AMP late '70 / early '80. I bought my AMP in 1981. I remember I was looking for a Stripax those days but it wasn't available any more. The representative came up with the AMP which was exactly the same thing. IMO those early ones outperform all the nowadays ones, apart from the specialised ones for very fine (PTFE isolation) wire.

[Edit]

Found this: http://www.heilind.com/marketing/documents/weidmuller-stripax.pdf

Here the original is dated 1976. It is now a trade name of Weidmüller, but it is not clear who was first that came up with it. Because my original seems indestructible, has a wide range and also strips flat cable, I would go for a simple Weidmüller today.

[KL27x]

The first one I saw dated from the mid '70s and was labelled Stripax, at least here in Europe. This exactly was the same as the AMP I pictured.

Interesting. Do you know anything about Thomas&Betts? The ERG-1 WS looks the same as all the other modern ones.

But I bought an older "ERG-1" from the widow of an EE the better part of 10 years ago, and it looks more like the Stipax/AMP you pictured, except even more primitive. It lacks of any of the ergonomic/organic curves, anyway. There's radiusing on the edges, but everything is basically a straight line. It says "made in England."

I don't know how old it is, but other than some surface rust on the blades, it looks like it could have been made yesterday. It's as solid as a brick house.

I'll update this with a pic in a bit; Photobucket is down for maintenance. I don't know if it's a "missing link" or maybe just an evolutionary side-branch/dead-end. But it could be interesting in the context of this thread.

[wraper]

but it's odd to me that the Knipex won't strip multiple conductors so long as it's flat and fits

It just won't pierce insulation in any of the wires if there is more than one and will just scrape the insulation. Their advertised auto adjustment feature  . Also quality of the wire cutter is just crap. Edge of the one blade became as it was bitten even before I had a chance to cut a first wire with it.

[nanofrog]

but it's odd to me that the Knipex won't strip multiple conductors so long as it's flat and fits

It just won't pierce insulation in any of the wires if there is more than one and will just scrape the insulation. Their advertised auto adjustment feature  . Also quality of the wire cutter is just crap. Edge of the one blade became as it was bitten even before I had a chance to cut a first wire with it.

Good to know.

FWIW, I've noticed an increase of quality issues regarding Knipex products lately (pliers & cutters), but I figured they were an ODM'ed product from another manufacturer so wouldn't have been affected. 

[wraper]

The metal (aluminium?) jaws of the Knipex are not a favour. They wear out over time and lose grip.

No thy are made from some kind of steel (magnetic).

[calexanian]

The metal (aluminium?) jaws of the Knipex are not a favour. They wear out over time and lose grip.

No thy are made from some kind of steel (magnetic).

Laminated hardened steel. 30+ years and ours are still going right along at our assembly stations. lots of daily use. The ones used on our transformer trimming operation do hundreds of strips a day each and last 10 years + each and usually die from the plastic simply wearing out.

[savril]

I used several stripers in the past (manual and cheap automatic) but I decided to go for a high end one. I bought a Weidmuller Stripax and I love this thing. Sure it was expensive but serenity has a price.

You just have to set your length, insert the wire and press, done.
Multiconductors ? No problem, in 2 pass.
And lately I've done some hair thin stranded wire and I was very surprise than no strand were cut.

The handles are plastic but there are thick enough (and with zigzag reinforcement bar) to inspire confidence that they will not be stressed and will last.
That thing saved me a lot of time by its fast setting and the quality of the result. No more butcherized wire that I have to redo.

The only thing I wonder is how well it can handle PTFE wire. I also haven't tested flat cable.

[calexanian]

I used several stripers in the past (manual and cheap automatic) but I decided to go for a high end one. I bought a Weidmuller Stripax and I love this thing. Sure it was expensive but serenity has a price.

You just have to set your length, insert the wire and press, done.
Multiconductors ? No problem, in 2 pass.
And lately I've done some hair thin stranded wire and I was very surprise than no strand were cut.

The handles are plastic but there are thick enough (and with zigzag reinforcement bar) to inspire confidence that they will not be stressed and will last.
That thing saved me a lot of time by its fast setting and the quality of the result. No more butcherized wire that I have to redo.

The only thing I wonder is how well it can handle PTFE wire. I also haven't tested flat cable.

PTFE is hit or miss. just too much lubricity and flow in the material to get a good grab, but if you have just the right tongue angle and stand on the right spot you can manage.

[Pjotr]

PTFE comes in several flavours. Tefzel and Kynar (trade names) are special formulations for stripping -> Automatic wire-wrapping. These will strip without problem. Pure PTFE requires special tooling. It flows instead of breaking/tearing and needs to be carefully cut.