All About Wire Strippers

 

Wire strippers are one of the most useful tools around and they’ve been around for a long time. Although there are many varieties available, modern wire strippers are widely recognized as having been invented by Stuart G. Wood of Brooklyn, New York in 1915. Wood’s design came about because no other existing model held the wire while stripping it which was a bit of a problem in tight spaces (like doing work between walls) and Wood’s design made this type of work easier as wire stripping could now be done with one hand. As needs evolved, so too has the design of wire strippers and there are many different styles of wire stripper available and we carry many brands and styles here at Haus of Tools. While the complete history of wire strippers pre-1915 is lost to the mists of time, as is the origin of most of today’s styles of strippers, there is still a lot to be said about the capabilities of each style. There are many ways to strip a wire depending on the situation you’re in and the tool you’re using. So, what are the different kinds of wire strippers available?

 

Probably the easiest wire stripper to use might just be the self-adjusting wire strippers. There are several designs available like Klein’s 11061 which you can see in action here. This tool will save you a ton of time, and best yet, takes all of the guesswork out of finding the right setting for your wire stripper, it does that for you, then grabs the wire and pulls the insulation clean off. It's incredibly easy. Knipex Tools also makes a few different styles as well. Depending on the gauge of wire you’re working with, you can grab one with a normal pliers/scissoring type handle like the Knipex 21 40 200 or the Knipex 12 50 200. Knipex also makes a self-adjusting wire stripper with a pistol grip. You can see the original and pistol grip being used here. It’s clear what benefits a self-adjusting wire stripper can bring to someone who uses them, so picking one up would be an excellent investment. You'll save a lot of time and work on jobs where a lot of wire stripping needs to be done, so grab one today!

While the self-adjusting wire strippers are probably the best choice for anything, most especially if you’re doing repetitive stripping of a lot of different sizes, the gauged automatic wire stripper is a really good option as well. The main drawback to this style compared to the self-adjusting model is that this style features a limited range of wires it can strip. The good news is that it pretty much strips them automatically, so if you’re going to be stripping a lot of the exact same size wires within a small range, this style of tool will work perfect. The most recognizable brand making this style would be Ideal Tools, though you can grab a similar one made by Greenlee or Knipex. Each brand makes multiple sizes, so be sure to order the right size, and some of them may require extended handling due to being custom ordered. Be sure to check before ordering.

If you only do occasional wire cutting and stripping or you just don’t want to spend a lot of money on a wire stripper, but you still want something that will do a good job, you can grab a standard adjustable wire stripper. Some remove the adjustable factor and simplify the design and merely add the various gauge sizes as notches in the blade area. Starting with adjustable strippers, the basic sort allow you to adjust the gauge size by turning a small knob. Klein’s 74007 allows you to strip and cut 12-24 AWG and 14-26 AWG easily. Several other styles like Klein’s 1003, Klein’s 1004 and Ideal’s 45-101 allow you to cut and strip various wire sizes with either an adjustable knob or by means of a screw that can be used for repetitive cutting jobs. You can also remove adjustments from the equation and just grab one with preformed holes for stripping certain sizes. Ideal’s 45-619, Ideal's 45-119, Klein’s 11055, and Klein’s 11054GLW with glow in the dark handles all cut and strip wires as well as offering the ability to cut certain sized screws. These models all have the notches in the blades that  allow for cutting of various sized wires. The last of the no frills wire strippers still offer some unique features. Greenlee’s 1903 Triple Action cable stripper is meant for thick cables and is quite easy to use. Another style of stripper is the radial stripper which allows you to strip wires with just a few fingers and a flick of the wrist. Klein’s VDV110-295 can easily strip several types of common data cable and the VDV110-061 stripper is designed for coax cable. Wire strippers of this style offer a quick, easy and affordable way to easily strip wires and are an excellent option for any tool box.

Lastly, while you should probably deenergize any circuits you’re working on before stripping the wires that make it up, there are times when you need an insulated wire stripper. We carry several varieties including insulated wire strippers made by Knipex, Klein and Ideal Tools.

Whatever kind of wire stripper you end up needing, they all have situations where their strengths shine. At the higher end, you have wire strippers that will take all the guesswork out of it and basically do the job for you. At the lower end you have essentially a fancy pair of scissors that helps you strip certain sizes of wire. There are many varieties and styles made by our favorite toolmakers, so be sure to take a look through our full selection to find the best one for the job you need to do.