Wire Strippers

E

Eddie702

Licensed Electrician
Location
Western Massachusetts
Occupation
Electrician
Looking for some new ones what are you guys using?

I have a Milwaukee pair I bought not long ago. 2 things I don't like. It has one side marked for solid wire and 1 side marked for stranded but the sizes marked with white paint or something is already waring off. Of course I don't see so good anymore and with bifocals and maybe in a dark crawl space it is annoying.

But the most annoying thing is when using it on solid (say #14 romex) the hole for #14 solid will not strip it I have to use the #16 hole.

Maybe I should go back to the old little "Miller" stripers we had in the old days. No holes you just stripped it by feel which I guess not isn't "legal" with no holes and no one ever uses the adjustment screw.
 
I've been using the Miller style for over 40 years and never found something I liked better. If you have it set for #14 you can strip #14, #12, #10 with no problem you just need to have a feel for how hard you squeeze. Even smaller gauges like #18 can easily be stripped by simply angling the tool. For us old timers it's all in the feel because way back when we had few other choices.

100-series-1.jpg
 
My favorite was a pair of diagonals I blew a hole in when I cut into a pair of 12s that weren't off.

I did buy a pair of strippers for smaller stranded wires lately from Southwire. I expected them to be subpar but they are sharp and work consistently well. That along with the warning Never use on live circuits may make them my last.
 
Eddie702 said:
But the most annoying thing is when using it on solid (say #14 romex) the hole for #14 solid will not strip it I have to use the #16 hole.
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Yes, I thought all wire strippers sucked the same way. Always rip insulation first, then cut off nicked wire to try again.

All types of combination needle nose / strippers either nick the wire, or scrape insulation without removal.
 
Eddie702 said:
Looking for some new ones what are you guys using?

I have a Milwaukee pair I bought not long ago. 2 things I don't like. It has one side marked for solid wire and 1 side marked for stranded but the sizes marked with white paint or something is already waring off. Of course I don't see so good anymore and with bifocals and maybe in a dark crawl space it is annoying.

But the most annoying thing is when using it on solid (say #14 romex) the hole for #14 solid will not strip it I have to use the #16 hole.

Maybe I should go back to the old little "Miller" stripers we had in the old days. No holes you just stripped it by feel which I guess not isn't "legal" with no holes and no one ever uses the adjustment screw.
Click to expand...
I don't do anything without my headlamp :)
 
Maybe I will just go back to the Millers then. Less weight to carry LOL:) Thats all I used to use but after people telling me they are illegal........
 
infinity said:
I've been using the Miller style for over 40 years
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Just 40? I've been using them since I was an electronics technician stripping 24ga stranded wire building equipment for Boeing. Still have many around for small stuff. But for electrical I use the T stripper or something like it.
Eddie702 said:
I have a Milwaukee pair I bought not long ago. 2 things I don't like. It has one side marked for solid wire and 1 side marked for stranded but the sizes marked with white paint or something is already waring off. Of course I don't see so good anymore and with bifocals and maybe in a dark crawl space it is annoying.

But the most annoying thing is when using it on solid (say #14 romex) the hole for #14 solid will not strip it I have to use the #16 hole.
Click to expand...
If you have to read what notch to use you are wasting time. If I can't remember it right off, I just start at the top (#10) and work my way down to the one that lets you pull the insulation off. After a couple I know where I am. Don't start from the smallest or you will surely nick it.

-Hal
 
I also prefer the Ideal T stripper with the Reflex (angled) handle.

I replaced them once with a model where the holes were all shifted up one notch. So instead of #12 being in the 2nd notch, it was in the first notch. That screwed me up for about 6 months.

Rob G
Seattle
 
marmathsen said:
I also prefer the Ideal T stripper with the Reflex (angled) handle.

I replaced them once with a model where the holes were all shifted up one notch. So instead of #12 being in the 2nd notch, it was in the first notch. That screwed me up for about 6 months.

Rob G
Seattle
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Ive had the same problem with the klein curved handle that i usually use. They make one siZe that does 8 thru 16 and another that does 10 thru 18. Of course i have a set of each in my bag. 🙄
 
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