I don't know about the good ones....but those cheep $6-7 auto-strippers stink! Especially with the 18-20AWG wire.

faz

I use the Klein one, and I like it. It is quick and efficient. I don't think I ever want to go back to the older style ones, or a knife. Just close them in the right spot and your done. The only minor drawback is lining up the wire with the right spot on the stripper for that size. But after a while its easy. Well worth it in my opinion.

Klein all the way. You'll pay, but IMO their stuff is well worth it.

I own the Katapult.

here's a link...cheaper than I paid!

https://www.northcoastelectric.com/Klein-Tools-11063/PD838674

Klein. Klein. Klein.

Klein is what I use.

I found a Klein 11061 at a plumbing/heating supply. Stopped by for a free brat and Klein had a rep there showing tools. Got it for $25, last summer.

Keep an eye out for free food and tool reps.

LTG : )™

Klein Katapult. Got it at Home Depot.

Damm, at first I thought the title said Wife stripper recommendations....

I use the Kline as well, you get what you pay for, best dammed stripper you'll ever own

I'd like the title of this thread (and likely then, the thread itself) if you just got rid of the word "wire".

Best wire stripper ever is made by Ideal ( 45-227 ) 24-10 AWG - also has a wire cutter built in . These are getting hard to find , could only find on Amazon ($21.79 ) . Superior design to any other . This is also sold by Snap-on w/ their name @ twice the price .

I cant be the only one that strips wire with just diagnal pliers

I use an old cheap pair of 4 dollar cutters. I like the fact that I can feel when the cutters go through the insulation (same way you can with diag cutters).

6479002.01.prod.jpg

No, you're not. While I own the Klein and love it, half the time I'll use a pocket knife or my teeth.

That's basically what I have too. I used to use the really cheap cutters similar to what terryb posted. Now that I'm using nice ones I just can't go back.

I got this a few months ago from Amazon. No regrets and seems to work well even with very small gauge wires:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IYTCG6/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i02

I carry both those and the Klein in my bag, but I always reach for the automatic ones. And that is because I find it much easier and safer to have the tool grab the wire. Sometimes with the manual ones you end up tugging the wire a bit more than you want. The automatic ones are just squeeze and done.

I want to race someone with a wire stripper and me diaganol snip pliers. GO GO GO.

Buy a self-adjusting pair, and never look back.

http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/adjustable-wire-stripperscutters/self-adjusting-wire-strippercutter

I got this one, and am happy with it:

http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industrial-Tools-2078300-Self-Adjusting/dp/B000OQ21CA/ref=sr_1_1/175-0624382-8326601

Chris

More times that not, those that use diagonal pliers are scratching/scoring the copper wire as well. It's a recipe for a poorly done job.

The stripper below is either a copy of an $80 Paladin stripper or made by the same OEM manufacturer. Self adjusting and works great. Really like the way it strips from the front. Have used an older model Paladin that strips the same way for the past 30 years and it's my favorite. This one seems to work as well.

ebay.com link: FS D3 Self Adjusting insulation Wire Stripper range 0 08 6mm2 TOOL

Yeah, if you suck at stripping wire. After 20,000 wire strips, i think im pretty good =D.

You would get annihilated.

I have the style that PEN linked just above. I was using cat5 cable for a project and could strip all 8 wires in one shot.

IIRC, these are what Adam from Mythbusters uses... I think they may be rebranded Irwin/vise grip but I dont care.. I really like these..

The self-adjusting ones are where it's at. I use both a pair like PEN linked, and also a smaller set of adjustable ones, I haven't been able to find the smaller ones again though.

I'll post a pic of the small one later, maybe someone can find them online.

I wired aircraft for 12 years, and these Blue Point strippers worked great. They are made by Snap On. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=634297&group_id=675136&supersede=&tool=all

I find these to be the best. Front loading so they can be used in tight spaces.

Very quick and I have stripped 3, 22g wires simultaneously even thou they were not meant to do that.

Never had a problem in over 7 years of hard use.

I would never use any other.

http://www.parts-express.com/automatic-wire-stripper-with-cutter--360-627

Forceflow, any updates on how your Klein 11061 self-adjusting wire stripper is working? Was wondering how it does on small gauge wire like AWG 22, since the amazon add says for 10-20AWG wire.

I really like the Neiko version, but I'm certainly no electrician.

I dare you to try that race with wire that uses Teflon insulation! With a pair of dikes, you just get stretchy string cheese while stripping the wire.

I use an old pair of Ideal Stripmasters (identical to the Kleins listed above). Once you get used to them, you can strip wire pretty quickly with them. Got used to using these in the Mil-spec world where using dikes to strip wire is a big no-no.

Question. I am sure everyone here understands the situation where you are working in the back cabinet replacing burned IDCs with new Molex connector housings and crimped trifurcon pins. On Williams and Bally DMD games these connectors for GI can range from 18 AWG down to 22 AWG. The challenge is that typically you don't have much wire to work with after you have cut the burned IDC connectors off and the burned wire as well. A compact wire stripper that allows you to get in close to the wire end and strip 3/16" of the insulation away for pinning/crimping is really useful.

Of the tools recommended it seems like the automatic strippers that allow you to go straight at the end of the wire would be optimum like the one from Parts Express above. Any thoughts/ideas/suggetions on on the best wire strippers to use for this kind of work?

You answered your own question. The front loading stripper is the best for this type of work.