Automatic wire-stripper and cutter

[ColinTheAmpMan1]

Hi,

I have seen that there have been a couple of threads on reliable cable-strippers here, but I am on the lookout for something that will strip wires at a certain length reliably and not nick the inners. I may be asking for the virtually impossible at a reasonable price, I know. I bought something of the type at, I think, a Poundland some time ago. These are now just occupying useful space in my toolbox, as they fail to hold the wire at all - OK my fault for buying cheap tools. What I am looking for will grasp the wire securely and also strip a consistent length of it and will do so for a sensible period. I don't want to use the device for the next thirty years or so, but I would like to do this job for a couple of hundred times. The reliable companies (RS, Farnell and the like) will offer this kind of device, but prices can be high at £20-£60. The lower end of this range may be acceptable, but the upper end is probably much better than I need. Does anyone have any reliable devices of this sort and if so can they provide retailers or even web addresses, please?

Colin.

[deswradio]

I have a Stanley FatMax wire stripper and I'm happy with it. It's not 100% reliable but the second attempt nearly always works. Costs about £20-£25 - widely available. It's certainly saved me a huge amount of time with coax and mains wiring. For the smaller stuff I still use my Bib wire stripper & cutter that I have now used for about 55 years!

Best wishes
Des

[Crashtestdougie]

This one seems to be working nicely for me:

[bigfathairyvika]

I was given an old wire stripper as per previous post.
And they are perfectly reliable if set to grip the insulation size with the small knurled adjuster.
They also work faultlessly when stripping countless wires over many hours.
Only thing to be careful of is to remove ( I tap tool on desk ) the removed insulation from the tool before the next use.
Most of the time the waste falls out by itself.

[jamesperrett]

I've had a copy of the Ideal Stripmaster made by Vessel for about 50 years. I bought a genuine Ideal version as a present for someone a couple of years ago and it wasn't as expensive as I feared.

https://cpc.farnell.com/ideal/45-092...-ddd7-00001003

although at the higher end of your budget.

[Julesomega]

The Ideal was the only stripper used in the production departments where I worked, working equally well for PTFE insulated wire. Alternative jaw sets were fitted for particularly fine or coarse wires.

[Refugee]

I have one the same as in post#3 inherited from a closed down workshop.
I then bought one from Aldi middle isle for about £15 to compare and found it to be just as good.
Just keep an eye on those middle isles in the DIY season.

[sortedradio]

I have also been using the same type as in post 3 for a few years now and find it to be good.

[Outrun_uk]

I have both the one in post #3 and the cheaper Aldi version (about £9 when they have them in stock). Both work very well.

[60 oldjohn]

There is only one contender, in my view it's the middle one. The one on the right has its uses very occasionally for stripping very short wires inside a workpiece. The one on the left may be ok for PTFE wire but too fiddly when stripping a wide range of wires. The last picture is wire I have just stripped with the middle one, no settings to change. If it fits in the jaws it will strip it even outer cover on some Coax. I have had that one maybe 10 years or so, wish I had one 60 years ago instead of the BIB stripers with the adjustable washer on the side! then I had a "horse head" style stripper that was very hit and miss.

John.

[PETERg0rsq]

Another vote for the "Ideal Stripmaster" just make sure it comes with the jaws you need.

I have two, one set for general stripping (mains flex etc) and the other set for very fine wire.

[factory]

Also prefer the Ideal Stripmaster, my brother found a brand new general purpose set, still in the card box at a boot sale a few years back. And I have an ex-mil pair with the fine jaws, for use with thin insulation, note the wire insulation grips on the opposite side are different too.

David

[knobtwiddler]

The left one in John's photo appears very similar to the Stripmaster. I use the Ideal for small wires - both PVC and PTFE (have done for about 20 years). You need to change the blades after a few years.

Wire strippers are very much horses-for-courses. I have a pound-shop one that is invaluable for outer insulation on thicker cables, but I wouldn't dream of using it for individual wires. I have an RS-branded 'puller' type, that is good for PVC mains wiring, but will snap PTFE-insulated outright.

[G6fylneil]

I've acquired several stripmasters over the years, other types I've used in the past have been effective, AB tools comes to mind but those firms have long gone, now all you seem to find are cheap Chinese copies. I never found anything that worked consistently with glass insulated cables. With stripmasters you can get new blades, and different ones for specific cables. I phoned them up once from work, to complain about some new ones I bought that wouldn't "click", with the soft grips on the handles. They seemed to be surprised to get a call from the UK.

[ColinTheAmpMan1]

Hi all and thanks for the help.

I think I have found just what I need, now. I purchased a CK automatic wire stripper, which seems to be very like the Stanley FatMax version. I decided to go with the CK version (which was a little more expensive) as I am aware that CK tools are of good quality. I bought it from Screwfix, who had one in stock (and were open on Sunday morning). So far, it has done what I need and I am pretty sure that spare blades, etc. will be available when needed.

Colin.

[Bobdger]

I have used a RS auto stripper for the last 10 - 12 years stripping 3 -500 cables aweek.. They strip from 0.25 to 6mm² cables.The only problem is with 6mm² trirated cable is that you have to part strip then rotate the cable 90° to fully remove the insulation. RS Part number 613 044. Bob

[ColinTheAmpMan1]

Originally Posted by ColinTheAmpMan1

Hi all and thanks for the help.

I think I have found just what I need, now. I purchased a CK automatic wire stripper, which seems to be very like the Stanley FatMax version. I decided to go with the CK version (which was a little more expensive) as I am aware that CK tools are of good quality. I bought it from Screwfix, who had one in stock (and were open on Sunday morning). So far, it has done what I need and I am pretty sure that spare blades, etc. will be available when needed.

Colin.

I am left with a question...
This wire-stripper has a "Micro adjustment" knob on the left-hand holding jaw. It is marked with a double-ended arrow and the "+" and "-" markers. It is supposed to be for setting the tool to strip wires smaller than 0.2mm squared. I can't find any guide to tell me how I might set this, however hard I have looked. Does anyone know how to adjust this appropriately?

Thanks for any help, C.

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Folks, not sure if still available, but we had a Eubanks cut and strip to length machine at work in the 70's. It did a great job once set up correctly

Ed

[Nickthedentist]

Looks a bit industrial for hobbyist use!
https://www.eubanks.com/product-cate...ire-strippers/