ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Sidecutters as Strippers

If i'm doing machine build i use t-strippers because they do a better job for terminal strips and you have a 1000 plus termanations to make and only use a screwdiver and stripper once everything is mounted .For construction i use side cutters,needle nose or diagnal cutters.Strippers are a one use tool and either i lose them or can't find them fast enough.The trick is not to cut the insulation but to crease it and pull it apart.I never nic the wire that way.

[This message has been edited by frank (edited 09-18-2003).]

Did I mention I also strip the romex jacket this way!

Frank,
That's the way to do it.

Hey I have a new pair of after factory kleins with a #12 hole I made with a hot pice of BX a few years ago.Can't use them though cause I still get mad.

Maybe I shouldn't speak since those of you who have been in the trade 25 years have been in the trade longer than I've been alive. I am a big fan of Ideal super-T strippers...after I throw the spring away and hacksaw off the part that the spring clips to. It used to drive me nuts watching the older people I worked with use linesman's to strip, but then again I never had to troubleshoot their work because they never had any problems.

Sandro wrote:

Correct. I have both (should have stated that in the beginning). Obviously the red one gets the most use because I deal with a lot of stranded wire. The yellow one gets pulled out every few months....at most.

Yellow T-strippers are a permanent fixture in my bib overalls. Its what I use on odd-jobs, or when I'm one of six guys splicing for a whole day.

I have used my lineman's for stripping, but its a freak occurence - usually if I've misplaced my T-strippers. Also see the foremen do it too... since they never have tools on them, and use whatever they can borrow. Classic case of do as I say, not as I do.

Like Sven, I work a lot on radio and electronic equipment, and use various types of wirestrippers. I have side and end-action strippers, and several pairs of the automatic types and use them as the mood takes me. Sometimes when trying to strip a wire in an awkwartd corner one typoe wins over another on ease of access.

When it comes to house wiring, I have to confess to using side cutters sometimes.

I've always used side-cutters to strip wires.
Having said that, when I am working on a new switchboard with lots of wires, I normally use pliers to strip and twist the wires, saves time changing tools.

I use Channelock pliers for the lot, every now and then i might use my pair of Klien side cutters but not often.

A pair of Channelocks last me less than 6 months.

Craig