Suggestion for wire stripper for small gauges - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 03:28:38 am
content: I'm looking for suggestions for wire strippers suitable for use on smaller-gauge wire (< 24 ga). I prefer "automatic" strippers that grip the wire and eject the insulation.Here are my current go-to strippers: they're cheap Chinese ones, I think I paid about $5 for them at a funky tool store, that actually work very well. "Diamond Brand, Made in China". After I bought them I had to do a lot of filing and bending to get them to perform well. After this "tune-up" they work as well as my American-made ones by GB that have superior fit and finish but don't really work any better; got to give credit to Chinese cottage industry.These work fine down to about 24 AWG (size of CAT5 conductors), but below that they're pretty useless. So I need something made specifically for smaller gauges. Inexpen$ive would be nice, though not necessary. Chinese stuff is OK.

author: dobsonr741
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 04:01:33 am
content: Look at Hakko CHP CSP-30-1, if you mean smaller is thinner.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 04:26:37 am
content: Nice, good price, but not automatic.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 05:06:15 am
content: I have these:https://www.specialized.net/teledyne-tw-1-stripall-standard-thermal-wire-stripper.htmlUnlike all mechanical strippers, they don't leave nicks in the conductor that can result in breakage during handling. You can shop around on eBay and such for a reasonable price, $500 is a bit rich.There are also these:https://jonard.com/adjustable-wire-strippers-adjustable-wire-stripper?v=511I haven't tried them yet, but they look simple and handy.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 06:12:40 am
content: 1. $512.28; what, are you nuts?2. Have to buy through a distributor.Next!

author: Poroit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 06:20:20 am
content: What is your budget?Do you want cheap & cheerful or good quality?Weidmuller is good stuff if you can afford it.https://www.weidmuller.com.au/en/products/workplace_accessories/tools/stripping.jsp

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 06:28:34 am
content: Well obviously I want both cheap and good.If I have to pay a little extra for "good" I'm willing to do that.Certainly not about to shell out >$500 for a pair of goddamn wire strippers ...

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 06:36:26 am
content: US and German made strippers easily avail to #30 ga.We use lots of Telecom IW and frame connect, 28 ga solid CU PVCAlso #30, 28 ga Kynar WWj

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 08:33:06 am
content: Assuming we are talking about “normal” insulation that strips easily (PVC, mPPE, polyolefin, Kynar, etc) then I recommend the Knipex Multistrip 10. On said normal insulation, it works great all the way down to 0.03mm2(32AWG).If you’re using challenging insulation (Teflon, Kapton, etc) then the Ideal Stripmaster has versions with special grips (look like grinding stone) that grip the wire without damaging the insulation. At least that’s what they claim; I haven’t used them.Thermal is great, but not automatic.Of course you can also spend $$$$$ on automatic stripping machines with rotary blades. Awesome but crazy expensive.

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 09:10:14 am
content: I have theKnipex Multistrip 10and like it a lot.I also have a few cheap Chinese clones – they are ok for larger diameters but will rip out strands in small diameter stranded wire...

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 10:34:52 am
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on October 28, 2024, 05:06:15 amThey are not bad, but the stripping blade is quite thin, and can get damaged. Mine didn't last more than a couple of years, I probably used the wrong wire, or had not set the wire gauge correctly, and possibly scraped the blade when pulling the wire. The user has to pull on the wire (in contrast to the tool mentioned below), so that's a bit out of control when using the tool.TheStripmaster Lite model 45-672costs about $100 and is suitable for wires down to 30 AWG, i.e. is great with thin Kynar wire for instance (which is what I mainly use it for), up to normal 24 AWG wire. I've used mine for more than 10 years, still on the original blades. There can be a faint tool impression on the insulator (as@tookimentions) and there are other tools that will not exhibit that. The impact depends on the use-case. For prototyping, it's not been an issue for me. I have a pair ofKnipex 12 12 02 wire strippersthat leave no impression on the insulator (the Knipex tool uses four blades, and pushes apart at the insulation cut position) but the Stripmaster Lite is a slightly easier-to-use tool and just feels more convenient; the Knipex tool is a bit more "specialist").There are also "tricks" possible with the Stripmaster Lite, to strip pieces of wire as short as an inch in overall length (the trick is to hold the wire with tweezers, in-between the gap between the blades and the insulation grip area).

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 06:17:12 pm
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on October 28, 2024, 05:06:15 amI have a few of the original German-made versions of these. (The Jonard are made in China.) I really like them for certain things. In particular, the stepless length stop is fantastic for preparing wires for contacts that need a very short, very precise strip length. (The Multistrip 10 has a minimum strip length of 3mm, in 1mm steps. For a recent project where I needed exactly 2.7mm, I added a few layers of tape onto the depth stop to bulk it up. Worth the effort for 100+ contacts, but not for one or two.)Something to remember about these is that the metric wire sizes are diameters of solid wire, not square mm cross sectional area, never mind cross section of stranded wire.They work very well on Teflon. Decent but not perfect on Kapton.It is unclear whether the German-made ones (sold by CK) are still being made; they’re back-ordered everywhere and have been for ages. The actual manufacturer appears to be a small family company. (In addition to CK, they used to be sold under many names, including Siemens.)

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 06:28:07 pm
content: Quote from: thephil on October 28, 2024, 09:10:14 amNot for small gauges, it's bad enough it does not have adjustable insulation stripping depth, but for small gauges it makes it basically unusable. Absolutely not worth it for the money it costs. Weidmuller Stripax is much better universal stripper, especially if you need smaller gauges. Multistrip feels like cheap Chinese shit in comparison, although price is almost the same.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 08:08:19 pm
content: OK, let me step in here a moment:0. I'm a hobbyist, not into production. So not day-in, day-out usage here.1. Max. price: ~$20 USD.2. I want an automatic stripper.3. If you're going to post something, please post links to actual tools w/prices, OK? I want to buy something, not have a theoretical discussion here. (If others want that that's fine, but not what I'm after.)

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 08:34:36 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/best-wire-strippers-for-small-awg-electronic-repair-in-2022/

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 08:49:50 pm
content: Thanks. That's a hell of a thread (3 pages) to wade through.It's looking like automatic strippers for small gauges are 1) not common and 2) kinda expen$ive.I'll keep looking.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 09:13:17 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on October 28, 2024, 06:28:07 pmI could not disagree more.It doesn’t have adjustable depth, but it nonetheless does better than Stripax on most wires. It is not “unusable” on smaller gauges, it works exceptionally well.I have the Multistrip 10, Precistrip 16, and Stripax at work. The Multistrip is hands-down the one I reach for first. The Precistrip I use for slightly more challenging stuff which has unusually thick or thin insulation. I rarely use the Stripax.The Multistrip doesn’t need adjustment to work perfectly for the vast majority of wires, and it needs significantly less hand force to operate than the others.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 09:13:59 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 28, 2024, 08:08:19 pmThen you are by definition looking at junk quality.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 09:27:41 pm
content: Great. Another snob post.You know what they say: one man's junk ...

author: ZGoode
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 09:33:38 pm
content: While it might have come off as rude to you, I'm willing to bet Tooki did not mean to be. He is kinda right though. You're looking for something pretty specific on practically 0 budget. When it comes to tools, particularly oddball specialty stuff, of which I would say this might fall into, it can get a little expensive. If you are looking for something halfway decent and cheapish the Jonards might be a decent bet (Digikey or Tequipment should carry them). Although for the really tiny stuff, I agree with what the other people are saying. Thermal strippers are great. I mainly use them for coax/multilayered, but they are really the best option for stripping cleaning and without damage.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 09:47:39 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on October 28, 2024, 09:13:17 pmIf it strips small gauges with thin insulation, you'd probably got good specimen with perfectly adjusted (wire holding) jaws for your job. Mine were not even adjusted to be straight from factory, so blade depth depended on side you put the wire to. After long experimenting with adjusting jaws I came to conclusion that it either won't strip tougher insulation or will cut into copper on small gauge wires with thin insulation. No universal way to adjust them to fit all the wires. Stripax on other hand is way more reliable tool that can be adjusted to particular insulation stripping depth. I have both strippers at home BTW, bought them brand new.As it's a work tool, that Stripax may have dull blades that need replacement.QuoteIt's basically the same as placing stripax adjustment to middle position and gluing it in place. There is zero automatic adjustment in this too. And their marketing selling point of it not needing adjustment is nothing but scam.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 11:02:08 pm
content: OK, I've decided that I'm too lazy to go through the dozen or more suggestions in that other thread someone posted here. Life's too short.So it'd be really nice if folks could post some links to actual, purchasable wire strippers (preferably automatic) capable of handling 30 AWG and, hopefully, not too expensive (OK, let's say < $30 or so). And of course based on your experience with those strippers, not a supposition based on what you saw or read.If it turns out that nothing like what I want is available in that price range, then so be it and I'll look for another solution (like non-automatic strippers).I hope that's not asking too much.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 11:11:21 pm
content: Good tools are expensive but are a joy to use. Cry once and smile forever.I have a Jonard tools ST-550 which works well for thin wires. But it needs manual adjustment and isn't automatic. The ST-550 goes down to 28AWG, the ST-450 down to 36 AWG.The Knipex multistrip 10 looks like a nice tool to me though.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 11:21:01 pm
content: Likethis from Amazon? ~$50. A little outside my budget, but under consideration.Except that I seem to remember someone writing, either here or in that other thread, that these didn't work all that well. Have you personally used these?

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 11:31:52 pm
content: Amazon has theseKnipex "12 62 180 7,09" Insulation Strippers"(not sure what all that means). For right about $40.Has anyone here used these? How well do they work?Aaargh, I can't tell what size wires these handle: the description says "For single, multiple and fine stranded cables of 0.2 up to 6 mm² with standard insulation". WTF does that mean? why can't they just use wire gauge sizes, for chrissakes? What's the equivalent of 0.2mm?Are these automatic? Hard to tell how they work from the pictures.

author: ZGoode
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 11:34:11 pm
content: Yes, if you are looking to spend as little as possible, that is probably one of your only options. I have both the ST450 and the ST550. They work "ok". Not great and they are a little fiddly, but other than going with a thermal wire stripper (which will obviously be out of the budget you have given) they are probably your only semi reliable option.I have those Knipex strippers as well, and they don't work well for anything smaller than probably about 18awg maybe? I only use them for medium gauge wires with relative success.Also they use mm2 because they are made in Germany. mm2 is what is used outside the US. AWG (AMERICAN wire gauge). 0.2mm2 is probably about 26awg or 28awg if I had to guess, although I doubt they will work great that small

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 11:36:16 pm
content: Quote from: ZGoode on October 28, 2024, 11:34:11 pmThank you for that; I can cross those off my list. My GB strippers (electrician's tools) work wonderfully well in that range and even smaller.Eventually, by the process of elimination ...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2024, 11:55:21 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 28, 2024, 11:31:52 pmI have that one as well as a general purpose stripper (including mains wiring). They work well for 24AWG PVC insulated wires. Although mine doesn't have the adjustable force silder. I wouldn't say it feels as if it is a quality tool though.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 12:50:57 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 28, 2024, 11:31:52 pmIs it really that hard to google?0.2mm² = ~24AWG6mm² = 10AWG

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 02:59:16 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on October 29, 2024, 12:50:57 amI like it when other people do my homework for me.Maybe I'll do the same for you someday.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 02:09:34 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 28, 2024, 09:27:41 pmNothing to do with snobbery.Very simply, you’re looking for a precision tool at pricing that is entirely unrealistic.Wire strippers for thin wires are by definition fairly precision tools; they have to be.Look at even name-brand tools: Wraper appears to have gotten a bad example of one from a top-quality manufacturer. If even that can slip through, you cannot hope to have good quality from a super cheap tool.And regardless of how often you use a tool, it must do its job. A tool used frequently might require improved ease of use, but even the tool for occasional use must do its job successfully.Bad wire strippers damage the wire, by damaging the conductor or severing it entirely. In small wires, the difference between insufficient strip and severing strands of the conductor can be a few hundredths of an inch.A cheap $20 stripper that cuts through your wires instead of stripping them is useless. You might get lucky and get a good example, or you may get unlucky and get one that is unusable.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 02:16:27 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on October 28, 2024, 09:47:39 pmIt sounds to me like you got a seriously defective unit. I’ve used four Multistrip 10’s over the years (at different workplaces) and they’ve all performed flawlessly.The Multistrip 10 is not at all the same as a Stripax in the middle setting. It does thin wires better and big wires just as well, but with less insulation scuffing, and with a slightly neater cut end of the insulation.It’s a practically brand new Stripax, so not dull blades.One very important tip for the Multistrip 10: you must operate it swiftly. It does not work well if you squeeze the handles with trepidation. I’ve seen some YouTube reviewers make this mistake. For whatever reason that tool really does not work if the handles are closed slowly. So hold the handle towards the open end and squeeze quickly and decisively.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 02:21:52 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 28, 2024, 11:02:08 pmWell, it is, actually.For good quality in your budget, you’ll have to forgo automatic. The Klein Tools Klein-Kurve strippers are excellent (they come in multiple size ranges, #11057 goes from 22-32AWG for stranded wire).Quote from: Analog Kid on October 29, 2024, 02:59:16 amYeah right. If you’re too lazy to do homework for yourself, then you’re definitely too lazy to do it for others! 😂

author: 3roomlab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 06:04:09 pm
content: when I saw that thermal wire stripperI thought there must be alternativeswell hakko has one which costs even moregood lord !

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 06:14:07 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on October 29, 2024, 12:50:57 amWhen you don't have access to Google or handbooks, you can do the math based on these axioms and mnemonics:1) AWG 10 is very close to 0.10 inch diameter.2) 3 AWG numbers is a factor of 2:1 in area (and hence in current rating), just like with dB.3) Metric wires are specified by cross-section area, not diameter.4)A= {pi}D2/45) 1 inch = 25.4 mm (exactly).

author: ZGoode
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 06:17:08 pm
content: Quote from: 3roomlab on October 29, 2024, 06:04:09 pmYou can get older surplus ones for relatively cheap on Ebay. I have an old Meisei hot wire stripper that I use for coax that just refuses to die. I got it from work years ago, but it looks like they go for about 50-100 on eBay

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 07:25:22 pm
content: So is it the consensus™ here that there are no decent automatic wire strippers capable of stripping small gauges (say 30 AWG) for under an arm and a leg? "Decent" meaning usable without cutting conductors, not necessarily "pro" quality.What is the minimum price for such a tool? Any cheap-ish Chinese tools that do the job? (Referring back to the very first post here showing my Chinese strippers that actually work quite well, but not down to small sizes.)Again, can people please post links to specific, purchasable tools instead of just mentioning them (or linking to the mfgr. site with no price info)?

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 07:43:27 pm
content: What is your budget for this tool, in quantitative dollars?

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 07:54:37 pm
content: At this point I'm up to ~$30 USD.Let me know if that makes anyone laugh ...

author: ksjh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 10:00:57 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on October 29, 2024, 02:21:52 pmThe non-automatic Gedore 8353-1 are also not bad and quite cheap (specified for 20-30AWG solid core, 32AWG stranded works).

author: ksjh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 10:31:25 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 29, 2024, 07:25:22 pmI tried Chinese strippers similar to Knipex Multistrip 10 and Weidmüller Stripax. They are available on AliExpress for well under 10 USD delivered. My Multistrip clone (wire stripper D3) was quite acceptable, but the Stripax clone (the one that allows adjustments) did damage the insulation in all settings, either by slipping or by biting too hard, no middle ground. I guess these cheap tools are hit-and-miss, not sure about consistent quality.Then again, just like @tooki, I very much prefer my own original Multistrip 10 over the Stripax at work. And the clones are clearly inferior in any case.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 11:00:28 pm
content: Any chance you could post a link to the Multistrip clone? Would be appreciated here.

author: ksjh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 11:14:34 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 29, 2024, 11:00:28 pmThere are so many offers. For example, just copy 32917032356 into the search box on AliExpress and select "LB-1" from the three different models offered there. I ordered mine years ago, the offers and seller change rapidly on this platform. But this one looks very similar/the same to mine. But I can promise nothing, the quality might be much worse now.(I will not post an AliExpress link directly, as I hate it when I click on one by accident and only then notice that it was a localized one and all my settings there are completely off afterwards.)

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2024, 11:55:35 pm
content: I found--I think--those strippers, or ones similar,on AliExpress. (I stripped out all nonessential info from that URL, basically everything after "?" in the string. Good trick to know.)Couldn't pass up the intro offer--$0.99--so they're on their way. Even if they're crap it's worth a try.99 cents?!?!?!? We'll see.What's the deal with AliExpress, anyhow? Of course I've seen them coming up in search results all the time, but this is my first interaction with them. Are they the Asian Amazon? Just a humongous sell-everything retailer?Also, are all new customers allowed just one $0.99 purchase to suck you in?

author: ksjh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 12:09:51 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 29, 2024, 11:55:35 pmEven the hostname part in your URL is country-specific,usin your case. When I access AliExpress from Germany, I would normally get URLs starting withde, but the problem is that the auto-translated German text is complete garbage. I always switch to English, this is somewhat more understandable once you get used to the strange terminology.Quote from: Analog Kid on October 29, 2024, 11:55:35 pmJust a B2C platform similar to eBay or Amazon Marketplace. It is part of Alibaba(B2B). A lot of Chinese sellers offer their goods there. Sometimes, the shipping is handled by AliExpress (Choice program), sometimes by the sellers. For shipping to the EU, AliExpress also takes care of import duties now via IOSS for most items (at least in their Choice program and under 150 EUR).

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 12:19:45 am
content: invest in thermal, mechanical ones are a bunch of non sense in comparison IMO. I have basically seen everything else nick strands. If your working with cables, thats unacceptable.I don't use them all the time, but when I do, its basically guaranteed

author: ksjh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 12:30:13 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 30, 2024, 12:19:45 amI think it depends on the field of application. For my private prototypes, I could not care less when a few strands are nicked. But I rarely noticed any damage worth speaking of when mechanical stripping is done properly. It is not like proper mechanical stippers pull out hundreds of strands. For production, aviation or space applications, you would perhaps take care to avoid any damage. But come on, take a look what the OP really wants and needs.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 12:56:48 am
content: do you really accept ANY strands in a mains application? Like if you are redoing a connector on a back panel, or a fuse holder, or what have you?Its a good tool to have.It does not need to be a airplane, it could be as simple as 250 fast on for replacing a damaged cord. Thats the difference between knowing its as good as new, or if you just made a potentially unsafe appliance. Its part of that non idea safety stackup.Is the copper to spec? could the insulation be a bit old? did the crimp tool lose a bit of accuracy? Each time you improve anything that effects interconnects you can rest a little easier.certainly a thermal stripper is not a exorbitant expense for the peace of mind it gives you. Maybe your even in a hurry and forgot that it CAN damage and lose strands.A 7 strand cable. Lose 2 strands due to negligence and your down to 70%. Easy to miss it. Add in some other problem with that like maybe the gauge is off, or the alloy is off, and the interior of a cable is a little corroded and you can easily run into a problem on the most trivial of jobs. Feed it into the wrong hole and you can even lose 3 strands. Hopefully you notice but there is always a chance something happened to make you forget.I got that $500 german auto adjust high precision mega cool strip tool. it still eats strands sometimes, especially on the weirder insulation. Once in a while.I got thermal when I wasted like $150 of RF connectors on 7 strand coaxial indent center pins. And coaxial outers. Fine braid is super easy to damage and you run into it pretty quick if you keep at electronics.and wIth the thermal you got foot pedal control so you keep your eyes and hands on the job, as precise as you are, without any weight and visual obstructions to deal with.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 02:00:27 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 30, 2024, 12:56:48 amWell, you're talking about (relatively) big wires there, and for that I already have excellent strippers (automatic) that don't nick the wires. Ever.What I'm looking for here is a stripper for smaller (down to 30 AWG) wires. If they aren't stripped perfectly each and every time it's no biggie, just so long as it doesn't shred all the strands.It would be nice if people answering here would keep my requirements in mind and not assume their own criteria.

author: eliocor
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 06:04:45 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 30, 2024, 02:00:27 amAnalog Kid, you are rough, lazy and unpolite with the people who are trying to help you. For the sake of discussion, please try to behave better!

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 06:09:12 am
content: its the only wire stripper I would personally bother using on small wires actually. The big wires there is risk. I was giving you an example of how its useful for big wires (which normally some people don't seem to consider a problem, even though it can cause serious problems) even though obviously you want to use it on tiny wires more then anything.You know, to prove it is generally valuable. Because hearing the "its not a space shuttle!!!!" crap gets old.. its like worksmanship and quality only seems to matter if you hurt more then... 3 people or destroy a millions of dollars of property?I am simply saying its a powerful and worthwhile tool that lets you have top tier quality with massive time savings and it pays for itself quick. I am sure everyone here gets the old magnifier and light out every time they cut a wire thoughno doubt your just going to go to the school of hard knocks

author: ksjh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 06:32:41 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 30, 2024, 12:56:48 amYes, this is valid point, some coax is hard to strip without any damage by mechanical means and/or requires precise adjustments to the tools. But does your thermal stripper work at all with FEP or PTFE insulation/dielectric for example for RG316?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 06:50:24 am
content: yeah it will go through teflonmechanically dealing with fep over braid is justso bad.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 06:19:20 pm
content: Quote from: ksjh on October 30, 2024, 06:32:41 amFor what it's worth, one manufacturer of thermal strippers (Patco, probably the lowest-cost thermal strippers on the market) makes their strippers in "low" and "high" temperature versions, with the high temperature ones recommended for PTFE, Kapton, etc.

author: ZGoode
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 06:36:08 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on October 30, 2024, 06:19:20 pmI'm gonna have to check out these PATCO ones. I was looking at buying a different sized tip/handle for my Meisei tweezers and it turns out to be $800 (WTF!) for just the handle.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 04:58:18 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 29, 2024, 07:54:37 pmHere you go:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/best-wire-strippers-for-small-awg-electronic-repair-in-2022/msg4296778/#msg4296778https://www.jensentools.com/product/618PL1118-PA1118

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 05:51:27 am
content: Quote from: ZGoode on October 30, 2024, 06:36:08 pmalso its the only way i found to maintain a semblance of sanity dealing with shitty ribbon , particuarly when tis almost too short.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 07:57:11 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on November 01, 2024, 04:58:18 amNot automatic. Didn't you get that that's my preference here?BTW, a post in that thread is wrong: automatic means the stripper grips the insulation and pulls it away from the stripped wire automatically.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 09:04:50 am
content: Perhaps OT, but related to thermal strippers and ribbon cable, I don't need to do that often. When I do, my "hybrid" striper (attachment) works great. A hot air gun (high volume) heats the spring clamp. The wire handles stay comfortably warm. I am not sure where it's directed makes a difference , but I blow down the open channel too. I have only used it on PVC and suspect it may not work well with high temperature insulation.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 02:12:00 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 01, 2024, 07:57:11 amYes, I got it that automatic is your preference and also that up to $30 is your budget - so yes I understand those parameters. What I also know is that it is hard to find a stripper that will be precise and easy and fast to use on wire as small as 30 AWG, and also fit your budget.If you try the tool in the link you will not have an automatic tool but you will be able to strip wires very fast - maybe even faster than an automatic tool, and possible more precisely than any automatic tool you will find for under $30. This tool strips insulation off 30 AWG (and it has a range of 20-30 AWG) with incredible consistency - it gets the insulation off easy and fast without harming the conductor.I have bought about 10 of these even though my first one continues to operate flawlessly. I keep a couple as backups in case the first ever gets lost or damaged and the rest have been for gifts for others including an EE and a ME and other friends. After about 10 years around here and plenty of test equipment, tools, components, and other purchases driven by “TEA” these rank at or near the top in value per $.Buy them from Amazon for about $18 and if they don’t perform you can send them back for a refund.Like Tooki and others have been trying to kelp you recognize, when people are trying to help you might want to consider how you input, process, and reply to the information being provided.Question: How many wires are you going to strip how often?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 03:40:50 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on October 29, 2024, 02:16:27 pmSoz for the long quote. Wanted the full context.Based on this discussion, and similar previously, I coughed £80 for a Multistrip 10. I normally use theCK CK Abisoliererones for kynar wirewrap 30awg solid core, but it's not so hot on short length, particularly when the other end is soldered to something. I hoped that the Knipex would solve that issue.Have to say that for this application it is complete pants and just cut off the wire instead of stripping it. For other wires there are many much cheaper solutions, all perfectly good, so realistically it's a waste of £80 from my point of view.Edit: So maybe 30awg solid core isn't it's strong point. Looking around for something else, all I could find was UTP drop cable. According to the specs it is 28awg mutli-strand, so should be well within spec for the Multistrip 10. Looked good, until I took a closer look and saw it's snipped a strand (photo attached - I bent it slightly to make it obvious. Originally it was tucked into the bundle so hard to see).Nice movement to it, but it's not good at what it's sold for.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 04:23:21 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 01, 2024, 03:40:50 pmAs I already said, its problem is that blade penetration depth is not adjustable. You can unscrew front jaws and adjust them for particular wire insulation thickness, but that's it. If you adjust it for thin insulation, it will fail to strip thicker insulation. And if you adjust it for average, it will be fine for most wires butwill cut into copperwhen insulation is thin. Stripax has depth adjustment for a good reason, and as it was released much earlier than Multistrip 10 that has the same operation principle, I find it unforgivable to release a tool for about the same price but with no adjustment. I love Knipex tools but this one is a disappointment.BTW I haven't used Phoenix Contact WIREFOX 10 but from its looks it might be great for thin wires with thin insulation. It's basically Stripax but rated for thinner wires. Also it can be fitted with different blades, including for PTFE.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 04:50:41 pm
content: Stripax only goes down to 0.08mm (28awg). For that and up I useThomas and Bettswhich is perfectly OK and infinitely adjustable. Also uses 4-sided cuts, and the only real issue is determining the cut length. Also needs a minimum length for the movement to work, but for other than stripboard it's now my go-to for stripping (took a while to get there though).I get the feeling that for thin wire the stripper is best if it has fixed size cutters. Automatic just doesn't seem to get it right.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 06:03:39 pm
content: Photo of my 10-year-old Stripmaster Lite, still on the original blades.It's excellent for 30 AWG solid-core Kynar, and works great for slightly thicker wire too, e.g. normal stranded wire as used with proto-boards.There is a small niche of wires it fails on; stranded 30 AWG PTFE wire in particular (see the purple wire) where the insulation isn't fully removed (the insulation fragment could be snipped off, but it's clear the Stripmaster Lite isn't a good fit for this wire). It's a challenge for many wire-strippers.However, that silver-plated stranded PTFE wire is quite expensive, I think if a user needs wire strippers for stripping that wire regularly, then they may not have an issue buying a different tool for it (I use more specialist Knipex wire strippers that can handle that wire).You can also see the faint tool impressions left by the Stripmaster Lite on the insulators.This Stripmaster Lite tool is used regularly by me, because it's quick to use and lightweight. I only bring out the larger Knipex tool if absolutely needed.For thicker solid-core wire (e.g. as used on breadboards), I use yet another different Knipex tool that is quite low-cost.The stripmaster lite is certainly not in the $30 ballpark however. It costs $100 and is probably worth that (nowadays). When I purchased 10 years ago, it was closer to $40.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 06:40:14 pm
content: I would buy the Stripmaster like a shot were it not for the format of it - the sideways opening seems to be asking for it to bang into whatever the (short) but of wire is attached to. I really want something that remains static in space, but if it's going to move then it moves away.So close...

author: m98
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 07:29:12 pm
content: Check out the Jokari PWS-PLUS 001, not automatic, but just as fast

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 07:37:51 pm
content: The head of the tool isn't as large as some wire strippers, and it can work in some tight spots, but you're right, it can often get in the way for sure (the movement is in the direction of the loose end of the wire, but in a tight location the head can hit something, or the body of the tool might need to be placed closer than practical if the wire is short). If the wire is not attached, then it's a pleasure to use this tool, and the strip is clean repeatably.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 07:41:35 pm
content: Quote from: m98 on November 01, 2024, 07:29:12 pmHad a look at that when it was mentioned in one of the other threads, but don't see what it really does better than my existing CK job.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 08:49:27 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on November 01, 2024, 02:12:00 pmOK, I get it that such a thing is "hard to find", but I'd like to know: is it impossible to find or just difficult? If impossible, then I'll quitand start looking for something else.I do have non-automatic strippers like the ones suggested, and I think they may go down to 30 AWG; I'll have to check on that.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 10:22:48 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 01, 2024, 08:49:27 pmYour logic is flawed. You can't prove something is impossible. Every poster has said that they know of no product that meets your specification. Now, It's time for you to show they are wrong. We cannot prove that to you, so why waste our time?

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2024, 11:31:17 pm
content: "Impossible" in this case isn't some absolute value: if someone knowledgeable here knows from their experience that I won't find such a thing, then it's valid for them to say it's impossible. And I'll take their word for it.This isn't a pissing contest: I'm not trying to prove myself right or anyone else wrong. I just want a decent fucking pair of wire strippers that don't cost an arm and a leg, if that isn't asking too much.Sheesh.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 12:31:50 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 01, 2024, 11:31:17 pmNo, you have proven that youwon’ttake our word for it. You get angry at us and insult us, accuse us of ignoring your requirements, and then ask the same question again.Multiple of us have been crystal clear to you: what you want (a particular set of functional requirements, at a very, very low price point) does not exist. You can sacrifice features to meet your price point, or you can sacrifice quality and risk blowing your budget on a tool that does not work. (“Work” defined as “doing the intended job without causing significant damage to the workpiece”.)Quote from: Analog Kid on November 01, 2024, 11:31:17 pmMultiple people have explained to you repeatedly that itistoo much to ask. You cannot meet your functional requirements at the price cap you’ve set.The fact that you keep repeating the question over and over after it’s been answered, and your impatience and rudeness in your responses, sure makes it seem that itisa pissing contest to you.What do you think, exactly? That we know of suitable products but are withholding them to piss you off? Don’t you think we would be happy if we could recommend a great, cheap tool? No, we are sharing what we know because we’ve done the same searches, we’ve tried cheap tools, and in the end, are giving you the best advice we can.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 08:41:54 am
content: QuoteTheselook like very close clones of the Knipex job and cost a lot less (even below your ballpark). I am tempted to replace the real Knipex with these - there are a couple of reviews that say they are fragile, but it's Amazon (easy returns) and cheap enough to get several in the lifetime of a more professional tool.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 08:59:03 am
content: So, budget limitations aside -- is there anautomaticwire stripper which handles30 AWG (single strand) with PTFE/Tefzel/Kynar/Kapton insulationreliably?The Knipex MultiStrip 10 is specified down to 32 AWG, but only standard PVC insulation. Weidmüller's Stripax is only spec'd down to 28 AWG, and seems to compete with the Knipex Precistrip 16 there.So if one goes "by the book", none of them promises to handle 30 AWG with tougher insulation. In your experience, does one of them do it well nevertheless? Or do you have other recommendations?EDIT: When I mention "automatic", the most important aspect for me would be that the tool clamps the wire while cutting and pulling off the insulation. I don't mind setting the diameter or tension manually before stripping several or many wires in a row. But with my current manual stripper I often struggle to hold the wire securely -- particularly when I have already soldered one end into place, then cut the wire to length and want to strip the other end.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 03:09:52 pm
content: The Weidmüller Mini-Duro-Stripax claims to, using special blades. See page 52 of the PDF catalog:https://mdcop.weidmueller.com/awp/A/Weidmueller_Assets/88330The Ideal Stripmaster line has gazillions of models and options, including special jaws to hold slippery insulation.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 04:20:24 pm
content: Search on Amazon for Tubtap stripper. Might be 2 models under $20. Spec’d to 32 AWG.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 04:37:37 pm
content: Seem to be a badge of the one I posted earlier (or vice versa, but most likely both are badges of something else). There's a more expensive (but a very small amount) one with adjustment but on the UK Amazon site the reviews are entirely Vine ones, a couple of which obviously haven't a clue why these might be useful, and even then it gets only 4.7 stars!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 05:48:27 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 02, 2024, 04:37:37 pmShameless copy of Multistrip 10. Many reviews that they fall apart after barely any job done.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 06:24:29 pm
content: There's no one-size-fits-all unfortunately, so sometimes several tools are needed. Here's a video summary of Knipex wire strippers that work well with PTFE:PTFE is demonstrated 7mins30sec into the video. Excellent tool, doesn't leave any tool marks on the insulation. The wire depth guide could be a bit nicer but that mostly does the job.However, that model isn't appropriate for thin wires.There is an almost-identical model in that range, called12 12 02which is intended for finer wires down to 32 AWG. I have that model (sometimes it's on discount on Amazon, but still nowhere near a $30 ballpark, more like $150), but since the tool is physically large, I prefer using the smaller and slightly lower-cost Stripmaster Lite mentioned earlier (model 45-672) for typical 30 AWG Kynar wire etc. PTFE is quite a specialist use-case perhaps, that demands the better wire-strippers. Used stripmaster tools might approach $30 on ebay, but I have not checked. These tools are not very good when working in small spaces however, as discussed further up the thread. The head of the tools is quite bulky in comparison to other tool styles.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 06:55:23 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 02, 2024, 08:41:54 amWhere (specifically)? How much?

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 07:21:22 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 02, 2024, 06:55:23 pmThere's a link right there in the text you quoted...

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 07:55:44 pm
content: QuoteWhen he is demoing how crap the cheap ones are, he is matching the cutter hole to the outside of the wire, so it's no surprise that it's not cutting them! Even if he thought that was the right one, he should have then tried the smaller hole to see if it nicked the wire.I gave up there - I'd've ended up just shouting at the screen

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 08:09:14 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 02, 2024, 03:09:52 pmThank you! The Mini-Duro-Stripax looks very good indeed. I like the "pistol" form factor, they seem to be quite lightweight and handy. Thanks for sharing the catalog link; one really needs the part numbers to know what one is buying!The basic tool with a standard knife insert (for PVC AWG 18..28) is not that expensive at less than 60€; but the knife inserts are more than 40€ each -- hmm...QuoteNot my favorite form factor, but a solid (and hopefully precise) all-metal construction. The datasheet gives an overview of what's available:https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2291620.pdf. It seems model 45-098 is what I want for wire sizes down to 30 AWG, or its metric equivalent 45-098-341. EDIT: Or maybe the smaller Stripmaster Lite, 45-672?The replacement blade shows individual U-shaped openings for each wire diameter. That makes me confident that it can cut challenging insulation materials cleanly, but makes me wonder how the stripper is used. Are all these openings accessible in parallel and I have to make sure to put the wire into the right notch every time?Either the Mini-Duro-Stripax or the Stripmaster will end up on my Christmas wishlist, I guess. Now all I have to do is make up my mind...

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 08:19:49 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 02, 2024, 07:55:44 pmIt's quite an old video so I cannot say for sure, but I believe I would have done a dry run for that cheap tool and decided which hole was most suitable (for all three of the attempts shown). Sometimes it's easy to miss what people would like to focus more on, even though with hindsight it makes good sense.For that Knipex tool, again I had already pre-determined which holes were the best to use for each wire type (there were a lot to go through in that 12-min video, and none of the attempts are shown, apart from an initial demonstration about how the tool is actually used). Really the key points in the video are the performance for the different wire types for the Knipex tool (granted I didn't show very well quite how poor the "cheaper" tool was, although it really did stink in comparison to, say, a Stripmaster which it was modeled on).

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 08:29:43 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on November 02, 2024, 08:09:14 pmI have the 45-672 model, so if there's any particular wire you'd like to see stripped with it, let me know, and I will see what's the closest wire I have, and will take a photo of it stripped with that tool.Correct, as you say, all those are in parallel, and it's up to the user to insert into the correct notch. If it's in a wider notch, then insulation fragments remain, but if it's in a smaller notch then the wire can be accidentally cut. But once it has been determined which is the correct notch, then it's easy to always insert in the correct one.With that tool, with solid-core 30 AWG Kynar wire for instance, then it's always the smallest notch that is used, and it's a clean strip every time. If I'm stripping general PVC hook-up wire (10/0.1 mm stranded) then I'll use the largest notch. For 30 AWG stranded, it can be one of the two center holes (and as mentioned earlier, if it is 30 AWG PTFE stranded, then there's no completely good notch; one notch will leave fragments of insulation, and the adjacent one will nick the wire).

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 08:42:30 pm
content: It's noticeable that all the 30awg strippers, that actually work, have fixed-size holes for cutters, whereas the self-adjusters don't work properly at that size. I am slightly put off by having fixed holes since there is a limit to how many are available, and I'd always be worried that I have wire size that falls in between holes. But realistically that's no different to the CK I already use.QuoteYes. If I can find a decent local supplier I would struggle to ignore that one.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 08:44:55 pm
content: Quote from: shabaz on November 02, 2024, 08:29:43 pmDo you like the handling, especially in tight spots? (Say if one end of a short wire is already attached to the device under test or prototype, and you need to strip the other end?) I would imagine that strippers which have their "business end" on the front -- like the Stripax or Knipex Multistrip -- have an advantage there over the sideways orientation of the Stripmaster?

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 09:57:25 pm
content: The attached photo shows the only wire strippers I have that can be used with thin wires. Hopefully, it can help for a size comparison.Of those tools, the one on the left is my most recent purchase, it can be set for 30 AWG Kynar, and works fine for that, but I bought it for 0.6 mm diameter solid-core wire (for solderless breadboards etc). It can also be used to snip wires.The OK/Jonard tool hasn't been used in years (I found it in the back of a tool drawer just now); I think I damaged it at some point, but I've not retried it.The Knipex 12 12 02 is physically massive in comparison to the others. It's the only tool I own that can reliably strip 30 AWG PTFE stranded wire as well as a range of other wires, but it has that size/weight disadvantage; it isn't a very general-purpose tool as a result.In the other photo, there's a close-up of some wires stripped with the Stripmaster Lite. The red wire is about the thickest copper wire supported by the tool. The black stranded wire is 10/0.1mm. The thick blue insulation wire is silicone wire, and the thin blue is 30 AWG solid-core Kynar.There's a circuit board in the photo, which shows the use-case where one end of the wire is soldered first, and then the other end is cut and stripped. I placed it between pin headers, to try to make it realistic since boards will have other tall components on them. I was able to comfortably strip the wire down to 19 mm of insulation remaining, although I could probably reduce that to 17 mm or so with more creative positioning of the tool. So, I think 19-20 mm is comfortably realistic in that scenario.To be honest, I really like the Stripmaster Lite. It's the only pair of wire strippers I use regularly, since it will do the thin solid-core Kynar wire extremely well, plus the 10/0.1 mm normal PVC stranded wire for general PCB connections when prototyping. Those are the two wire types I use regularly.Since I don't wish to strip thicker solid-core wire with the Stripmaster tool (I don't know if it would support it, but I don't want to risk damaging the blades), for that I will just use the lower-cost Knipex tool on the left in that photo (model 11 82 130) which is fine, but probably there are better and even more lower-cost tools around than that. Still, that tool is fine for my purposes, and seems durable.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 09:59:09 pm
content: Well! Bless my soul...Digging out some needle files from the back of my 'last resort' tool drawer and stumbled across the attached strippers, RS 544-493 (but that number now references blades for a lesser stripper). On a whim I tried some 30awg Kynar with the result shown.I seem to recall acquiring these when an employee of a company that got purchased, and then closed down, by Cabletron when they were sweeping up competition. That's about 20 years ago, and I remember using them when that company was spawned, so add another decade or so. So old I forgot I'd forgotten about them!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 10:02:31 pm
content: QuoteThanks. Xmas is looking very expensive this year...

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 10:33:01 pm
content: Quote from: shabaz on November 02, 2024, 09:57:25 pmThank you so much for the effort of documenting the size comparison and the "PCB + short wire" use case! That puts things in perspective, literally, and makes me feel much better about the Stripmaster Lite.Quote from: PlainName on November 02, 2024, 09:59:09 pmThat's an impressive piece of kit -- looks rather like a Stripax or MultiStrip before those companies discovered thermoplastics... And a very nice result with the Kynar wire! How are the knife blades shaped on that tool? Just straight parallel blades, or individual grooves per wire size, or something else?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2024, 10:51:01 pm
content: QuoteStraight, just like the Multistrip 10. Has an adjustment wheel on the top (or bottom depending on preference), and even a screw adjuster to determine how much squeezing is needed to make it work.I recall now one reason it fell out of favour is that the blades move about 5mm before becoming fully closed, and that eats into how close to the other end you can get a cut - some mods would be 15 or 20mm of insulation. Thinking about it, similar strippers might be the same (forgot to check the Multistrip 10 before sending it back).

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 09:39:44 am
content: QuoteBut more importantly, you can't tell where the cut will start. These are designed to leave a specific cut length and for that they're great (assuming you haven't lost the little plastic bit!), but for my purposes I typically solder one end to some pin, lay out the wire and see where I need to make that cut to have that patch fit exactly. The CK style are super for that, except they pull on the entire wire and risk detaching the first end.Without trying them, I think the Stripmaster Lite would fit that usage.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 12:55:32 pm
content: Got aKnipex 12 40 200which is similar to the Multistrip 10 but has an adjuster. And is cheaper, for some reason. Tried the single-strand Kynar with a variety of adjustments, and it either cut off instead of stripping, or the wire slipped through the jaws as it was pulled. That's 0 out of 2 so far for Knipex.Figured it's probably OK for other wires, though, and a quick try on mains cable showed that worked OK. Out with the UTP again and the effort looked very promising - nice cut, clean wires. Just like all those videos you see where they try various wires and it all looks good.But... what they don't then do is look closely. Even with a microscope (sorry for the blurry image - got issues with the onboard camera at the moment) the wire looks good, although if you know what to look for you can see the damage in that photo. More obviously, though, is the snipped strand stuck in the cut off insulation. It was there in the first photo but not visible, and I suspect it's the same for all the Youtube ones - they look fine but no-one ever looks inside the strip just to check.Another one en route back to Amazon...

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 08:54:05 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on November 02, 2024, 08:09:14 pmDid you take a look at the full Stripmaster catalog? It’s interesting in that it also has the actual specs of the cutter dies. (Close inspection finds some interesting things, like two models that have the same wire range, but a different cutter diameter for 22AWG wire.) It also lists the various parts and accessories:https://www.idealind.com/content/dam/electrical/support/aerospace-catalog.pdf(2017 edition)(The newer 2022 catalog omits all those specs.https://www.idealind.com/content/dam/electrical/support/IDEAL-aerospace-catalog-2022.pdf)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 09:08:38 pm
content: Quote from: shabaz on November 01, 2024, 06:03:39 pmYou sure about that? I remember looking at the Stripmaster products nearly a decade ago and finding that the Lite cost about $100 and the big ones (especially the “custom” line) being significantly more than that, like $300+.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 09:23:31 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 03, 2024, 12:55:32 pmIt’s an older model.Quote from: PlainName on November 03, 2024, 12:55:32 pmI always look at the waste insulation when checking a stripper on a particular wire. Easier than counting the strands on the stripped wire.I have yet to find one stripper that works best for every type of wire I’ve tried. So your approach of trying and sending back is not likely to be 100% fruitful, because you will always find some wire that a particular stripper isn’t good for. (And that’s even without considering the really challenging insulation types.) For example, the MultiStrip 10, which again is my favorite tool overall, does really poorly on the conductors of 4-wire flat modular phone cable (the kind normally used with RJ-11 plugs), usually cutting strands. Yet it works perfectly on other wires with similar dimensions. There are all manner of interactions of conductor diameter vs insulation diameter, insulation material, and probably more.Also, an issue that pops up with small wires (but just isn’t as important with bigger ones) is the wire itself. If the wire is eccentric, i.e. conductors not perfectly centered in the insulation, a stripper is much more likely to damage strands. Top-quality wires are pretty much always perfect, but cheap wires can be all over the place. I think only a thermal stripper can really handle eccentric insulation while guaranteeing no conductor damage.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 09:31:56 pm
content: Hi,Not 100% sure, in GBP it was 36.04 + tax back then from Farnell, and I believe it was slightly cheaper than that in the US store (Newark). I also spec'd one for a lab in Germany at the time, and in Euro it was about the same. Maybe the larger stripmaster had a much higher cost.I'm glad I ordered at that time, definitely one of the better purchases. I feel sorry for a lot of young engineers; prices are crazy for tools now.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 09:33:06 pm
content: Wow, that was a great deal indeed!!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 09:48:32 pm
content: QuoteIt's actually a small range of wire I'm interested in - 20-30awg would be great if it Just Worked. And I wouldn't resent paying for quality. But I'm not going to swallow an £80 tool that doesn't do the basics that its advertising says it will.As it happens I spent the afternoon and alotof wire fine tuning the 12 40 200, and it will now do UTP without breaking a strand but leaves the insulation ragged. It can even do 30awg Kynar, but only if you hold the wire in place since it slips through the jaw otherwise. So I am on the fence at the moment. I have no doubt the Stripmaster and similar work due to the fixed holes, but one thing I dislike is having to place the wire in the right hole each time, so the Knipex style is attractive.Before trying the second Knipex I was looking for the Duro-Stripax since that has specific jaws for kynar, but I can find only one UK source and even the UK Weidmuller website doesn't list it. I am dubious that spare parts would be easy to come by.QuoteGot one. Never managed to successfully strip any wire. In fact, now you remind me I've been meaning to list it in Buy & Sell

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 10:46:59 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 03, 2024, 09:48:32 pmYou’re missing my point.AWG isn’t the only criterion. As I said, factors like the ratio of insulation diameter to conductor diameter, and the exact insulation material matter. PVC from one company won’t behave exactly the same as all PVC from other companies. Cross-linked (irradiated) insulator is much tougher than the same material without cross-linking. One manufacturer may have slightly thinner or thicker insulation than another. Some has a very smooth surface, others more textured. Some insulations are foamed, others are dense. Some insulation adheres to the conductors more than others. (This may be down to insulation material, or to processing.) The angle of the strand twisting will affect ease of stripping — the tighter twist of expensive wires takes a little more force to overcome.So your expectation thatallwires of a given gauge range, even if we limit ourselves to the “easy” insulation materials, will strip perfectly in a given stripperwith no exceptionsis just not realistic. It’s possible that you simply have wires that don’t work well in that particular stripper. A wire that works great in one stripper may work poorly in another and vice versa. It’s just how it is.And consider that your modest range of 20-30AWG means a range of about 0.25-0.8mm diameter, over a 3:1 ratio. It’s kind of a miracle that automatic strippers work at all, never mind with larger ranges.Quote from: PlainName on November 03, 2024, 09:48:32 pmHere’s a tip I use when I need a very clean, especially non-ragged cut on the insulation: squeeze the handles on the Knipex (either MultiStrip 10 or PreciStrip 16 in my case; should work with yours too) until the blades come down, but do not start to pull back. Grip the wire tightly and rotate the tool back and forth 90 degrees each way a few times. This will score the insulation. Then squeeze to strip. The scoring gives a much cleaner, squarer cut.Quote from: PlainName on November 03, 2024, 09:48:32 pmThat is remarkable. I found thermal strippers to be somewhat slow to use, but quite effective. They do require a particular technique, which is very simple, but must be used. (The ones I got to use, at my old workplace, were low temperature ones, so I did not try them on PTFE, Kapton, or other challenging insulation materials, just PVC.)What model are yours?

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 10:53:23 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 03, 2024, 09:33:06 pmSo maybe my quest here isn't so ridiculous after all, eh?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 10:54:37 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 03, 2024, 09:08:38 pmThe Stripmasters used to be quite cheap. I've seen professional wire-men using a variety of tools for stripping fine single core and stranded wires for various kinds of electronics, but the Stripmaster has been the most common. Especially in defence work, where the cables all have to be temperature tolerant, and thermal strippers don't really cut it. There have been quite a few clones over the years. Some have been just as good as the original, while others are junk.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:00:26 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 03, 2024, 10:53:23 pmIt isn’t 2014 anymore, as it turns out. (And sometimes things are on special deals.) Everyone’s recommendations are based on what you can buynow. So unless you have a time machine with which to go back in time and avail yourself of long-gone good deals, you should knock it off with your shitty, smug attitude.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:06:14 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on November 03, 2024, 10:54:37 pmI’ve mostly seen Stripmasters in mil-spec/aerospace training videos. I haven’t seen anyone use them in the wild, and I’ve yet find someone who told me they liked working with them. I have encountered old strippers of that type (but different brands) and tried them briefly, but didn’t care for them.As for thermal: the only insulation I can think of that thermal doesn’t work for are ones with fibers, like fiberglass or woven cotton, and silicone. Every thermal stripper manufacturer right now has models or settings for Teflon, Kapton, etc. It’s odd that you mention defense as an area where thermal “doesn’t cut it” because military and aerospace are exactly where I have seen thermal used the most! (In fact, they often specify it.)

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:11:09 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 03, 2024, 10:46:59 pmPatco PTS-3

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:12:45 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 03, 2024, 11:00:26 pmWellll, if it's available on a "special deal" (which apparently happens from time to time nowadays, not 2014), then it's available, no?QuoteShitty smug attitude? Right back atcha.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:23:29 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 03, 2024, 11:06:14 pmIts a long time since I've worked in defence, but the Strripmasters were the normal thing to use at that time. Some people used thermal strippers, but not many. You need to be really careful about fume extraction with some of the high temperature insulations. They can be nasty. Its fumes that got PTFE banned from most airborne applications.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:29:21 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 03, 2024, 11:12:45 pmUm, no? If someone here knew of a specialgoing on right now, they would tell you!If someone here chimes in with an awesome deal on a great tool, I’ll be just as happy for you as you will. But it seems unlikely to happen, given how electronics tools have been getting more expensive lately in general. And the occurrence of past sales is no promise of future ones. For example, many of the best deals are clearance sales, which by definition are not recurring on a given item. (At least not for items like electronics tools, which aren’t seasonal like clothes or Halloween candy.)As I told you before: nobody is withholding good deals from you. Everyone is giving you advice based on whatthey know. So you really need to stop being so rude and ungrateful to all of us.Quote from: Analog Kid on November 03, 2024, 11:12:45 pmYou reap what you sow. Your attitude is awful, and I’m not the only one to notice it. And even so, we keep helping because we like solving problems. You just need to be receptive to what we are saying and be appreciative of the information you are getting. Not this “HA! I CAUGHT YOU IN A LIE!” attitude you keep trotting out.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:32:28 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on November 03, 2024, 11:23:29 pmThanks for the reply. That makes total sense.What is puzzling is that some military and aerospace manuals explicitly say “no mechanical stripping”, at least for certain high-reliability assemblies, which I would interpret to preclude stripmasters. So that leaves what, thermal, laser, and for enameled magnet wire, chemical?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2024, 11:44:19 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 03, 2024, 11:11:09 pmWhat went wrong?There’s precious little information (reviews, etc) of the Patco products online, so I’m curious.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 12:07:50 am
content: Not used them since I first got them and tried them, which is a couple of years back. AFAIR, they either didn't cut the insulation or had it come off like melted marshmallow. Superficially that sounds like they were either too cold or too hot for the particular insulation, but when I get a new toy I spend quite some time learning the ins and outs so that when I need to use it I can Just Do It instead of wasting time learning about it then. So I am fairly sure I was diligent in trying to get them working for me.Maybe I'm just not cut out as a wireman

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 02:11:38 pm
content: Search on Amazon for Knoweasy Automatic Wire StripperThey sell two models. one for 10-24 AWG under $10 and one for 7-32 AWG under $20. Quality on each TBD.Function, price, quality. Might be a pick 2.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 05:20:38 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 03, 2024, 11:32:28 pmMaybe the military have changed their rules. I don't know why they would. It seems like the only argument against the stripmaster approach would be if it can be found to nick wires. It doesn't, if you follow the rules for their use. There used to be published figures about nick performance, showing no real difference between the robustness of a wire stripped with a stripmaster and stripped thermally. Perhaps they found people use the wrong hole in the stripmaster too often, and cause nicks. I always wondered why there were not compact stripmasters for just one wire size. A wireman will spend hours working on a loom that has only one type of wire in it, and a more compact tool would be easier to get into tight spaces.In military systems most of the wiring is crimped, unless its point to point on a board. Thermal strippers used to often leave a smear of molten insulation on the supposedly bare wire. With soldering that usually gets removed OK. With crimping it can be merged into the crimp. I don't know if that problem has been fixed with more recent thermal designs. If military customers are insisting on thermal strippers I assume it has.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 09:22:34 pm
content: Not automatic but looks interesting. Anyone used the Weicon Precision S?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 11:53:59 am
content: Yeah. Works OK, but I didn’t care for it because the minimum strip length of 5mm is too long.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 11:59:14 am
content: They all seem to have minimum 5mm except the CK style. I think I will have to accept that trimming the end after strip is going to be de rigueur for any non-CK.Does it require much effort to strip? The CK fails on that because it feels like it will pull the other end of the wire off whatever it's soldered to.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 12:13:28 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 05, 2024, 11:59:14 amThe MultiStrip 10 is about 3mm. I recently used it, with some layers of tape added to reduce strip length by fractions of the “steps” available, to achieve a 2.7mm strip length for Micro Fit 3.0 contacts. (And it was repeatable: I did over 100 contacts, and every one came out perfect.)The CK-style strippers are unmatched in this regard, having stepless strip length adjustment all the way down to essentially zero.As for effort, I honestly don’t remember, I only tried it briefly 3 or 4 years ago.The CK shouldn’t require that much effort. Make sure you’re using it correctly: not set too tight (remember, the AWG markings are for solid wire, so for stranded you must go up one size!), don’t squeeze excessively hard, and do a quarter turn left and a quarter turn right to completely cut the insulation before pulling back. I usually try to relax my grip ever so slightly before pulling back. That avoids the blades touching the copper, which increases effort dramatically.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 12:23:06 pm
content: QuoteI may well not beBut it is quite old so the blade could be getting blunt now. I will ensure I follow your instructions and check if that's any better.

author: unseenninja
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 01:00:04 pm
content: My weapon of choice for fine wires. Engineer PA-14. Goes from 34 AWG to 22 AWG. Sharp and accurate. Available on Amazon.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 01:12:58 pm
content: these Miller Ripley no nick strippers are not adjustable so soon become even more priceydownload the instruction sheet for the range infohttps://ripley-tools.com/product/nn/

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 01:53:01 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 05, 2024, 12:23:06 pmNah, no difference. But...I found the Knipex 12 40 200, with Kynar single-core when using fingers to stop the wire being pulled through, would easily strip to basically zero length. OK, notliterallyzero but actually shorter than the CK on minimum.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 02:46:54 pm
content: Quote from: armandine2 on November 05, 2024, 01:12:58 pmI have these, and I also have the older style pictured below which work much better.They used to be made by Clauss under the same brand name "No-Nik". The tool changed manufacturer's hands a couple of times, changed in design, and the only thing that remains is the "No-Nik" name, which unfortunately is a misnomer. The new design tends to gouge the conductor, but the old design truly does not nick it.The old version is not adjustable either, but is a great tool, IMO. You can still find them on ebay for various diameters in the range of $5 to $20. Tool #NN012 (0.012") is perfect for 30AWG, and handles any insulation type.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 09:49:01 pm
content: I'm quite pleased to report that I received my $0.99 strippers (automatic) from AliExpress today, and it gives me even greater pleasure to stick my tongue out at@tookiand the other naysayers and say "You were wrong! Wrong wrong wrong!".Because the very first time I tested my new toy, on a piece of 30-gauge wire-wrap wire, it stripped the wire perfectly. (I really didn't expect that.) Here are the results:Thus proving that yes, it is possible to obtain a pair ofautomatic wire stripperscapable of stripping small wire (down to 30 AWG) without spending an arm and a leg. Both stranded and solid.To qualify this assertion and make it crystal-clear: this suitsmy purposesas a hobbyist. I am not claiming that this tool is appropriate for production, or for critical work, although it may be suitable for that. The point is thatthis tool suits my purposes perfectly. Which was always the point of this exercise.Another side to this story: This morning I got an email from AliExpress stating that this item had been delivered, which was odd, since the expected delivery date (here in the US) was the 11th of this month. Here's part of that email:Which made me wonder: did Ali have access to a time machine? (today's date being the 5th of the month) At first I thought this notification was just a mistake, and the item was still in transit. I tried using the "Track order" link in the email, but no joy, no actual tracking info available.But then I went out to my mailbox and, lo and behold, there was this little package. So I guess that notification was just screwed up by using the expected delivery date instead of the actual date. So no harm, no foul. I mean, it was delivered way ahead of schedule.Regarding the tool itself: it's pretty dead-simple, a plastic body with a couple levers and two straight cutters in the jaw. Not sure how long it'll last but it feels solid enough. And it works! And it only cost me a buck!Here's the tool:https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832730717604.html

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:19:03 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 05, 2024, 09:49:01 pmThe page shows three different models. I assume it's the "LB1" version which you got? Offered at 8.79€ for me, so 10x the price you quoted, but that's still cheap.However, it looks a lot like the Knipex knock-off wich wasmentioned earlier in this thread. Several Amazon reviews describe how that one literally fell apart after a dozen operations. But maybe using it specifically on thin wire is fine, provided it keeps its precision for a reasonable time.What's the insluation material on your AWG30 wire? You mentioned wire-wrap wire, so is it Kynar or some other material which is tougher than PVC?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:23:16 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 05, 2024, 09:49:01 pmI have tried a number of that type of stripper. Really impressive.... on the first day. I've never encountered one that maintained that performance for more than a very short time. For $0.99 maybe that's OK.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:29:27 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on November 05, 2024, 10:19:03 pmSorry, should have checked: it's actually the FS-D3 model. Actual price (non-loss-leader/first-time purchase) to the US is $7.69, which is still cheap.QuoteWe'll have to see about longevity. I'll report back here. I won't be using this on anything much thicker, as I have very good automatic strippers for that.QuoteGood question: I don't know. The wire-wrap wire is what I got from Jameco: "WIRE WRAPPING WIRE" from VT Corporation. It seems fairly soft, so probly not Kynar? How do you tell?The other (stranded) wire is just PVC.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:31:37 pm
content: QuoteThere is something up with them today. I just got notification that some stuff on order is out for delivery, but it was delivered 12 hours ago!QuoteNice. And well done for ignoring everyone and just doing itI wonder how long it will keep doing it, though, and whether every example is the same. The one I mentioned before on Amazon (which this seems to be a copy of, if not the same thing) had good and bad reviews with the bad ones noting that 2 out of 3 fell apart (chaps got on, super happy with it so got another which fell apart, replaced and the replacement fell apart).

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:34:01 pm
content: QuoteSolder iron. Kynar won't melt (straight away) whereas plastic stuff will shrink if you're lucky, make a mess if you aren't. Wire wrapping shouldn't involve heat so it could well be very non-heat resistant.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:37:46 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 05, 2024, 10:29:27 pmFound the part number, which seems to be "B-30-1000", on Amazon. Seems to be PVC-insulated:https://www.amazon.com/B-30-1000-30AWG-Plated-Copper-Wrepping/dp/B008AGUDEY

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:40:14 pm
content: Regarding tools falling apart and getting replacements, an incident to share:Years ago I bought a really nice automatic wire stripper made by GB (Gardner Bender), for work as an electrician. I forget exactly what the problem was, but something was either missing or damaged when I got it home. I contacted the manufacturer and explained the problem. They said they'd take care of it.Well, a week or so later I got a package from them; it didn't contain any replacement parts. Instead they sent metwocomplete tools! Way to go for customer service. (This was about a decade or so ago.)

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 10:43:29 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on November 05, 2024, 10:37:46 pmYep, that's the stuff. And it is indeed tin-plated copper; I just scraped it and it's Cu.No need for Kynar here; it's for regular (soldered) use, not wire-wrapping.BTW, Jameco's price for this ($8.25) is better than Amazon's ($10.60), although Jameco only sells this in quantities of 3 for some reason; now I have a lifetime supply of 30AWG wire.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 11:01:46 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 05, 2024, 10:43:29 pmI switched to Teflon-insulated 30AWG long ago for most soldered prototype wiring. I need to change connections around during development and debugging, and I just got fed up with the melting and frayed insulation, wires sticking together, and overlooked shorts I got from PVC-insulated wire.Hence my interest in a good wire stripper which handles AWG30 with tougher insulation. I am still using my decades-old manual stripper: two jaws with V-shaped cutting edges, a screw with counter nut to set the wire diameter, no replaceable blades. Actually still cuts alright, but not having an automatic clamp to hold the wire is annyoing. There must be a better way!

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 11:09:57 pm
content: Snap, I have that same clone wire-stripper and same B-30 wire. (I also have a proper Knipex Multistrip somewhere, but I can't find it).This is not a very good recommendation because these clone tools are so variable; what works for you might not work for others, especially if their wire is slightly different!I can make that tool strip some wires, especially PVC.Subject it to better insulation, and it's very variable. It can manage some reels of Tefzel wire that I have (if I squeeze it at a certain speed and with a certain amount of strip distance), but won't work if I vary those parameters, and on some reels of Kynar it's completely out of it's depth as a wire stripper. With PTFE it's worse than any other tool I own; it just stretches the insulation a little bit.That wire in your photo is misleading, it looks like it might be Kynar or Teflon but it's actually PVC. It's so soft, you can strip it with fingernails, no need for a wire stripper actually. The photo shows an end that I stripped with fingernails.I bought that reel in the hope it was Kynar, but it wasn't. You can see in the photo that I put a warning label on it so I don't confuse it, but really I should just throw it out. I never use it.All the rest of the 30 AWG wire I own is either Kynar/Tefzel or PTFE.In summary, that tool and PVC wire is good from far, but far from good. If you're on a budget, you may as well just buy a used (better) tool from ebay.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 02:42:05 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on October 28, 2024, 11:02:08 pmSo you don't have time to read through only 3 pages in a thread, but we are supposed to donate our time to you to solve your specific problem. Got it. Entitlement. You are the main character.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 06:06:33 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on November 06, 2024, 02:42:05 pmYeah. No time for that. But plenty of time to be rude to people explaining things to him, with a great (and now explicitly stated) focus on “proving us naysayers wrong” (that is, those of us who said the requirements are unreasonable and that cheap tools are a lottery).

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 06:10:03 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 05, 2024, 09:49:01 pmYou can retract your gloating: the photos show clearly that it’s causingsignificantinsulation damage on that thin wire.And of course we still don’t know how well they’ll last.Bear in mind that if you’d actually managed to find a <$20 tool that consistently* works as well as a $80 Knipex, and lasts reasonably long, we’d all be delighted.Of course your attitude in that reply just shows how awful a personalityyouhave.*consistent in the sense of little to no unit-to-unit variation. One of the huge problems with really cheap tools is huge variation between units — some are excellent, some are terrible.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 06:46:08 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 06, 2024, 06:10:03 pmBut that is not, and never was, my goal here, as you'll see if you re-read my earlier posts.Yes, I know all about variations between instances of cheap tools: I happened to luck out here. I figured that the $0.99 gamble was worth it.Damaged insulation? Maybe the pictures weren't the best, but the state of the insulation is OK for my purposes. Would more expen$ive strippers do a better job? Undoubtedly. Expecting a <$20 unit to perform as well as a name-brand $80 one would indeed be foolish. For now, these are good enough for me.We'll see how well they hold up, and I'll post updates on that.QuoteYes, a lottery which I appear to have won here. I make no claims that such would always be the case. Please don't try to stuff words in my mouth.QuoteRight back atcha, friend.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 06:57:50 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 06, 2024, 06:46:08 pmWell, if you’re happy with that amount of damage — I certainly wouldn’t — then great.You were always clear that it’s for hobby use and needn’t reach professional standards. But as I explained early on, not causing significant damage to the work is a basic requirement even for hobby use. (And yes, I would call that significant damage.)Note also that I never saidyouhad stated that as the goal, but given that “strip well and don’t damage the wire” is the totally reasonable baseline requirement for a wire stripper, we obviously all applied that basic benchmark.Quote from: Analog Kid on November 06, 2024, 06:46:08 pmNo, you don’t get to turn it around. YOU were nasty from the get-go, and have continued to be nasty. Calling you out for being nasty is not itself nasty.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 07:08:08 pm
content: Regarding the "damaged insulation", I just went back and took another look-see at the stripped wires. The only damage is that the (PVC, very soft) insulation got somewhat crushed; it didn't get pierced or torn and is still intact. So just cosmetic damage. That I can live with.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 07:11:57 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 06, 2024, 07:08:08 pmIf the wire is meant to be soldered afterwards, I would not be happy with the damage. PVC reacts strongly to the soldering temperatures anyway, and will likely shrink even more in places where it was previously overstretched or squeezed.Which raises the question whether there is an insulation material which is soft enough for those budget strippers to cut, but tough enough not to incur damage from their clamping action?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 07:34:42 pm
content: You could use bare wire: cut, and then trim some sleeving to length and slide it on. But doing it that way could take almost ten years just to build one hand of a robot.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 07:35:33 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on November 06, 2024, 07:11:57 pmTrue. However, even in my (admittedly somewhat limited) experience I've found that this problem can be compensated for by careful planning to avoid shorts and such. You need to anticipate the amount of insulation shrinkage. And use a nice hot iron to minimize soldering time. It's something of a challenge but doable.I managed to solder the mess shown below successfully using soft PVC insulated wire (salvaged CAT 5 conductors) with no shorts. It was no picnic, but the circuit works just fine.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2024, 11:59:29 pm
content: Found in the Rabbit Hole: a fail, a potential success, a recommendation, and a bonus finding.FailAfter following this thread I fell in the rabbit hole and tried a $15.99 D-3 0.03-10 mm2/ AWG 32-7 wire stripper. It will strip insulation from 22 AWG solid wire pretty well but you will probably wind up with dents/nicks that are observable with the naked eye and are clearly viewable with a 10x loupe. In looking under a microscope it appeared that the depth of the dent/nick on the 22 AWG is roughly a third of the diameter of stripped 30 AWG kynar wire. When using it for 22 AWG stranded wire it made the strips but took several (6 or more?) strands with the removed insulation every time. It was unable to successfully strip 30 AWG kynar wire on any of about a dozen attempts – it just cut the wire into two sections. The only use case I can see for it would be maybe using 22 AWG on a breadboard where you want to cut the same length of insulation off each of several wires (using the adjustable stop) but only if you don’t care about the dents/nicks. It is possible that my unit was not as good as others of the same make or design due to unit to unit variation but after using the D-3 my guess was that the design and price point made it unlikely that such a design and price point would enable the correct pressure to the blades such that it could allow highly accurate depth during stripping. So I wouldn’t recommend the D-3 but YMMV. But I didn’t completely give up….Potential SuccessI saw that a model called a TUBTAP is available for $17.99 and figured it was worth another try. Like the D-3 the TUBTAP is spec’d for 32-7 AWG. It is similar to the D-3 but it has a red detent slider adjustment for stripping tension. (Note that there is a very similar model, also called a TUPTAP for $1.00 less that does not have the tension adjustment.) Set on the lowest tension setting I tried it on a solid 22 AWG and it worked nicely first try, second try. So rather than goof around with lots of tests I just went for the 30 AWG kynar wire and it worked. With the 10x loupe it you can see a very slight bend where the strip was made on the 30 AWG kynar wire but no dents/nicks. It also worked with 18 AWG solid and with 18 AWG stranded – not a single strand went with the insulation that was removed. I’m reluctant to goof around too much with the tension setting – I’m just going to leave it on low and see how long it will keep working with 18 to 30 AWG. My initial thought is that the best use case might be for solid 22 AWG when you want repeatable strip lengths for breadboards. Maybe it will lose the proper good tension over time and maybe I just got lucky and won the unit to unit lottery but given that it’s returnable at Amazon it’s worth a try if you have an interest, particularly for making 22 AWG breadboard jumpers.RecommendationEven though the TUBTAP has worked well on the first day I’m not ready to declare it my go to wire stripper. I have used and highly recommend a Greenlee green handle PA1118 (which has become a Paladin orange handle PA1118) and it has stripped 20-30 AWG with excellent results year after year – but it is fully manual (pick a slot and no depth stop, and no front on stripping – pull from the side). The upside is that I can’t see any nick/dent with just my eyes or with the 10x loupe on 22 AWG and I can only barely sometimes find where a strip was made when searching with the microscope. I have never had the PA1118 fail to strip insulation from 30 AWG kynar (or any AWG from 20-30). Paladin also makes a PA1117 that strips 10-24 AWG. The PA1117 works just as well as the PA1118, only difference is the AWG range. Or if you want precision stripping from 10 to 30 AWG you can get the two models together packaged as PA1123.Bonus FindingAs a bonus while in the rabbit hole I found lots of reviews on lots of wire strippers including the Klein self-adjusting 11061 wire stripper for 10-20 AWG solid, 12-22 AWG stranded, and Romex 12/2 and 14/3. It turns out this will easily and nicely strip both 18 and 22 AWG solid (22 solid being outside the spec). On these wires I couldn’t see any sign of the strips with the 10x loupe. A caveat is that the 11061 is larger and heavier than say the Greenlee/Paladin strippers, and it might make more sense for electricians than electronics enthusiasts. One other caveat is that when the handles are initially squeezed together there is a bit of grinding feel/sound. I think the cutter blades (not the stripper blades) just barely touch – you can see some of the black coating give way to the silver metal color, and it might also be that some part of the pivot assembly is contributing to the binding feel. This isn’t too big of a deal given how versatile and repeatably accurate it operates but it’s worth noting. It’s more notable on small wires than larger wires such as Romex. On Romex you can strip off the outer sheath and then strip the inside conductors without changing a setting. For this type of work it becomes a very fast to use wire stripper. The size and weight of the tool probably make it more of a natural choice for Romex than electronics but if you do some of both and are looking for this type of stripper I would say the 11061 lives up to the many good reviews it receives and it is easily worth the ~$22 price, especially if you collect wire strippers. 😊In summary: if I was just doing electronics from ~18 AWG to lots of 22 AWG breadboarding to 30 AWG kynar, I’d be using Paladin wire strippers.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 10:44:54 am
content: QuoteAfter my experience with eh Knipex I figured an adjuster is necessary for 30awg on automatics, so succumbed to temptation and ordered one of those to try. Be interesting to see how it compares - the 12 40 200 I'm trying consistently breaks, and leaves in the stripped insulation, one strand regardless of wire gauge or brand.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 11:58:24 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on November 08, 2024, 11:59:29 pmCould you provide a specific link please? I see a few wire strippers marketed under the "Tubtap" brand, but could not spot one which matches your description. (Specified down to 32 AWG, with tension adjustment.) Thanks!

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 12:34:29 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on November 09, 2024, 11:58:24 amsearch Amazon for “TUBTAP Wire Stripper Tool, 3 in 1 Self Adjusting Wire Stripper Strength/Length and Cutting Heavy Duty Automatic Electrical Wire Strippers tool 32-7 AWG for Electronic, Electric, Automotive Repair”

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 12:45:19 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on November 09, 2024, 12:34:29 pmGot it, thank you! Looks like a hybrid between the Knipex MultiStrip 10 (1242195, nearly a look-alike but without the tension adjustment) and the NexStrip (1272190, with tension adjustment but a much stronger lower "jaw" which holds a crimp tool). The feature set and form factor of the Tubtap knock-off would be my preference, but there does not seem to be a direct Knipex equivalent?

author: khach
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 01:36:08 pm
content: JOKARI PWS-Plus down to 30 awg

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 07:37:53 pm
content: As much as it’s cool that we can get wire strippers like the TUBTAP for under $20 I wonder about the long term precision/dependability at such a price. Having said that what this learning project has helped me see is the use case for nose first wire strippers. I can see the nose first orientation would be preferable to side cutters when the other end of a somewhat short wire needs to remain in place (such as with solder on a PCB, like what Analog Kid is doing.) For this use case it would be good to have a dependable nose first wire stripper.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 07:41:04 pm
content: Nose-first definitely good.This is my first encounter with that type of tool. Very difficult (or impossible) to strip short already-soldered wires with side strippers.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 07:49:18 pm
content: QuoteReplacement blades for the Knipex cost twice as much as one Tubtap. The entire tool only has to last half as long as the Knipex blade, and you're ahead the cost of the Knipex to boot (another 8 Tubtaps).

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 08:30:21 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 09, 2024, 07:49:18 pmI think this ^ is most of the business case, and it’s fairly compelling. Where there could be another consideration is when/if the tool happens to cut the wire rather than strip it, in which case you would have to account for the cost of rework (probably mostly time for labor) assuming the situation is recoverable vs irreparable. For non-mission critical projects it’s probably a reasonable calculated risk.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 10:15:28 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 09, 2024, 07:49:18 pmAs long as the strip performance is as good as the Knipex during that shorter lifespan, absolutely.What I despise about many cheap tools is that during their shorter lives, they never perform well. There are exceptions to this, but not as often as I’d like to see!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 10:47:27 pm
content: Straight cost is a bit simplistic, though. For me, tool familiarity is worth a lot - I don't want to be thinking about tools or how to use them, and instead my entire focus is on doing the job. (Like driving a car - you want to think about hazards and sliding off the road and all that, not which pedal to press or how much.) If the cheap tools were 10p and lasted a month, that would be a fantastic deal monetarily but I'd probably still pay for the Knipex just to put off changing it for a couple of years.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2024, 03:47:02 am
content: Day 2 with TUBTAP. I have a new reel of kynar 30 AWG from a different manufacturer. Made about a dozen strips, every one worked flawlessly. I made second strips after the first on each wire so I could inspect where the upper and lower blades met on the first strip. Nothing is visible on the conductor with the 10x loupe - no nick or dent or any sign of anything. I don’t know how long this will last but I’m thinking about just using it for the 30 AWG and seeing how long it can go without missing. It has potential….

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2024, 04:26:46 pm
content: My FS-D3 arrived today and I did some quick stripping (ooh-err).Overall impression is that it's hard to use, in the sense that it is uncomfortable. Needs significant force and then fingers can get trapped, and the blade adjuster is very hard to move. But... it works. Can strip 30awg Kynar fine, does the UTP without leaving a strand in the insulation. Not so hot on larger diameter wires where you can see the insulation being pulled apart.I think the Knipex wins out just on being nicer to use, but this FS-D3 doesn't need fingers to hold the Kynar in place, so it's actually better for that. Blades aren't replaceable but, as already noted, it's cheap enough to replace the entire thing when they wear out (if it's still being made then, of course). For someone short of funds, they could do a lot worse than one of these.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 02:21:56 am
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on October 28, 2024, 05:06:15 amThat's interesting, has anyone tried making a cheap version with say some dull razor blades and some plier type handle, and even a candle to heat the blades ??I might just try attaching an old pair of sharpened scissors to some 5W rectangular power resistor, wrapping some copper wire around them. IDK the safe temp rating of the cheap resistors I have like that, maybe it's way too low to melt plastic.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 02:27:22 am
content: you don't want them sharpened. Dull will be fine.All sharp will do is make it get dug into the wire and 'plow' too hard.Not to mention there is another small issue, with a sharp blade, your not conducting heat into it near the sharp edge. Dull edge will conduct heat more.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 10:45:02 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 12, 2024, 04:26:46 pmDidn't last very long.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 10:55:37 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 28, 2024, 10:45:02 pmOn the bright side, the blades never wear out on these!

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 11:06:56 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 28, 2024, 10:45:02 pmThey never do, even when you buy expensive versions of the same idea. You described it as hard to use, though. That's strange. These things usually feel great to use when they first arrive. I think they do that just to lull you into a false sense of having found something valuable.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 11:33:43 am
content: Quote from: coppice on November 28, 2024, 11:06:56 pmBy “expensive versions”, do you mean more-expensive knockoffs, or the name-brand products?The name-brand ones last forever as long as you don’t grossly abuse them.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 11:40:38 am
content: Quote from: tooki on November 29, 2024, 11:33:43 amIts years since I used that type, so I can't remember the names, but I've used some expensive named brand products, and never found one of that type that works well for long. This is sad, as they can be really good on day one.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 01:31:19 pm
content: It was cheap enough to bin and forget, but I raised an Aliexpress return and the vendor offered me half the cost as a refund! Said I want the full amount but I would accept a replacement if they prefer, so I might get another go at this.There is something very different between this and the knipex. With this one you squeeze and nothing happens so you squeeze some more and it suddenly works. That's also the experience of the old metal one I showed. With the knipex there is hardly any resistance at all, and it's tempting to think it is not working. But it does. Perhaps that's why it (hopefully!) lasts a lot longer, although I imagine better materials help.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2024, 01:42:05 pm
content: I filed a "does not work properly" case and Aliexpress just ruled that as 'invalid'. I suspect it is the vendor trying to evade responsibility because one resolution was to accept a refund of only 50%. I stated I wanted the full amount and to not return it, but I'd accept a replacement as an alternative. Now a resolution is the full amount if it's returned. The order was 'free returns' so I ain't gonna pay for it either way. Even so, I am foxed as to how anyone can pretend it might be capable of working properly.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2024, 07:27:31 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on November 29, 2024, 11:40:38 amThat is very odd. Other than the blades eventually wearing out from use or abuse, the name brand automatic strippers (Weidmüller Stripax, Knipex, Jokari, Pressmaster, etc.) all last forever if you don't treat them like absolute crap.

author: xfint34
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2024, 05:46:18 pm
content: I had been looking for the same thing at about the same time this thread was posted. I hadn't seen the thread until recently though.My use is hobby electronics. Mostly micro-controller projects and home repairs.I bought the LAOA LA822510 from AliExpress. It's another clone like the FS-D3. A bit more expensive though. I guess it's an expensive type of cheap clone. I paid $10 USD during the November sale. Right now it's about $20.Their specs.30-8 AWGHandle: ABS+TPRBlades: SK5 metal, HRC 58 +/-2These AliExpress products 99% of the time play fast and loose with specs so I was skeptical about the 30 gauge rating. Especially since the other clones are said to not work on small wires at all. So far it's been working on 30 AWG without cutting strands. Maybe even smaller gauge too, I'm not certain. I got spools of silicone 30AWG wire from AliExpress. Otherwise most of my wires are scrap collected over years. I don't know exactly what size anything is. This wire stripper has been handling small wires without breaking strands.- It does not nick solid core CAT5 either. This has been one of my frustrations for a long time while trying to strip them with pliers or a knife.- It has a blade tension slider. On its lowest settings the blades have quite a gap. For small wires I've been using the first few notches depending on the wire.- Since it does handle 30AWG wire as advertised. That could mean possibly the blade material specs are accurate enough as well.- There is not much force at all required to engage the mechanism.It appears as though this LAOA company operates on their own branding. As opposed to the white labels designed go to Amazon then to landfill. Which is what the FS-D3 appears to be. The box says made in Taiwan but it's clearly a Shanghai based company. I think they're been cheeky because the fine print says Taiwan, China.I had avoided the FS-D3 because I had only seen the model without the blade slider. Now that I looked some more there are 3 possibly 4 variations sold under the FS-D3 model.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2024, 08:32:33 pm
content: Thanks for pointing those out. Laoa do quite a lot of branded tools, so they have a reputation to protect. I am trying to resist disappearing down a wire stripper rabbit hole, but they do look promising