Suggestions for wire strippers for small gauge wires.

[GussyLoveridge]

I have been using Klein Tool 11063W strippers for the past few years with reasonable results - but they don't do smaller than 22 AWG for stranded wire.

Looking for suggestions for strippers that will go down to 26 AWG. I'm not married to the "Automatic" or "Stripmaster" style ones. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks team.

 

[Whoops]

I use this one:

https://www.we-online.com/en/components/products/WTB_MANUAL_INSULATION_STRIPPER_12

 

[k brown]

Teeth.

 

[NoisyIndividual]

I bought a pair like these about 30 years ago and still use them in preference to automatic.
Infinitely adjustable works for me, especially on very thin wires.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusso...5Ts-YF_G-sCIynLFebZBUpdV-E6BtHU9PY3fcBdM-aGco

 

[pucho812]

Thermal strippers or a lighter to melt the jacket and remove.

Is best option.

 

[JohnRoberts]

Thermal strippers or a lighter to melt the jacket and remove.

Is best option.

Back in the 1960s as a technician working at MIT Instrumentation Lab, on a mil-spec (Navy) project, I was issued a set of thermal strippers (red hot wires that melt insulation). It is difficult to strip teflon wire insulation cleanly without using a hot wire stripper.

I never bought one for personal use, nor do I use teflon insulation myself.

JR

 

[pucho812]

Back in the 1960s as a technician working at MIT Instrumentation Lab, on a mil-spec (Navy) project, I was issued a set of thermal strippers (red hot wires that melt insulation). It is difficult to strip teflon wire insulation cleanly without using a hot wire stripper.

I never bought one for personal use, nor do I use teflon insulation myself.

JR

I had one that I got off a DIY member for almost next to nothing. Sadly it fell off the bench one day and broke. It wasn't completely unusable after that incident but it was rendered unsafe. I am not about to hit myself with mains voltage everytime I engage the heating element. I would like to get another one down the road.

oh and as a side note, I am sure you are aware but in the military wire strippers are forbidden to be used. they do not want to risk a short with any sort of missile or other explosive device. so thermal strippers or for field stuff a lighter.

 

[CJ]

Ideal makes a pair that goes down to 26.

 

[nielsk]

The Stripwright SW-1 is fantastic if you can find one.
Klein 11046 goes to 26.
Be aware that cutting / heating Teflon releases highly toxic gas

 

[Bobby Baird]

https://hakkousa.com/chp-csp-30-1-multi-function-wire-stripper.html
They work great for small wire. Very sharp! Goes from 20 awg to 30 awg.

 

[JohnRoberts]

I had one that I got off a DIY member for almost next to nothing. Sadly it fell off the bench one day and broke. It wasn't completely unusable after that incident but it was rendered unsafe. I am not about to hit myself with mains voltage everytime I engage the heating element. I would like to get another one down the road.

when using dodgy electrical gear a GFCI protected outlet can be useful.

oh and as a side note, I am sure you are aware but in the military wire strippers are forbidden to be used. they do not want to risk a short with any sort of missile or other explosive device. so thermal strippers or for field stuff a lighter.

No I am not aware. While I was awarded an electronic MOS 35E20 (military occupational specialty-repairing tank artillery targeting computers), I spent my military tour as a 71Bravo "clerk typist" and driving a jeep. Never melted any solder during that gig.

My mil-spec soldering was performed inside a proper work lab in Cambridge, MA. I vaguely recall being advised to not sniff the teflon smoke.

JR

 

[Perm0]

This.. old tool, made for Duth phone company PTT

 

[pucho812]

when using dodgy electrical gear a GFCI protected outlet can be useful.

No I am not aware. While I was awarded an electronic MOS 35E20 (military occupational specialty-repairing tank artillery targeting computers), I spent my military tour as a 71Bravo "clerk typist" and driving a jeep. Never melted any solder during that gig.

My mil-spec soldering was performed inside a proper work lab in Cambridge, MA. I vaguely recall being advised to not sniff the teflon smoke.

JR

I got that from an Air Force vet who worked a b-52 wing dealing with arming and disarming the nukes as part of their training while flying over Eastern Europe in the Cold War days.

 

[JohnRoberts]

I got that from an Air Force vet who worked a b-52 wing dealing with arming and disarming the nukes as part of their training while flying over Eastern Europe in the Cold War days.

and B-52s weren't as leaky as modern high performance aircraft.

JR

 

[jp8]

I bought a pair like these about 30 years ago and still use them in preference to automatic.
Infinitely adjustable works for me, especially on very thin wires.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusso...5Ts-YF_G-sCIynLFebZBUpdV-E6BtHU9PY3fcBdM-aGco

I have a similar one. Might be 30+ years as well. And I have this one from Aliexpress:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EG3tTUo

Works better than the expensive Weidmuller wire stripping pliers we have at work.

Jan