New Stapler Shaped Wire Stripper Drving Me Nuts

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I purchased a new stapler shaped wire stripper that supposedly strips wires from 24 gauge down to 16 gauge. The only adjustment is a brass colored knurled small knob at the rear of the stripper that revolves with the fingers. The stripper seems to bite through the insulation and remove several strands of copper conductor with larger gauge wire or smaller gauge wire without adjustment. I can see it will remove strands of copper with say 16 gauge wire but without adjusting or touching anything when I try it on 24 gauge it does the same thing. Turning the knob does not seem to do much if any of you own such a wire stripper can you give me some tips on adjusting that little knob like maybe how many turns in order to get it to stop taking strands of copper wire as well as the insulation off. It would seem to me that the action mechanism is to bite through insulation tension merrily to overcome the thickness of the insulation and then of course the pulling stripping operation follows but this thing seems to strip everything down to the point where it overbites.

I purchased this critter so I have an ability of stripping the ends of little stubs of wire that are sticking out of projects or regular stripper doesn't work too good when there's only an inch or so of wire sticking out of something.

Anyone who dares laugh at this question I will do a voodoo dance and reverse the polarity inside your converter. I have a set of very weak hands actually one and a half hands and arthritic fingers. That little adjustment knob is very hard for my fingers to twist and I'm afraid if I twisted counterclockwise too far that the stapler type stripper is going to pop apart and I won't be able to put it back together not with my hand strength.

Thanks Guys!

[wa8yxm]

I would try some tape on the "Nose" of those strippers (The part that grips the wire) Adheasive tape most likely since the surface has a high coefficient of friction..Or Friction tape. NOT electrical tape.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Yes down to the last rivet. Mine does not cut - it gives a loving hug.

My crimper stripper is a Klein. I have a Snap-Off "X" stripper that works excellent providing there is 4" of wire stub. My hands are too weak to use the Klein I need to use needle-Nose pliers to hold one side of the wire length.

Amongst the griping I must post an attaboy. HAKKO FLUSH CUTTING PLIERS for PC work. The best set of flush cutters I have ever used. Made in Greece and dirt cheap.

Time to go nick some more wires... 😞

[wa8yxm]

Is it this one?

I have used those,,,Alas, there is no depth of cut adustment but you will note that it first grips the wire...You might try a couple layers of tape on the parts that grip (NOT CUT) the wire to build them up a bit.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

This thing seems heavy and cost the eqvt of sixteen dollars. I just finished making a foot switch controlled transformer powered 64-amp 6-volt carbon rod soldering unit for heavy lugs. It will heat a 2/0 lug and wire for soldering in under 10-seconds. No danger to insulation. Next is a 800-watt spot welder. I love making this stuff. But I cannot manage a spot welder with my hands.

[Tvov]

An electrician friend uses one of those pistol type wire strippers and loves it. He says there is a big difference between the commercial quality and Harbor Freight type ones though (as usual!).

I bought a $4 bargain bin pistol wire stripper awhile back and it worked for the occasional times I needed it, until it fell apart.

I can't justify the cost of that thermal stripper (but when did that ever stop campers??)... but it would be interesting to see how it works. YouTube, here I come!

[MEXICOWANDERER]

It is sold by

Http://www.partsexpress.com

And is found all over eBay and amazon. The body is plastic and colored yellow. This one has the SURTEK label on it. No photos with this this Smarter-Than-Me phartsmone. I wish my body could lose 40-years.

It is irony to learn our intelligence continues to increase to acknowledge with exquisite detail and comprehension that the body is coming apart at the seams...

[wa8yxm]

Mex...that is a serious question

Can you post the make and model..UPC or a link to the product so I can look at it

NOT just a photo.

[LittleBill]

K Charles wrote:
Irwin makes an auto adj wire stripper what works well
Not the 5" but the 8" Irwin vise-grip wire strippers

just picked this up, works about 90% of the time. it will damage some stranded wire, have to mess with the adjuster a bit sometimes

[TucsonJim]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Does it work with 1-1/2" stubs of wire sticking out of enclosures?

Thank You !

Yes, you can strip what ever length you'd like.

[K_Charles]

Irwin makes an auto adj wire stripper what works well
Not the 5" but the 8" Irwin vise-grip wire strippers

[Dakota98]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Does it work with 1-1/2" stubs of wire sticking out of enclosures?

Thank You !

I was just looking at the gizmo. Looks like it'll work for what you want.

With your abilities, I wouldn't be surprised, if you could make one like it, yourself. !!!! :h

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Does it work with 1-1/2" stubs of wire sticking out of enclosures?

Thank You !

[TucsonJim]

I spent 30 years as a manufacturing engineer in electro/mechanical items. We had government contracts which required ZERO damage to wires we were installing. Nicked and broken strands would be rejected. The only way we were able to accomplish this was with thermal wire strippers. They have a heated element which allows separation of the insulation without sharp edges which damages the underlying conductor.

A commercial version can be very pricey, but I'm attaching a link for a stripper which should work good for occasional hobby usage. It's less than $100 and should last quite a while with only occasional usage:

Thermal Wire Stripper