I recently decided that I needed new automatic wire strippers. Well, self-adjusting wire strippers. I had just started using wire end ferrules to tame stranded wires, and ordered a Knipex crimper. I figured I’d give Knipex’s wire strippers a try.
I worked with my new Knipex 12 62 180 wire stripper last night, and it was a very good experience. It’ll take many more dozens or even hundreds of uses, and working with a wider range of wiring sizes and styles before I know for sure that it’s a winner, but for now I’m quite pleased with my purchase.
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I was a little anxious about the order, due to several negative Amazon reviews. While the tool is very plasticky, something I’ve never experienced in a Knipex tool before, it seems to be sturdily made.
See Also: My Wire Strippers and Electric Combo Tools Mini Reviews
These strippers can handle 24 to 10 AWG wires (0.2 up to 6.0 mm^2), and can cut wires up to 2.5 mm^2 thick.
They said to be able to strip 24 to 10 AWG wires with standard insulation. I recently bought a slew of hookup wire with new fancy shmancy “environmentally-friendly” insulation (I didn’t want PVC), and the wires have thinner-than-usual insulation for their wire gauge. But these strippers took the insulation off these wires cleanly and quickly.
My next test will be to use them on silicone test lead wire and then some shielded 2-conductor cables.
The adjustable length stop is kind of a pain to set. It requires squeezing the tabs of a little red stopper, and sliding it along a grooved rail until it’s where you want it. Maybe this will get easier with some more practice.
There’s not a lot of metal in the tool. Aside from some metal internal parts, such as the spring, only the cutter blades and V-shaped stripping blades are metal. Knipex emphasizes that the body is fiberglass-reinforced, for strength.
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But on the other hand, my new Knipex crimpers are all metal aside from the handles, and they are quite weighty. If I were an installer or tech that had to carry these strippers around all day, I’d sure be glad for the lightweight construction.
The depth stop and blades can be replaced.
Knowing what I know now, I would still buy these Knipex wire strippers again, although I can’t shake the feeling that they should cost half of what they do.
I’ll be sure to update or follow up to this post if my feelings change with more use.
Price: $40
Buy Now(via Amazon)
I purchased my sample from Amazon at full retail pricing.
Knipex also offers a higher priced model, 12 42 195, that is said to be a universal insulation stripper.
This other model is higher priced – ~$90 at Amazon, and can be used on a wider range of wiring sizes (32 to 7 AWG).
For the extra money – and this version costs more than double the price of the smaller model – you get much more robust-looking jaws, as well as beefier wire-holding jaws that look to be made of metal.
You also get additional stripping length adjustment with this model. Going by the scales, the smaller version can be set to lengths of 6 to 18 mm, and this one can be set from 2 to 21 mm. The length stop looks longer and perhaps easier to use.
Lastly, it can cut stranded wires up to 10 mm^2 thick, and solid wires up to 6 mm^2.
Price: $90
Buy Now(via Amazon)
I might buy these at some point, but only if I’m interested in doing a comparison for ToolGuyd, or something of the sort editorial-related. I have worked with wires thinner than the less expensive wire stripper can handle, but I do also still own other strippers I can call on if needed.
The main reason I bought the above Knipex wire stripper is so that I can more easily achieve consistent and repeatable stripping lengths. When stripping length is unimportant, I might stick with my Stride-made Craftsman Pro’s. Here are some thoughts of the other wire strippers I own.
I wish that the strippers I just bought were more robust, and that they had the better-looking stripping blades and gripping jaws, but not for more than double the price.
Satch
Stuart, interesting take on the steppers.
As an aside, would you mind to share your thoughts about the Knipex crimpers? I think you are referencing the ferrule crimper type that adds tiny pins to the stranded wiring easier to land on terminal blocks or similar? Those always seemed a good idea to me but the last I checked the prices were pretty dear.
Stuart
I ordered the KNIPEX 97 53 09 front-loaded crimper. There’s a lower capacity style, and also side-loaded ones with lower capacity.
I ordered from Amazon Germany for 88.29 Euros (the number you see on the website is inclusive of VAT which we don’t pay), and express shipping was 27.18 Euros. I also ordered (4) mini L-Boxxes for 5.87 Euros each. (I wrote about the mini L-Boxxes here.)
The total was $161.38. I paid in USD – Amazon lets you do that – and in doing so the currency conversion should be included in the price. When I ordered from Amazon UK, I paid in Pounds, and paid the 3% conversion to my bank.
So $161.38 for the tool, mini L-Boxxes, and express international shipping, which includes estimates customs fees.
The US price is $220 to $230.
Anyways, I’ve only used it a few times, and it works really nicely. Easy to use, and the crimps look good, except when I don’t strip the wires as exactly needed by the length of the ferrule. I have only used it on smaller gauge wire. I have some many-stranded 18 gauge wire coming in, which will need end ferrules more than the few-stranded wire I’ve been using.
Still, the ferrules do make it easier to pop even 7-stranded wire into spring or push terminals.
Hilton
Interesting that you chose the end crimper vs the side version Knipex 97 53 04. I’ve had the latter in my cart on Amazon DE for a while now, just waiting for a refund on shipping charges.
Stuart
I first saw a video demo of the front-loaded crimper, and it seemed like it might be more ergonomic or easier to use.
I don’t know what that metal cylinder in the jaws is, but I think it’s some kind of preload stop to avoid over-crimping. Maybe? Or a coil spring.
And when I checked for pricing, I saw that I could get the front-loading crimper for the lowest price, even with international shipping and 4 L-Boxx minis added to the order.
Hilton
Thanks. Please keep us updated with a review sometime.
Satch
thank you Stewart. Very good information and the crimpers are not as expensive as I had expected by getting them from a European Amazon market. this opens up a nice possibility. I have been wanting a pair of those crimpers for quite a while and this might Be the chance that I have wanted. Thank you for your nice reply.
Satch
Oops. Sorry for misspelling your name, didn’t catch the autocorrect in time.
Stuart
You’re very welcome! No problem about the name. =)
They’re still very pricey, but not as pricey when imported. And Knipex is very well regarded for their crimping tools, so I didn’t have to spend too much time researching for a tool that’s less expensive but still easy to use with good performance.
Jason
The Amazon Price on the 12 42 195 is a steal compared to MSC at $172!!
it is a very nice stripper, great for when you are doing panel building and will need to have many wires all stripped to the same length.
Edwin
Rebranded Jokari Secura 2K
Stuart
Are you sure? There are very distinct design and molding differences.
Luke Skywarner
The Knipex is likely a rebranded Jokari: Jokari 20050 Ergonomic Super 4 Plus Automatic Wire Stripper for Wires from 0.2mm-6mm, 16.5cm L x 14cm W x 2.7cm H https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BDNL4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_N0kTxb3KQV0M0
The price is similar, so it doesn’t matter a lot. I’d opt for Knipex because I prefer the colors. 🙂
Capri makes a similar model for half the cost:
Capri Tools 20011 Automatic Wire Stripper and Cutter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01018CX46/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dalTxbB07N8ZD
I couldn’t find any details on where the Capris are manufactured. Might be worth picking up a pair to see how they compare.
fred
I think Jokari may be the OEM for some Ideal strippers:
https://www.amazon.com/Jokari-20090-Automatic-Stripper-25-5cm/dp/B00BMUFJI0/
vs somewhat similar Ideal tool
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D20N2O/
Alick
The more expensive knipex pictured in the feature has a basic design flaw. The cutting jaws are flat. They only bite into maybe 25% of the insulation and simply try to pull the remainder apart. I used strippers that worked like this back at the start of my career in an engineering design lab 30 years ago. They didn’t work then. I don’t see any improvement since.
The v jaws on the cheaper knipex / jokari strippers look like they might work more reliably.
Justin
I’ve been using Irwin’s self adjusting wire strippers for a few years:
https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-VISE-GRIP-Self-Adjusting-Stripper-2078300/dp/B000OQ21CA
They don’t seem to like some really old wire, but they strip new building wire great. I especially use them for removing the outer shell of Romex, which I’m not sure the Knipex could do.
Nathan
How does this compare to the Gardner Bender Automatic stripper? It looks better and more precise?
are there any american brand devices that work like the Knipex?
Stuart
I’ll need more time to tell. My Gardner Bender’s are good, but I think they’ve struggled with difficult wire in the past, I don’t really remember. The Knipex are more consistent and repeatable. I wouldn’t be able to use the GB’s for prepping wire for end ferrules, at least not as quickly or easily. I find that the Knipex offers a slightly cleaner cut, and the ergonomics offer a different approach angle.
If I didn’t have the new need for specific cut lengths, I’d probably still use my GB’s for many things, Craftsman/Stride or Klein for finer wire gauges.
Stuart
The GB strippers also kind of rip insulation apart, while the Knipex seem to physically cut it first.
Rock Hound
This post set off my school’s block list due to the word “strippers”.
Jerry
I’ve had good luck with my GB auto strippers. They are all metal with dipped handles. Work good for the price.
Hepdog
I have been using the same Irwin strippers as Justin noted earlier, model # 2078300, for 25+ years in the automotive industry. Currently we are building police cars – everyone on my crew uses the irwin’s to strip insulation from 8awg to 20awg gxl wire as well as removing the jacket from coax and jacketed 16/2.
The Knipex design is nothing new, and I have tried other mfr’s versions, but I have always come back to the irwin’s side loading design. To me, it seems more natural (ergonomic?) as well as a more economical hand movement for high-volume production.
Another advantage of the irwin design is the ability to “open” insulation in the middle of a wire. This is useful for making a soldered connection in the middle of a wire without the need to cut it. The Knipex design does not allow for this particular operation.
The biggest advantage the irwin has, though, is cost and availability – you can pick these up for $20 at any home depot or lowes nationwide.
-H
fred
The Irwin Stripper has lots of look-alike ones too:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EMM92K0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Justin
I have the same pair. I use them almost exclusively on 22ga and 24ga wire while building electronics. Sometimes I will go through hundreds of pieces of wire, stripping both ends. They will jam with the stripped insulation from time to time but nothing to worry about. It has definitely given me the speed and repeatability I want in a low volume production setting.
Brian
I’ve been trying to decide if I want to try this style of strippers but I’ve been stuck between these and the Felos. The Felos look better designed but neither have great reviews.
The automatic Irwins I have work well on most wire and have a crimper but the cutter isn’t very good.
Chris Fyfe
I have the 12 42 195 , works well , and saves time . I like the light weight , as I usually carry both it and the crimper in my back pocket .
Chris
Jimmie
I’ve used a pair of $6 strippers from Harbor Freight for the last 5-6 years. They work pretty poorly on 28ga and 26ga (they tend to sever the wire) but I haven’t had any troubles with thicker wire up to 12ga.
Stuart
I’ve found that good wire strippers are really needed for finer gauge wire, and finer stranded higher gauge wire. Or when dealing with tricky insulation. I used to work with some nice very fine speaker wire, and it was horrible to strip. It was supposed to be 16 gauge, but there was some kind of core that threw diameters off. So it didn’t strip well when used with a 14 gauge hole, and with a 16 gauge hole there were often a few cut wires. These strippers might have made short work of those wires.
Making it worse, I often used them in a cheaper home theater in a box system that had spring-action receptacles instead of binding posts. And the 16 gauge speaker cables were larger than the maybe 18 or 20 gauge wire the receptacles were meant for. This meant a cycle of stripping the wire, twisting the wire ends, trying to load them into the receptacle straight, bending or losing some wires, and then recutting the wire to try again.
Now, with better tools, and perhaps with end ferrules, hooking up that system would have been a cinch. Give up and use lower gauge wire? I was (and still am) too stubborn for that to be an option.
fred
I recall a technician coming in to repair a machine controller many years ago. He was using a thermal stripper – and every now an then you got a whiff of some melting plastic insulation. I guess they might eliminate the wire nicking issue – but probably don’t work on all insulation types. He also had a soldering iron that had two tweezer-like tips – I think the first time I saw this type of soldering iron.
JSBSON
I once worked were MIL spec wire stripping was required. As far as I could find out that required thermal stripping. They worked well for lab use, but very expensive. I never had to do any field repair. We used Teledyne but there are many others.
Techni-Tool Part #: 768ST026
Steven
ive been using the irwin style for years. Price is very cheap, which offsets the failure rate.
The design is not irwins, its shared by many other companies willing topay licensing.
Ive purchased mine from princess auto, at the time were 7.99cad.
I use mine only for over-jacket splitting, than revert back to more precision manual strippers to expose wire strand.
It is very eradic and unpredictable where it strips.
Irwin style is also horrible on rw-90 stranded, often require extra squeezes.
Even with all negatives against, they work fantastic for the price and always carry it around….
Id like to try the knipex in the field before I purchase….cannot go wrong with knipex.
JSBSON
For fine wire (26-36 AWG) you may want to look at Jonard/Oak Industries ST-450.
Adjustable to six wire gauges:
ST-450 26 to 36 AWG (0.40 to 0.12mm)
ST-500 20 to 30 AWG(0.80 to 0.25mm)
ST-500ESD 20 to 30 AWG (0.80 to 0.25mm)
ST-550 18 to 28 AWG (1.00to0.30mm)
Calibrated Wire Stop adjustable to 2” (50.8mm)
Lightweight-weighs 1 oz.
page 16 http://datasheet.octopart.com/JIC-2060-Jonard-datasheet-3800.pdf
Blade is hardened steel (RC58)
Josh
I’ve got the exact same Knipex strippers from the article review, about 8 years old now. I do a decent amount of wiring so they get used pretty frequently. Absolutely love them. Been through so many variations and types prior to them, these take the cake on all-around. Auto sizing, depth setting, works well, it’s a great “no-brainer” that doesn’t really require any technique to make work well. The one thing I’ve had to do as they get up there in age where the blades are getting dull, is if you squeeze the jaws lightly while stripping to help the dull blades bite into the insulation, it’ll still work perfectly when the tool is well worn and due for a blade replacement. Other than normal wear after 8 years of the blade needing a refresh, these have been great.
JSBSON
JET.com has it for $40.70. If you are a new customer promo code BACKTOSCHOOL08 should get you $10 off, Free ship.
JSBSON
Their paper add said BACKTOSCHOOL05, it didn’t work for me, 08 did. Try both if needed. Add shows expires 10/1/16.
JSBSON
Please ignore above. Knipex appears not to be eligible for promotions.