ray801•10d ago

Overheard a journeyman in Denver say I was wasting time stripping wire with my knife instead of using a stripper.

I watched him strip 50 feet of 12/2 in half the time I do it, and after switching to a proper automatic stripper last week my wrists don't ache and I haven't nicked a single conductor - has anyone else fought the habit of using a utility knife?

2 comments

2 Comments

pat_coleman10d ago

Kinda fought it for YEARS honestly, I was one of those guys who thought knives were faster. But then I borrowed a buddy's auto stripper on a big job and yeah, my wrists thanked me and I stopped nicking wires - now I'm a total convert.

lilykelly10d ago

@pat_coleman I gotta jump in here and say, not all auto strippers are created equal. Some of the cheap ones will still nick wires if you aren't careful, especially on solid core versus stranded. I've had good luck with the Klein kind that have the little screw adjuster, lets you dial in the depth so you're only cutting insulation. Just a heads up if you decide to buy your own after borrowing that buddy's.