X-mas Loot: Gardner Bender Automatic Wire Stripper
By Eric Dykstra
This year, Amazon Santa dropped a Gardner Bender SE-94 automatic wire stripper in my stocking. The SE-94’s jaws automatically adjust to strip 10 to 26 gauge wire. One set of jaws grips and cuts the wire while the other set pulls back the insulation — all with one squeeze. I’ve enjoyed it so much, I spent the last 36 hours looking for wire to strip.
Garnder Bender also included an integrated blade-and-anvil type wirecutter as well as a set of crimpers. If you want a really nice, super useful tool, cash in those gift cards and get yourself one of these for about $14.
Automatic Wire Stripper [Gardner Bender]
Street Price [Google Products]
Via Amazon
December 28th, 2007 at 11:01 am
I picked one of these up for myself back when the Irwin model was reviewed. http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/22/hands-on-irwins-self-adjusting-wire-stripper/
This is a great stripper for rigid-clad wiring, but it *sometimes* leaves groove marks on the unstripped cladding.
It’s good to have a pair of traditional strippers as well for wires that don’t fair well with auto strippers, such as soft jacketed or super flexible audio cable.
December 28th, 2007 at 11:17 am
These things are great for CAT5 cable.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
In my experience, this type of stripper massacres fine-stranded wire, and I’m highly dubious of the 26 awg lower limit. I wouldn’t use them on anything smaller than 18 or 20.
They’re very handy for house wiring or other medium-gauge solid stuff. Useful on commercial or automotive wiring, where it’s mostly 7-strand in the 10-14 gauge range. Definitely a bad idea for superflex, speaker cable, lamp cord, or electronics work.
FTR, I haven’t used this exact model, but I’ve tried and been disappointed by a fair number built around similar concepts.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I got this exact same model for Xmas myself. I haven’t used it too much yet, but so far it strips my 22 gauge stranded hookup wire like a dream.
The center pivot wasn’t tight so it got a bit wonky when the joint loosened with use, but it was easy to tighten it back up.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Regarding stripper results on stranded versus solid wire:
Be aware for the same wire gauge solid and stranded wires have a different cross-sectional area– stranded wire is ever so slightly a larger diameter (to maintain current rating). Tools (and fittings) are often marked for specific wire type. Check yours.
January 1st, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I have an old pair of these and they are A+ great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00973655000P?vName=Tools&keyword=wire+stripper
Teacher
April 27th, 2008 at 11:11 am
As an electrician, I would be labeled as a rookie for using this tool. Here is what I use.
http://www.idealindustries.com/prodDetail.do?prodId=45-215&div=3&l1=wire_strippers&l2=premium_t-stripper&l3=45-215
For any thing larger than 10 awg I use my utility knife. For anything smaller than 18awg I use the cutter portion of my strippers very carefully. It also fits nicely into my tool belt. I have a seperate crimp tool.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Dear Sir,
I come from Hong Kong and want to buy a cable sheath stripper for stripping off the PVC part (sheath) of a wire of 13A to 15A with at least 7mm outer diameter. I cannot find such product around many hardware shops in Hong Kong. According to your on-line catalogue, I wish to consult your expert suggestion to see which one is suitable for me, the total amount of price may be discussed later.
Attached please find a photo of the cable required to be stripped.
Regards,
C.T. Lai(Mr)