A wire stripper is a common tool in many industries. It is a hand-held tool that can be used to strip a wire's insulation off without cutting the wire itself. There are two types of industrial wire stripper that can handle most wires: the manual wire stripper and the automatic wire stripper.

An automatic wire stripper can be very useful for cutting and removing the insulation with one quick motion. Automatic wire strippers can only be used with a certain range of wire sizes, or else you risk damaging the wire. The pricing and costs of wire stripper varies. Most wire strippers will be priced based on factors such as:

1. The type of wires you'll use with the wire stripper cutter.

2. The range of wire sizes the stripper can work with.

3. Whether you choose an automatic or manual model.

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Choose manual wire strippers for more versatility

Manual wire strippers are a standard tool in most industrial settings. While automatic wire strippers are also a convenient tool, there are many wires that are too small or too big for automatic strippers. This is why there are so many option for manuals wire strippers on the market. Manual strippers range from $7 to $40, depending on their size and purpose.

I recommend: Hechinger provides a wide range of manual wire strippers to choose from, including coaxial cable strippers. Popular Mechanics provides a guide on how to get the best use from all models of wire strippers, both automatic and manual.

Purchase automatic industrial wire strippers to strip wires quickly

An automatic wire stripper can be a useful tool, and can strip off a wire's insulation much more quickly than a manual stripper. But to keep automatic models safe for the user and the wire, automatic wire strippers only strip certain sizes of wires. Automatic wire strippers cost $40 to $60.

I recommend: Jim and Slim's Tool Supply provides a few different models of automatic wire strippers, and also provides replacement blades for those models. Action Electronics provides many styles of automatic wire strippers for a variety of jobs.

Consider a pneumatic cable stripper for heavy duty jobs

If the job at hand requires a large amount of wire stripping and a manual or automatic hand tool is just not going to cut it, you can find pneumatic cable strippers that strip wires in seconds after you feed them into the machine. Pneumatic cable strippers can handle various wire sizes and cost $1,800 to $3,000, depending on how many wire sizes the stripper can handle. Most models that handle coaxial cable are on the high end.

I recommend: The Carpenter Manufacturing Company provides a pneumatic wire stripper that be used for quick and efficient wire stripping on the job. Eubanks offers semi-automatic and automatic pneumatic wire strippers for all sorts of industries.

Wire strippers come in two broad varieties—home use and industrial strength. Industrial wire strippers are typically large pieces of machinery that operate on a stand and process large wires and cables used in construction. Handheld wire tools are useful for neatly stripping the coating off of smaller wires.

Handheld wire strippers can either be automatic wire strippers or manual wire strippers, both of which have their advantages. If you're looking for a handheld wire tool, check the size of the wire you need to strip to be sure your wire stripper or multi-use tool can process it. When shopping for a wire stripper, look at the following:

When considering a wire stripper, do the following:

1. Browse industrial wire processors for cable strippers and cutting large wires;

2. Check out automatic wire strippers for an easy-to-use tool for basic home wire processing;

3. Get a manual wire stripper or a multifunction tool if you need to strip and cut wire or work with multiple wire sizes.

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Consider industrial wire strippers for large-scale construction needs

If you need an industrial wire stripper, you probably want to rent or purchase an industrial wire and cable stripper. These tools are able to thread and cut large wires and cables in addition to just stripping the coating. Any large wires or cables, such as those involved in construction, will require the use of an industrial wire stripper.

I recommend: Browse several industrial wire and cable processors at Carpenter to see which features you need for the materials with which you'll be working. Because industrial wire strippers are large and expensive pieces of equipment, try renting a machine first from a hardware supplier and see what works for you.

Shop for an automatic wire stripper if you have basic home or shop needs

Automatic wire strippers are convenient for basic use in the home or shop. Because they grip and strip the wire in one motion, automatic strippers require less work from you. Automatic wire strippers may not have the capacity to strip very large or very small wires, however, so check the capacity of an automatic wire stripper before you buy to be sure it will do the job.

I recommend: Get an automatic wire stripper from Pro.Fit if you're just stripping wires on basic home electronics and wiring. Typically, most household wires will fit these tools, and they're inexpensive and easy to use.

Look for manual stripping tools if you have extensive wire stripping or cutting needs

Manual wire strippers are better than automatic strippers if your wire size is too large or small for an automatic stripper, or if you need tools that can perform a variety of wire processing functions. Manual wire strippers are often multi-function tools that can act as a wire stripper-cutter, able to cut not just the coating but also the wire itself if necessary.

I recommend: Consider Eclipse for manual stripping tools if you need a stripper that also can cut or bend wires, or if you need a household cable stripper for coaxial cables.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take care to maintain your manual or automatic wire stripper and keep it from getting rusty or corroded. Wire cutters that don't operate smoothly can cause damage to your wires or your person.

Some people had an upbringing that taught them what wire strippers are and how to recognize different tools before they were strong enough to even use them. The rest of the world's handymen, electricians, cord pullers and do-it-yourselfers benefit from a little coaching on the tool. These wire stripper key terms provide a start to understanding the specifics of the tool and the main aspects of the different types of wire strippers available. One of the benefits of this information is coming to know the best application for each type of wire stripper.

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Thermal wire stripper

A thermal wire stripper uses heat to score and separate the insulation from the wire. The heat ensures a clean cut of the plastic outer coating.

I recommend: Coastel Cable Tools not only explains what a thermal wire stripper is, but it also shows photo examples of the tool.

Terminal crimping

Some wire strippers come with a terminal crimping feature. Crimping takes the wire and attaches it to necessary connectors at a terminal site.

I recommend: At CableWholesale.com, you can see a wire stripper with terminal crimping included. To learn more about crimping, visit Molex.

Electric wire stripper

The electric wire stripper is a portable, electric device that quickly and effortlessly removes the casing from the wire.

I recommend: Major Electronix describes the electric wire stripper and has an online video demonstration of the product.

Self-adjusting wire stripper

The self-adjusting wire stripper quickly removes the insulation from wire by adapting to the size of the wire that the head closes around instead of the operator having to line up the wire with the appropriately sized hole as with traditional wire strippers.

I recommend: WebWorld explains the self-adjusting wire stripper and even includes video and photo tutorials of the product.

Coaxial wire stripper

Coaxial wire strippers can strip television, cable and telephone wires.

I recommend: Lashen Electronics tells about the coaxial wire stripper. TechTarget shows the makeup of a coaxial wire and the parts that the stripper can remove.

American Wire Gauge, AWG, Brown and Sharpe, BS

Wire strippers reference the American Wire Gauge, or AWG, system. Also known as Brown and Sharpe (BS) wire gauge, this system tells the thickness of wire.

I recommend: CableOrganizer.com tells about the American Wire Gauge system. Popular Mechanics details the use of wire strippers in correlation with the AWG.

Industrial wire strippers come in a variety of styles and sizes. Wire strippers can be used to manually remove the casing on electrical wires, coaxial cable and more. They also come in automatic versions that do all the work with a click of a button. Other wire strippers include thermal strippers and chemical strippers.

From the chemical stripper that strips magnetic wire to the thermal stripper that uses heat to remove wire insulation, wire stripper types and styles are used in many different industrial situations. Choose a wire stripper only after you:

1. Compare the manual and automatic basic industrial wire stripper and its uses.

2. Consider the available types of thermal strippers.

3. Review the chemical stripping process.

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Review the basic industrial wire stripper

Manual wire strippers are the basic form of wire stripping seen in everyday electrical and cable uses and can be found in many tool boxes in homes and maintenance workers. The basic wire stripper comes in manual form with adjustable size options or non-adjustable style, but it can also be upgraded to an automatic wire stripper. The automatic stripper does the work with a touch of the handle, leaving only the adjusting for you to control.

I recommend: Electric wire strippers are the most basic of all strippers found in both manual and automatic forms. Find helpful information and purchase a wire stripper from Electrical Basics or Improvement Direct. Review the automatic version available at Parts Express.

Compare your thermal cable stripper options

The thermal cable strippers use heat to remove the insulation shell without damaging the cable underneath. It can be used for coaxial cable, single strand, multi-strand and shielded wire. Thermal strippers are designed to work on many types of insulation including Teflon, vinyl, neoprene and more. They come with adjustable size tips and gauging to adjust the amount of heat you use.

I recommend: Read a thermal stripper review at Clifton Laboratories. The review gives a good explanation of how the wire stripper works as well. For purchasing options, consider Teledyne Interconnect Devices or Hammond Electronics. Both offer thermal strippers with good explanations of the product's use.

Choose chemical wire stripping equipment for industrial uses

Chemical wire stripping equipment strips film insulation from magnetic wire, coaxial cable or extruded wire. The chemical process removes the insulation without damaging the wires inside. Working with a chemical stripping machine is highly technical and can be dangerous if the chemical process is jeopardized in any way. Only trained professionals should use chemical stripping machines.

I recommend: Make sure you understand the chemical removal process before working with a chemical stripper. Read the NASA Workmanship Standards on wire preparedness for chemical stripping, or get helpful information about chemical stripping at Industrial Equipment News. To compare chemical stripper options, contact The Eraser Company. They manufacturer several chemical stripping systems.