Wire cutters and strippers are must-have tools for any sort of electrical work, making it easy and quick to remove insulation and cut wire to the length you need.
What is the best way to cut wire?
A wire cutter is the best tool for the job, with hardened cutting edges that provide a precise, clean cut that is easy to work with.
How thick can a wire cutter cut?
Wire cutters can work for anywhere from 8 to 30-gauge AWG wire. You'll want to make sure that the wire cutter you choose can cut the gauges you work with.
What's the best tool to strip wire?
While it's possible to use a utility knife to strip insulation from wire, a wire stripper will have properly sized notches for each gauge, so insulation can be removed without causing any damage. Stripping tools are often multifunctional, so you can cut, crimp, and strip without swapping tools.
Are wire cutters and strippers the same?
Many wire cutters are combination tools that include stripping features for the gauges they are designed for, so that one tool covers both uses. Some will even include a crimping tool.
How do I use a wire cutter and wire stripper?
Wire cutters are easy to use and work much like other cutting tools, just apply pressure to make a cut. Wire strippers have notches sized for each gauge of wire, insert the wire you need to strip into the corresponding notch, close the tool, and it will sever the insulation without damaging the wire. Sometimes you might need to give the wire a gentle twist to help sever the insulation. Once the cut is made, push the tool to remove the insulation.
