What to use when stripping romex? - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

Gents · 12-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Hey guys,

Just woundering what you all use when you strip the outter jacket of romex wiring, Im starting my apprenticeship soon and i was gonna buy a hook knife but my dad told me some bad stories about him and a hook knife, so i am looking for another tool to use. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gents

480sparky · 12-01-2008, 04:51 PM

Just about every tool maker these days has special strippers for NM.

Gents · 12-01-2008, 04:52 PM

Is there anything that does all different types of cable? other then a knife?

480sparky · 12-01-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gents

Is there anything that does all different types of cable? other then a knife?

They're designed to cut through just the sheath and not the insulation on the wires inside. Some only do one size (14/2 or 12/2), some do both. I think one model does 10/2.

The bottom photo is one that does both 12 and 14. That will do 98% of the stripping needed in resi wiring.

electricalperson · 12-01-2008, 05:44 PM

i like to use one of these

you can also use your lineman pliers or a razor knife. a razor knife is easier to mess up with

william1978 · 12-01-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricalperson

i like to use one of these

Yes sir, I love my hawkbill.

daddymack · 12-01-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1978

Yes sir, I love my hawkbill.

old schoolers

. I use whatever is nearby. Don't do much romex.

william1978 · 12-01-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddymack

old schoolers

. I use whatever is nearby. Don't do much romex.

I don't do that much romex either, but my hawkbill will tear up some 500 and 600 mcm. oops I called it MCM and not KCMIL.

electricalperson · 12-01-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1978

I don't do that much romex either, but my hawkbill will tear up some 500 and 600 mcm. oops I called it MCM and not KCMIL.

i use mine like that too. usually before i start stripping stuff like that i sharpen it for a few minutes and go to work

heel600 · 12-01-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

Just about every tool maker these days has special strippers for NM.

That bottom one from Klein is EXACTLY the one you want. Very ergonomic!

You can strip 10ga solid with the 14-2 hole too!

I use the 14-2 hole to strip everything up to a 4 ga. Practice makes perfect!

BIGRED · 12-03-2008, 02:48 PM

Try the T&B s-stripper #s18-223 or 18-223, strips 14 & 12 on one side and 10 on the other. I have been using the s type for years.

Greg · 12-05-2008, 03:15 PM

I also use the Klien in the bottom picture and love it. Nice clean, professional strip. Actually had an inspector ask how I got the straight edge on romex, I showed him and he liked them also.

nolabama · 12-05-2008, 04:28 PM

do not use your linesman pliers, 9's, kliens or whatever they are called were your at - i have heard and do not know the validity of this but i have heard that if you use your kliens they can mess up arc fault breakers

Bruce H. · 12-05-2008, 11:25 PM

I like the Ideal #45-621 model. The latch on the Klein gets in the way, bumps into the locked position. The Ideal locks and fits into J boxes better.

MF Dagger · 12-06-2008, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolabama

do not use your linesman pliers, 9's, kliens or whatever they are called were your at - i have heard and do not know the validity of this but i have heard that if you use your kliens they can mess up arc fault breakers

I think more accurately Klein's can mess up romex

MechanicalDVR · 12-06-2008, 07:55 AM

It's very rare that our company uses romex, the last job I was on that the guys were using it they had a small yellow tool from Ideal that you slide on the cable and it slits the jacket, it has a blade to cut the jacket and a built in stripper. Found it...
Lil' Ripper Stripper™

Catalog # 45-025

Features

Rips ROMEX® outer jacket cleanly and quickly.
Clips outer sheathing to remove excess ROMEX® jacket.
Strips inner conduit wires.
Looping holes loop wire for screw-on connections.
Twist-Assist™ tightens most popular sizes of winged twist-on wire connectors.
Injection molded elastomer grip provides a comfortable, slip resistant grip.
Strip length measuring scale allows for quick and easy measurements.
Conveniently fits in your pocket.

Product Resources

45-025 Lil' Ripper Brochure (PDF - 1102K)

ROMEX® is a registered trademark of Southwire Company

electricalperson · 12-06-2008, 12:33 PM

the worst romex strippers are those cheap stamped metal ones. i bought an electricians tool kit from greenlee and it came with one. i threw it away still in the package. i hate those things

using that sheepfoot knife ill never go back to anything else. razorblades work pretty well but i find its easier to mess up romex with.

i had a set of those klein romex strippers and i ended up giving them to my helper who lost his pair

gilbequick · 12-06-2008, 10:25 PM

When I was doing houses this is the only stripper I used, and it saved me TON of time. I'd get a new pair every few months just so I'd have a sharp edge. I've tried the Kleins and the Ideals and I like the Kleins way better.

KLEIN TOOLS - Klein Connection: Strippers, Cutters, Crimpers - Wire Strippers/Cutters - Klein-Kurve® Dual NM Cable Strippers/Cutters - K1412

randomkiller · 12-06-2008, 10:32 PM

Caulk one up for the old timer with the hawkbill.

mattsilkwood · 12-08-2008, 10:04 PM

ive got one of the kline 12-2 14-2. i dont even know if they will open anymore, in the rare event that we get a romex job i normally dont have to do it.

imo romex is good for tieing down ladders and temping lights