What You Need to Strip Wire
A true multi-tool, wire strippers are essentially spring-loaded pliers that have different-sized notches cut into their jaws. Their main function is to cut and remove the plastic insulation from solid or stranded copper electrical wire without cutting the wire itself, so that the wire can be attached to a terminal or wire-nutted to another wire. They can also be used to cut, bend, and pull wire. Many models can even cut to length the small screws used to secure outlets and switches into electrical workboxes while preserving the screws’ threads.
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Take a stroll through your local hardware or big-box store and you’ll find basic wire strippers as well as more specialized models that also crimp terminals, strip the insulation from coaxial cable, and even cut and remove the waste insulation in one motion.
Choosing a Wire-Stripping Tool
To pick the stripper that’s right, you should know the AWG (American Wire Gauge) size of the wire you’ll be working with. The AWG numbers increase as the wire gauge gets smaller. Most strippers are made to handle a specific span of wire gauges—10-18 AWG for solid wire and 12-20 AWG for stranded wire, for instance. Common household wiring, known as NM cable, a.k.a. Romex, is usually composed of AWG 14- or AWG 12-insulated solid copper conductors in the plastic sheathing. The two-conductor wire used for light-duty extension cords, or power cords for lamps and other light-duty appliances, is often referred to as lamp cord and is made from stranded, rather than solid, copper wire, typically a smaller 16 or 18 AWG. The individual strands that make up each conductor are thin and easily cut or broken, so it’s important not to cut beyond the insulation when stripping.
How to Strip Wire
Removing the Jacket and Insulation
Stripping the Lamp Cord
How to Strip Wires Without a Wire Cutter
If you find yourself without a wire stripper, you can use a sharp knife. This technique is easier with solid copper—you don’t run the risk of cutting the conductor as much as you would with stranded copper wire.
