Wire Stripping: Almost Everyone Makes This Mistake

Stripping wires with a chainsaw is a no-no. Or is it? Learn from some of my mistakes and check out these common mistakes DIYers make when stripping wires.
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•Here are the wire strippers that I have tested out and would recommend. Each of these has different strengths but all are high quality and great for regular use.
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00:00 Intro Don't be a Butthead
00:18 #1 Rock n Roll
01:21 #2 Dull and Inefffective
04:16 #3 Check your wire gauge
04:58 #4 Stripping too much or too little
06:33 #5 Using a blade to cut around the wire
07:50 Learn from my mistakes

[@theprototype005]

I'm a 25 year electrician. This man is speaking facts while making it entertaining. Great job brother!!

[@ianbelletti6241]

The only thing I have issue with what he said was no to the knives as stripping tools. They are valid stripping tools for individual conductors. However, they become more efficient on larger conductors. Always keep the knife sharp because that means less pressure to cut the insulation meaning it's less likely you're going to nick the conductors.

[@nothankyou5524]

Who are you? His father, brother?

[@rontiemens2553]

In the graphic showing how to gauge 12 AWG and 14 AWG using the nickel and dime, the labels “12 AWG” and “14 AWG” are reversed. 12 should point toward the nickel, and 14 toward the dime.

[@Lakusus]

Yep. Was just about to say that, myself. It's okay. Nils is great and I love his videos but, he, like most of the rest of us, is only human.👽

[@rontiemens2553]

@@Lakusus agreed. This is a great channel.

[@n2ocharged]

I was hoping I wasn't the only person to see that too :D

[@wolphin732]

the end with the ethernet cable... the way I was taught, with how it leaves the jacket with the stressed end would have been a fail in all my networking or mechanical classes; a nice straight cut was always required. I have always used a knife (usually a lbb xacto blade) or an actual network wire stripper for them. Network twisted pair wires are not just a random twist, but they are pairs of wires with each twisted at a different rate, to deal with cross-talk; a pull stripper like that grips and pulls the inner wires, messing up the twists, and could even break one or more of the thin wires. With Cat-6 and higher, it also has a plastic spline in the middle, which would resist it, and if the edges of that get on the wires, it could put a stress on it, and cause damage.

[@janislohman8125]

Worked in manufacturing electronics for 41 yrs. He's teaching facts folks! Great video!

[@FartsHughley]

I always make my cut with the strippers, then move the strippers up a bit and grab the insulation before pulling it off. Makes it a lot easier to strip stranded wire.

[@mikef2618]

I spent over 12 years of my younger life doing mostly residential wiring, and worked with literally miles of romex. All metal boxes back then. I would always strip the jacket off the romex before pushing it into the box, then tightening the clamp. I still do it that way today for remodel and new work. I never could grasp why a person would shove the romex into a box, and then have to fight to get the jacket off without damaging the conductors. Just strip the jacket out in the open, then push it into the box. Quicker, neater, safer.

[@TallGuyChris]

How are you stripping the sheathing out of the box? Romex strippers? Even with those you can damage the wire so nothing is foolproof of course. You really have to try to kill the wire with a utility knife in the box to damage it. Especially how he described, I mean was he sawing at the cable to cut the conductor like that? A light score on the jacket and pull to separate. I usually don't even cut through. Especially on newer wire where the sheath is thinner. Older Romex may be a different story. But either way is fine, in or out of the box, whichever way you want to think 😉

[@mikef2618]

@@TallGuyChris, thanks for the input. To be fair, a large majority of my time spent with Romex was in the 70s and 80s. Before the color coded jackets that are now thinner. There were no Romex strippers back then, at least not any that worked worth a darn. My tool of choice was an electricians knife and side-cutters. Out in the open, I could strip off 6 to 8 inches of jacket in a couple of seconds. Like you said, either way is fine, as long as the conductor insulation is not compromised. I'll stick with my old tried and true. 😉

[@chrisradtke]

This is my favorite stripper video of all time

[@duanecjohnson]

That CHAIN SAW actually stripped pretty well!!! Who'd a thunk it? AD0TJ

[@stagggerlee]

Good video. I added a 20 amp circuit to my garage in 2020. Of course my panel is on the opposite basement wall. I bought 12-2 wGround UV/buried romex, that is *grey*. At the time I saved $25 over the cost of yellow romex. I checked the code, there is no prohibition to using this indoors. Slightly harder to strip, but I only stripped 2 ends. The price changed later, but at the time it was good to have the extra $25!

[@macklyn]

Love the humor added to the good information. Subscribed!

[@robertkerby2581]

I really enjoyed these tips for properly stripping wire in a given situation! Thank you for this wonderfully informative KZbin video! Well done, Sir!

[@gregfaris6959]

I have more "automatic" wire strippers than you can count - not because I like them at all, but because I keep looking for one that actually works. In the end, whenever anything is critical, I always go back to the manual razor knife, because I get a clean cut, at the length I want, and I can feel the metal and avoid cutting into anything but insulation. Automatic strippers can work fine all dsay long, but it's just guaranteed when you get down to the last cut, and you don't have any extra length to work with, so the cut HAS to be right, it will simply rip through the wire as if you had used your wire cutter, and you're good to tear open a finished wall or re-do an enclosure.

[@ethanclement9647]

Take the sheathing off the Romex before you stick it into the box. Job done. While you're at it leave a service loop so things don't look so stressed out.

[@jasonbailey9139]

I've used that sheathing splitter tool for years for Ethernet cable. Had no clue about the wirenut and j hook features. Hadn't ever thought to use it when working with high voltage wire.

[@WC3fanatic997]

Look, I was a particularly dumb child growing up, but I could flawlessly strip wires with scissors during all the various projects I was doing, because I did not have access to a dedicated tool. Admittedly it was the only thing I ever did right when attempting all those things, but thats for another time.

[@babulidj]

Muito bom seu trabalho! Aqui do Brasil 🇧🇷

[@dankuchar6821]

Great content. Thanks!

[@sonnyblazer5504]

Good info as usual *FROM YOU* ! Thanks!

[@homesteadgarage]

Great video!

[@ggrimm79]

I laughed out loud at the side effects cutaway clip. Not so much at the chainsaw red alert. Ha! Comedy is one of the toughest things in the world. I also learned something today, about thicker gauge wire grounds not necessarily being the same thickness as the rest of the wires in the cable. Very well done as per usual.

[@circuitbreaker9001]

I strip the cable before putting it in the box

[@tjam4229]

Good info 👍

[@attilajuhasz2526]

Good video, my man. Just one request: Given that these videos are viewed outside the US, please put a disclaimer at their beginning . All electrical and plumbing work must be carried out by licenced tradies. Greetings from Australia.

[@JohnSmith-yc6uv]

Wow. Not allowed to work on your own property huh? Must be awful living in apsycho tyranny like that.

[@willmallory9085]

2:19 😂😂😂 the chainsaw!!! 😂😂😂

[@davidconner-shover51]

1:27 yes, even new I wouldn't classify that as a useful tool

[@TheRuizsByTim]

I have started working with small gauge wires (24-30) in my retirement hobby. Any advice on stripping small gauge would be great, or point me in the direction of a channel that deals with it. BTW, I did a lot of my own home improvements and repairs over the years and I sure wish this channel had been available then. Thanks!

[@adama1294]

Thermal wire strippers.

[@gregorycerven3484]

A thumb nail can strip small gauge wire easily. Assuming you're not doing alot of it. Bell wire and smaller are not too tough to cut the insulation with your thumb nail without really hurting the copper inside

[@Roofer0420]

Teeth work really good for small wire.

[@billbucktube]

There are small guage wire strippers.

[@shopart1488]

What I’ve ask other KZbinrs is where do you get your information on all these subjects that DIYers are making all these mistakes. I have looked on various subjects presented on KZbinrs channels and have never found an Internet article stating all these DIYers mistakes.

[@RandomAxeOfKindness]

Fact is, most electrical wiring products used in the US are not made for or safe for most DIYers to use. They're not designed like Legos; they're really meant for people who already know what to do and not do. If you're not a 'skilled amateur', what's really probably best is to buy a not-the-cheapest automatic wire stripper -- AND to watch videos like this. Yes, this stuff can be done by amateurs, but amateurs often won't have any idea when they do or don't screw something up, so they want it to be as automatic as possible.

[@FreemenMars1]

@LRN2DIY 4:57 unfortunately your labeling is backwards on the wire size measurement with coins - but otherwise great content

[@TheWillis1979]

Still not correct. And agree - overall great content

[@JCWren]

7:36 You twisted the wires in the wrong direction...

[@Darenator1]

Believe it or not, the Pittsburgh red handle wire stripper from Harbor Freight work very well!

[@detran09]

I have had to remove wires with scissors when I didn't have wire strippers, and it performed flawlessly without causing any damage to the wire. If you don't possess the appropriate tool, you sometimes have to improvise. It's not about what's ideal; it's about utilizing what you have available to get the job done.

[@johnnemeth6913]

When it comes to electrical safety, improvising like this can kill or burn down your house. Do the job properly or don't do it at all.

[@calvissuperman]

Electrical code dictates that a device ground never needs to be thicker than a 10 gauge wire. This is generally why certain wires have different ground sizes, usually being 10awg for all sizes. Obviously there are always exceptions, and this is only DEVICE grounding, so other grounding applications need heavier gauge wire. But generally, you'll run into that more often. And if you are in a business that installs large devices, check the correct sizing of your device ground. You might be able to save a lot of money if you've been buying 6awg grounding wire, and code only requires you to use 10awg. Don't take my word for it though, check! There's so many scenarios that could potentially change this.

[@Paine137]

Knipex has insulation strippers (12 64 180) that work really well: far better than that last option.

[@dbf1dware]

Nils, I love your stuff. If I could subscribe more than once I would. But, no I won't create additional KZbin accounts just for that.

[@BobMuir100]

Well I never!! Who knew? I didn’t! I mean it’s wire stripping, yet it seems I am guilty of just about all you presented to us. Thank Nils Bob England

[@SeanFao]

I have a random question: You used the exact same light housing I used in my basement when I finished it. The electrical wiring isn't accessible now that the drywall is up because the boxes are outside of the dome where the light goes. If something were to ever come loose, how are you supposed to access the electrical box?

[@LRN2DIY]

I'm not sure I follow - what is the time stamp in the video that you're referring to?

[@SeanFao]

@@LRN2DIY 6:58. The box where the wires get connected is only accessible prior to having the drywall installed.

[@LRN2DIY]

@@SeanFaoOh, I see. You’re right - the design is limited in terms of access. You’d have to cut into the ceiling, unfortunately.

[@glengivens3216]

Access to the J-box is through the light opening. The fixtures I am familiar with were designed so the housing shell was removable to access the J-box after finishes. The J-boxes had a removable cover on both sides of the box: outer cover to rough fixture in, inner cover to access through the light opening. All J-boxes “SHALL” be accessible.

[@williamlangley2044]

I used a solider gun to strip my wire.

Automatic wire strippers. Dad frowned on them. What do folks think here?

[@jameslastname9171]

7:40 the built in wire clamps in the box are missing. Is there a ‘thing’ to break them off? I’m seeing this frequently on the KZbin’s

[@thetoolhoarder204]

Those cheap Carlon blue boxes do not have any sort of integral clamping means. You just break those knockouts out of the entrances you are using, and staple within 8" of the box.

[@adama1294]

I worked in high reliability tools for harsh environments and I cringe when you just pull the strippers right off. You can get away with it if your carefull on solid wire but if it is stranded wire you are going to damage the wire. Thermal strippers are the only way to go if you absolutely can't damage the wire. Use your fingernails or the plier tip of the strippers to grip the jacket and pull it off.

[@biggs85]

Been stripping wires for the last 187 years. But I still cut some of the strands of stranded wire and have to redo it 7 times.

[@scorpio6587]

Please clean the camera lens.

[@CrapE_DM]

You labelled the two coins wrong. You made the nickel be 14 gauge, etc

[@varianttech2528]

Sorry, but may i ask, Where is the rest of R & E of MEASURE on the T-shirt Just joking 😂❤

[@waynethomas3638]

Home electrical work is illegal in most countries

[@penegakkeadilanpembasmikej5022]

Beavis and butthead snl

[@frank4915]

Working with multi strand wire is so much better than single strand wire. So far as to say I wish that single strand wire is to be banned for light and power circuits. Saying that the power outlets in Australia is so much superior than the US counterparts

[@turboflush]

2024.. wire romex colors changed again.

[@DennisDelaney-fg4pw]

I showed up to my first day as a construction com tech with a pair of those strippers and after the others knowing smirks I was told to put them in my truck and never let anyone see them again.The boss gave me a pair of used miller falls with the spring cut off and told me he just saved my hand.And after months long splices I knew he did just that.This guy is a amateur.

[@martyjenkins3631]

Yeah, "those" strippers, am I right?

[@stinkycheese804]

Oh good, another one of those "I just learned something and I think I am so extra special smart that if I just learned it, it must be that everyone else is still doing it wrong like I did for years", videos. Nope, it was just you. Only idiots need, or make as if it's a revelation, a video about wire stripping.

[@jpnphom5470]

i guarantee you dont measure only once

[@Liteg0]

Meh, I don't use wire strippers for most work, they're useless. Only time I will use a wire strippers is on wires that need sleeves, because then I use a 3 in 1 tool that cuts the wire, strips it and applies sleeves. Since I already need a special tool for the jobb, might as well use the 3 in 1 for stripping too.

[@user-bb6qf7xr4t]

What’s the deal with these guys trying to make a funny video…. You’re not funny just get to it already

[@nothankyou5524]

You mean the mistake of watching your videos?