Warning: My old boss swore by those cheap plastic wire strippers from the big box store

I used them for a month on a remodel in Tampa and they kept slipping, nicking the copper. Switched to a Klein 11055 and the difference is night and day, the grip and cut are just solid. Anyone have a good alternative for a backup pair that won't break the bank?

4 comments

4 Comments

amy_grant321mo ago

My last cheap pair lasted about as long as a grocery store rose.

morganl711mo ago

Funny how that works with tools. You buy the cheap version to save a few bucks, and it ends up costing you more in time and frustration. It's a pattern you see everywhere, from kitchen gadgets to car parts. That initial price tag is tempting, but the good stuff just works right and lasts. For a backup, I've had decent luck with the Ideal Reflex strippers. They're usually around twenty bucks and haven't let me down yet.

tessalane1mo ago

Oh man, you're so right! I learned that the hard way with a bargain bin drill. It died halfway through a simple job and I had to run out for a new one anyway. Those Reflex strippers are solid for the price, totally get why you keep them around.

dakota_miller939d agoMost Upvoted

Bargain bin drill" - that hit home. My uncle gave me a drill from a gas station once. Plastic gears. First hole I tried it smoked and smelled like burnt toast. Had to borrow my neighbor's drill to finish the job. Still laugh thinking about that thing. Some tools just aren't worth the gamble.