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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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

[rontiemens]

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.

[theprototype]

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

[wolphin]

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.

[mikef]

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.

[danmidtdal]

I am a homeowner and have had formal training on electrical wiring. Two things on stripping the jacket of the wire. I always strip the jacket before inserting in the box. Secondly I strip the jacket off by scoring down the centre line of the wire, essentially along the ground wire between the white and black conductors. I then pull on the jacket to the point where the jacket begins to fold over the outside of the unsliced jacket. I can the safely cut around the folded back portion and not have to worry about nicking the wires. This leaves a really nice look to the cable inside the box.
I know that a pro would no bother with this but it gives me great satisfaction the have the confidence that no wires were damaged during the installation.

[robertkerby]

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

[janislohman]

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

[macklyn]

Love the humor added to the good information. Subscribed!

[ethanclement]

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.

[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.

[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!

[attilajuhasz]

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.

[USMC_]

2:12 You, sir, are a madman. And I love it. This alone is worth a sub.

[chrisradtke]

This is my favorite stripper video of all time

[stringlarson]

Those Knipix wire stripper, cutter, plier are freakin awesome. One design feature that I really like is that there's a 'bump' between every other guage rather than all the teeth being the same level. When working in low light and or poor eyesight, it's easy to distinguish between 12 and 14 etc. They are also very precise and sharp.

[ggrimm]

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.

[WCfanatic]

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.

[FreemenMars]

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

[circuitbreaker]

I strip the cable before putting it in the box

[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!