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7 Best Wire Stripping Machines of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

actual use of StripMeister WSM001 Automatic Wire Stripper Machine

actual use of StripMeister WSM001 Automatic Wire Stripper Machine

A good wire stripping machine is an invaluable bit of hardware. It will help you do things like turn a cable back into raw copper in no time flat.

Now, you may be thinking: can’t I just do that with a knife? Maybe, but it’s a slow process that will eat up much of your day. On top of that, simply using a knife to strip wire can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing!

Wire stripping machines save time while keeping you safe. And as a bonus, they produce a much higher quality of copper.

Not all wire stripping machines perform equally well, though. How can you tell the good ones from the bad? Keep reading to discover our reviews of different machines on the market as well as our comprehensive buyer’s guide!

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
StripMeister WSM001 Automatic Wire Stripper Machine StripMeister WSM001 Automatic Wire Stripper Machine
  • Aluminum body
  • Spiral groove feeder
  • Steel blade
  • Best Value
    Second place
    SST Industrial Wire Stripping Machine SST Industrial Wire Stripping Machine
  • Tungsten steel blade
  • Adjustable wire guide
  • 3 year warranty
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    BLUEROCK MWS-808PMO Wire Stripping Machine BLUEROCK MWS-808PMO Wire Stripping Machine
  • 9 blades
  • 9 cutter channels
  • Cuts 75’ per minute
  • CO-Z WSMS025BL Electric Wire Stripping Machine CO-Z WSMS025BL Electric Wire Stripping Machine
  • Aluminum body
  • Accepts wide range of wires
  • Easy adjust handle
  • Happybuy Cable Wire Stripping Machine Happybuy Cable Wire Stripping Machine
  • Accepts wide range of wires
  • Easy-adjust blade
  • Steel frame construction
  • The 7 Best Wire Stripping Machines – Reviews  2023

    1. StripMeister Automatic Wire Stripper Machine – Best Overall

    Earlier, we talked about the importance of saving time. One of the best ways to save time is cut to the chase and reveal the best overall pick. In this case, that’s the StripMeister WSM001 Automatic Wire Stripper Machine.

    This machine works without a motor (you just add a corded drill), and that cuts down on cost without cutting into its performance. And the aluminum body of the machine makes it sturdy and durable without adding too much weight.

    On top of it all, this machine and its steel blade works well with braided wire and ROMEX wire that many other machines can’t handle. The one real issue with this machine is that it struggles a bit with older wire due to the soft and/or flexible casing.

    Pros
    • Aluminum body
    • Spiral groove feeder
    • Steel blade
    • Can handle ROMEX and braided wire
    Cons
    • Doesn’t work as well with older wire

    2. SST Industrial Wire Stripping Machine – Best Value

    SST Industrial Wire Stripping Machine

    It’s one thing to jump right to the best overall choice. However, many handymen are on a strict budget. If that describes you, then you’re probably searching for the best wire stripping machines for the money. And the best in that category is the SST Industrial Wire Stripping Machine.

    We really love the complete metal construction: no cheap plastics, so you can count on the durability. And the tungsten steel blade provides killer performance for cut after cut. The adjustable wire guide is convenient and beginner-friendly, and we really love the 3-year warranty.

    What keeps this machine from being our “best overall” pick? Like the StripMeister, this machine struggles with older wire. On top of that, it doesn’t work very efficiently unless you have two people (one to peel and one to feed). That’s bad news if you’re working solo.

    Pros
    • Complete metal construction
    • Tungsten steel blade
    • Adjustable wire guide
    • 3 year warranty
    Cons
    • Doesn’t work well with older wire
    • Requires two people for maximum efficiency

    3. BLUEROCK Wire Stripping Machine – Premium Choice

    BLUEROCK MWS-808PMO Wire Stripping Machine

    We often talk about our tools being investments. But what if you have a lot of spare money and want to invest in the best? If you’re looking for a solid premium choice, we recommend the BLUEROCK MWS-808PMO Wire Stripping Machine.

    What makes this such a great wire-stripping machine? In a word, “more:” it has more of everything you need. This includes 9 cutting blades and 9 cutter channels. And if you’ve got a big job on the horizon, this machine can cut a whopping 75 feet per minute!

    There are really only two downsides. The first, of course, is the high cost. And the second is that some users had to adjust the spring tension occasionally when switching to different sizes.

    Pros
    • 9 blades
    • 9 cutter channels
    • Cuts 75’ per minute
    Cons
    • High cost
    • Spring tension must be adjusted on occasion

    4. CO-Z WSMS025BL Electric Wire Stripping Machine

    CO-Z WSMS025BL Electric Wire Stripping Machine

    While it didn’t make the cut for our best overall choice, the CO-Z WSMS025BL Electric Wire Stripping Machine is a solid choice. And it makes for a great “starter” wire stripping machine.

    It has the durable aluminum body we love to see in these machines. And it can handle a wide range of wires that range from 1.5 mm to 25 mm. The easy-adjust handle is great for newbies, but we think even veteran handymen will enjoy the convenience.

    With the ability to cut 50 feet per minute, this model is pretty fast. The only downside is that the machine only comes with holes for two different sizes of wires. This basically limits your feeding options during operation.

    Pros
    • Aluminum body
    • Accepts wide range of wires
    • Easy-adjust handle
    • Fast
    Cons
    • Limited feeding options

    5. Happybuy Cable Wire Stripping Machine

    Happybuy Cable Wire Stripping Machine

    You might think the “happy” in the Happybuy Cable Wire Stripping Machine is a pretty bold claim. Will this machine actually make you happy? In all likelihood, the answer is “yes.”

    The wire range on this machine (from 1.5 mm to 25 mm) is as good as some of the very best machines out there. And the included easy-adjust blade makes the whole thing very easy to set up. Finally, the steel frame constructions means this machine should last a good, long while.

    So, what keeps this machine from appearing higher on our list? The company does not sell replacement blades, and that means there are hard limits to how many years of use you will get for this machine. And as much as we like it, the truth is that you can get more features at this price point with other models.

    Pros
    • Accepts wide range of wires
    • Easy-adjust blade
    • Steel frame construction
    Cons
    • Cannot easily replace blade
    • Overpriced relative to its features

    6. PENSON & CO. Motorized Wire Stripping Machine

    PENSON & CO. WSM-AMWS-25 Motorized Wire Stripping Machine

    The PENSON & CO. WSM-AMWS-25 Motorized Wire Stripping Machine makes for a large and fairly colorful addition to your workspace. But is it enough for your different wire stripping needs? Affirmative!

    With the ability to cut 60 feet per minute, this machine is surprisingly fast. And it is very easy to make adjustments so that every cut is more precise and accurate. Finally, the strong motor is easy to power: just plug it into any outlet and you are good to go.

    There are really only two drawbacks to this model. First, it’s a bit expensive relative to its features. And second, some users report that it struggles with cutting smaller wires.

    Pros
    • Fast
    • Easy to adjust
    • “Plug and play” motor
    Cons
    • Expensive relative to its features
    • Struggles with smaller wires

    7. Steel Dragon Tools Automatic Wire Stripping Machine

    Steel Dragon Tools WRA20 Automatic Wire Stripping Machine

    We saved the Steel Dragon Tools WRA20 Automatic Wire Stripping Machine for last on our list of reviews. But does that make it the least? Hardly!

    This machine really impresses with its easy automatic operation. If you’d like to sit back and watch it work, you can! The steel body is durable and the adjustable tension is convenient. Finally, the fact that it can accept four different cable sizes plus ROMEX cables makes this one of the most versatile machines in the game.

    So, why did this awesome machine not make the cut for our best overall choice? In a word, price. It’s too expensive for the budgets of many handymen, and for those who have the cash to burn, there are better premium choices.

    Pros
    • Accepts many sizes of cables plus ROMEX
    • Automatic operation
    • Adjustable tension
    • Steel body
    Cons
    • Expensive

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    Buyer’s Guide – Purchasing the Best Wire Stripping Machine

    Hopefully, our reviews have given you a greater glimpse into the complex world of wire-stripping machines. But because that world is so complex, you probably have more than a few questions we need to answer before you make a purchase.

    That’s why we put together a comprehensive buyer’s guide to wire stripping machines. This guide can help answer your remaining questions and provide a more exhausting look at the different factors of these machines that you must understand to make the best decision.

    Automatic vs. Manual

    Some wire stripping machines offer automatic tools and some require you to do everything manually. But which approach is best for the average handyman?

    Generally speaking, automating things like wire peels can save you a lot of time and a lot of headaches. And that’s good news whether you are working on a small project or need to focus on a high volume of production.

    What’s the catch? Unfortunately, automated tools can only handle so many different sizes of wires. If you want to be able to handle many more kinds of wires, then you can increase your versatility by going with a manual wire stripping machine instead.

    Maximum Versatility

    Speaking of versatility, some manual wire strippers are more versatile than others. Depending on your current projects and future plans, you’ll need to consider a few different elements when it comes to the wire stripper.

    For example, some strippers allow you to easily adjust the blade tension and others do not. With a more versatile wire stripper, you’ll be able to split coaxial cables and insulated copper wires with ease.

    As we noted before, though, this versatility comes at a cost: time. You may be able to do more with a manual wire stripper than an automatic one, but you are going to spend a lot more time and effort in doing so.

    A Wire Stripper That Can Do Both

    Believe it or not, this doesn’t have to be an either/or choice. Rather than settling for a stripper that is only automatic or only manual, you can purchase a hybrid stripper instead.

    Such strippers have automatic features as well as a hand crank to help you control the speed. These machines may be more expensive than other choices. You must ultimately consider whether you really need this hybrid functionality for your current needs and future projects.

    The Importance of Channels

    One of the things you will quickly discover is that plenty of wire stripping machines only work with a single wire size. While this may work for your particular needs, many handymen prefer a machine that gives them a few more options.

    That’s why we recommend getting a wire stripping machine with multiple channels. This lets you insert different sizes of wires, greatly increasing the versatility and utility of your new tool.

    For best results, make sure the machine lets you make pressure adjustments to the cutters. This helps you work with various insulations and wire coatings without any real difficulty.

    Adjustable Blades

    Shakespeare’s Hamlet famously asked himself a very philosophical question: “to be or not to be?” But when buying a wire stripping machine, you need to answer a much more practical question: “to adjust or not to adjust?”

    Some machines feature adjustable blades and some do not. In our opinion, it’s important to pick a wire stripping machine that has adjustable blades.

    You need adjustable blades when it comes to automatic wire stripping machines. With the right adjustments, your machine can handle wires with different levels of thickness and insulation at the rapid speed you need. With manual wire stripping machines, you must make those blade adjustments by hand.

    Speaking of blades, it’s nice to get a wire stripping machine that lets you replace the blades. This helps you ensure solid performance every time you use the machine and can ultimately extend the lifetime of your new tool.

    Portability? It’s Up to You

    With many power tools like impact wrenches, you want to find something lightweight. This is because you operate such tools by hand and must worry about the strain and fatigue they will eventually cause you.

    With wire stripping machines, it’s a little different. Some users prefer lightweight machines (and manual ones are almost always lighter in weight) because they like the ability to move the machine around.

    Other users, however, want to keep the machine in place. In that case, it’s best to choose a heavier model that you can easily attach to a workbench.

    Sometimes, your decision may be informed by the features you need. For example, larger machines typically have more functionality and features than smaller ones. But the functionality and features come at the price of portability, so you must ultimately figure out how important this is to you.

    Level of Accessibility

    In order to get the best possible wire stripping machine for yourself, you must answer another simple question: how much experience do you already have with these kinds of machines and with wire stripping in general?

    Someone who has never done this before will benefit from keeping everything simple. That usually means an automatic machine, and if it doesn’t have many channels, that’s okay. Your goal is to use this machine to develop your wire stripping skills and experience.

    If you have a lot of experience either operating these machines or manually stripping wires on your own, it’s okay to pick a more complex machine. Generally speaking, the complexity of a wire stripping machine maps out to how versatile it really is. You generally want a machine that can do more, but the most important thing is making sure you have enough knowledge to make the most of it.

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    Conclusion

    Before you can get to stripping any wires, you need to choose the best wire stripping machine. And we hope that our reviews and buyer’s guide have made the decision easier for you. As for us, the big question remains: which machines were our top picks out of the entire lineup?

    When it comes to the best overall wire stripping machine, we need to give the nod to the StripMeister WSM001 Automatic Wire Stripper Machine. It packs high-quality and robust features into a single package, and the only downside is that it doesn’t work well with older wires.

    Are you shopping on a budget? If so, our main value pick is definitely the SST Industrial Wire Stripping Machine. For its price, it has a ton of great features, but it works best if you have another person to help you operate it.

    While these are our picks for the best wire stripping machines, the final decision is up to you. But by studying our reviews and our buyer’s guide, you will learn everything you need to know in order to make the best purchase.

    And once you get started, you’ll be amazed at how fulfilling it is. If you were having any more fun stripping, your momma might just disown you!

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