Review on Klein Tools 11061 Wire Stripper/Cutter: Heavy Duty, Self-Adjusting for Solid & Stranded AWG Wires by Joseph Morris

I think they are essential for Romex. Using a standard 12/2 Romex bevel, these cutters can remove the Romex jacket with one push and then strip both the hot and neutral wires with another push. Two quick presses in about 5 seconds and the Romex is ready to connect. Whether you're cutting 2-inch or 2-foot Romex coverage, there's nothing faster in this price range. Even grounded 14/3 can be done in the manner described above. Of course, it is necessary to rotate or remove the adjustable knife length stop and then insert the Romex from the top rather than the side. This also makes it easier to position cuts of different lengths. In addition, the Romex coating must be stripped at least 1 1/2 inches to allow both jaws to grip the insulated wire themselves sufficiently to complete the wire stripping. Built-in cutters easily cut the entire Romex 12/2 cable. A little practice will reveal the ideal technique for the individual user. I've done AWG 8 to AWG 20, so I sort of went the whole gamut. Although AWG 8 was not recommended. But seriously, I'm really impressed by the ease with which this stripper does her job. Strip 20 ha. and then go straight to 10 ga and the instrument will automatically tune to a quality band. Mine was a bit rough when new but wore out pretty quickly. I probably did a few hundred strips that are actually still on hiatus. I will update if I have problems using it. It's a pity that I didn't buy it earlier, because you don't have to line up the right slot every time, it's great. Especially at 67 my vision isn't as sharp as it used to be. Now there is no more risk of cutting or scratching the wire. The cut isn't as precise due to the tear-off function, but I'm happy with it. I also tried the Irwin brand. While the Irwin seems to do a great job removing wire stripping, the wire cutters themselves are seriously lacking. The Klein overlap haircut is much sharper and faster. The Irwin's accent is plastic, which looks rather gaudy for a quality instrument. I guess it's just my taste as the metal on Klein looks a lot more professional. Irwin has crimp slots, but those are new to me because you don't get much leverage to crimp the center of the handle. Especially the large sizes of the included spark plugs. In any case, I would never use them since I have a special crimping tool. The Klein 11061 strippers aren't old school, but they certainly work, and fast. Update: 05/25/2020. Removed length limit. The limiter is also quite useful with other wires, but after a few cuts you notice the length, so that the limiter is really not needed. I did this about two years ago but decided to update the review anyway.kd