About Wire Strippers

Wire strippers are hand tools used to remove insulation from electrical conductors during aircraft wiring, avionics repair, harness assembly, and MRO maintenance operations.

What Wire Stripper Should You Choose for Aviation and Aircraft Electrical Work?

Wire strippers used in aviation maintenance are not general-purpose tools. Aircraft wiring systems use MIL-spec insulated conductors, including MIL-W-22759 Tefzel and MIL-W-81381 Kapton wire, where a nicked conductor is a structural defect that can lead to premature failure in vibration-heavy environments. Die-type wire strippers solve this problem by using precision-machined blades with counterbored holes sized to both the insulation OD and conductor diameter, ensuring the blade contacts insulation only and never touches the conductor. The result is a clean, repeatable strip on every squeeze, across the full range of wire gauges used in aircraft systems, from 10 AWG primary power runs down to 30 AWG fine-gauge avionics and instrument wire.

PJi® carries die-type wire strippers from DMC (Daniels Manufacturing Corporation) and Ideal, two of the most recognized names in aerospace wire prep tooling. DMC Custom Stripmaster tools are Mil-Spec and AS5768 qualified, NSN listed, and available in configurations for standard MIL-W-22759 wire as well as MIL-W-16878 and Raychem 44A series insulated conductors. Ideal Stripmaster tools cover the same AWG ranges and use interchangeable L-series replacement blade sets that extend tool life without replacing the handle body. When selecting a wire stripper, match the tool to your specific wire type and insulation specification first, then confirm the AWG range covers the gauges in your harness work. Replacement blade compatibility is worth confirming upfront so the tool remains accurate over its service life.

If you need help selecting a wire stripper, replacement blades, or related wire prep tooling for your avionics shop or maintenance operation, our team is available by phone, email, or chat to provide expert recommendations and dependable support.