When it comes to picking the best automatic wire stripping machine there are several things that you should take into consideration.
Some of these things are the sizes of wire you will be stripping, if you have power available for the stripping machine, if you need to move the stripping machine often, if you will be stripping different sizes of wires often, and the types of wires you will be stripping.
Out top picks for the best automatic wire strippers are below.
Our Top Picks
CO-Z WSMSD2500 Wire Stripping Machine
Pros
- Manual Crank (no electricity needed)
- Can Optionally use Drill to Power
- Very Portable
Cons
- Possible QA Issues
- Needs Mount to be Stable
This automatic wire stripper from CO-Z is can strip wire with a diameter from 0.06” (1.5mm) to 0.98” (25mm), which is pretty impressive for an automatic wire stripping machine in this price range.
One of the nice features of this stripper is that it is very portable.
Weighing in at only 12 pounds with an overall size of 8.9” x 5.1” x 12.6” you can use this automatic wire stripper just about anywhere.
You do not even need access to electricity to use this stripper since it is powered by a hand crank.
Don’t let the hand crank fool you though, this automatic wire stripper can optionally be powered by a hand drill if needed and can strip up to 50 feet of wire per minute.
If you need a very flexible automatic wire stripping machine at a modest price then the CO-Z WSMSD2500 is a solid choice.
StripMeister WSM001 Original Automatic Wire Stripper Machine
Pros
- Solid Construction
- ROMEX Slot
- Very Portable
- Comes with Extra Blade
Cons
- No Hand Crank Option
- May not Work Well on Smaller Wire
- Needs Mount to be Stable
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This is the original drill powered automatic wire stripper from StripMeister and has solid construction.
One of the nice features of this automatic wire stripping machine is the ROMEX slot to make it easier to strip ROMEX type wire.
It can strip wire from #18 (0.100”, 3mm) to 250 MCM (0.79”, 20.1mm), which should cover the majority of use cases out there for an automatic wire stripping machine in this price range.
It would be nice to see an option for hand cranking as well, like the CO-Z WSMSD2500 mentioned previously, just in case completely manual operation was needed for some reason.
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CO-Z WSMS025BL Wire Stripping Machine
Pros
- Hands Free Operation
- Wide Range of Wire Sizes Supported
- Portable (33 pounds)
Cons
- Needs Electrical Outlet
- May Have Issues with Bent Wire
- Possible QA Issues
The CO-Z WSMS025BL is able to strip wire sizes from 0.06” (1.5mm) to 0.98” (25mm), which is a pretty large range.
It has a ¼ horsepower single phase induction motor and can strip 50 feet of wire per minute.
The weight of this unit is also an advantage.
It is pretty lightweight for an automatic wire stripping machine that is powered by an integrated motor.
We noticed some users have reported QA issues with this model, but we don’t know how common those are.
Specifically a few users reported things like the motor or other electrical connections either not being connected or being connected improperly.
Overall, users seems to be pleased with this CO-Z model’s performance and value.
It has a nice combination of functionality and portability for an automatic wire stripping machine in the price range.
StripMeister E250 Wire Stripping Machine
Pros
- Variable Speed Control
- ROMEX Slot
- Blade Depth Indicator
- Untangles Mangled Wire
- Very Lightweight (19 pounds)
Cons
- Needs Electrical Outlet
- May not Work Well on Smaller Wire
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The StripMeister E250 automatic wire stripping machine supports wire from #18 (0.100”, 3mm) to 250 MCM (0.79”, 20.1mm).
It is extremely lightweight for a wire stripper with an integrated motor at only 19 pounds.
One of the other features we like about the StripMeister E250 is the variable speed control.
This will allow you to adjust the stripping speed to the optimum setting depending on the quality, type, and size of the wire you are stripping.
This stripper has what StripMeister calls ULTRA GRIP wire feeder technology that untangles even mangled wire that will slip or jam many other automatic wire strippers.
It has a ¼ horsepower motor with a 100% duty cycle, which means that it can run continuously without any problems.
The StripMeister E250 had a dedicated port for stripping ROMEX cable and also supports braided (stranded) wire.
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BLUEROCK MWS-808PMO Wire Stripping Machine
Pros
- No Adjustment when Changing Wire Sizes
- Fast Stripping (75 Feet per Minute)
- 9 Wire Channels
- 9 Cutting Blades
- Strips ROMEX and NM Cable
Cons
- Needs Electrical Outlet
- Heavy (125 pounds)
Check BLUEROCK MWS-808PMO Prices
The BLUEROCK MWS-808PMO is a solid choice on our best automatic wire strippers list.
It is a heavy duty machine with a large range of wire size capacity from 18 AWG to 1 inch OD.
One of the features we like best about the BLUEROCK automatic wire stripping machines on our top picks list is their automatic tension adjustment system.
This automatic tension system uses a spring loaded assembly that allows the cutting wheels to adjust automatically to different sizes of wire.
That feature and the multiple wire channels of different sizes make it easy to switch between stripping different sizes of wire.
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BLUEROCK WS-212 Wire Stripping Machine
Pros
- No Adjustment when Changing Wire Sizes
- Fast Stripping (75 Feet per Minute)
- 9 Wire Channels
- 13 Total Blades
- Strips ROMEX and NM Cable
Cons
- Needs Electrical Outlet
- Very Heavy (200 pounds)
The BLUEROCK WS-212 is definitely one of the best automatic wire stripping machines.
It is a beast with a huge range of supported wire sizes from 22 AWG to a massive 1 ½” OD.
This BLUEROCK has a powerful 2 horsepower single phase motor that supplies plenty of power for your wire stripping needs.
A gear and chain drive adds to the durability of this automatic wire stripping machine.
It it fast too and can strip 75 feet of wire per minute.
Another nice thing about this stripper, like the other BLUEROCK model on our list, is that it does not require adjustment.
There are 9 different cutting channels to insert wire into, so you just pick the correct one for the size wire you will be stripping.
The spring tension system keep the correct tension on the blades for optimum performance.
It also weighs as much as a beast at a hefty 200 pounds, so this automatic wire stripping machine is not one you will want to be moving around a lot.
The BLUEROCK WS-212 is not cheap, but if you are looking for one of the best automatic wire strippers out there then this is a great choice.
Final Word
As you can see picking the best automatic wire stripping machine really depends on how exactly you plan to use the stripping machine.
We hope that you will find our top picks useful, but if you do not see anything that suits your needs then click the link below to view other options for automatic wire stripping machines.
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More About Wire Stripping Machines
When you think of stripping wire you probably think about the small, handheld tool that you use to strip insulation off the end of wire before soldering or connecting it with crimp style connectors.
There are tools called automatic wire stripping machines that are much different than the most common wire handheld stripping tool mentioned above.
They have a specialized use that many people may not be aware of.
What is an Automatic Wire Stripping Machine?
As the name suggests, an automatic wire stripping machine strips the insulation off of wire automatically.
There are several different kinds that are powered by different methods from hand cranks to dedicated electric motors.
Why Would you Want One?
The increase in metal prices in recent years has made copper wire very valuable, and this has dramatically increased the demand for automatic wire stripping machines.
Copper is one of the most commonly used metals in buildings.
You will find it mostly in plumbing and electrical wiring.
A lot of electrical wire is made from copper, but there are other materials used to make electrical wire, such as aluminum.
As we mentioned earlier, metal prices are high, so that means that scrap metal is worth quite a bit of money.
If you have insulated electrical wire you want to sell for scrap then it will be worth more money if the insulation is stripped off the wire before you sell it.
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Grades of Copper Scrap
There are several different grades that copper scrap can be labeled.
The grade determines the amount the copper scrap is worth per pound.
As far as grades of copper scrap go the top paying grade is called bare bright copper.
Sometimes you will also see this grade referred to as bright and shiny copper.
Bare bright copper is defined as at copper wire or cable that is at least 16 gauge that is bare (no insulation or coating) and that is not an alloy (pure copper).
As you can see from the description of the top paying bare bright copper grade, the insulation needs to be stripped off to make this top grade and get the most amount of money for your scrap copper wire.
How do They Work?
Automatic wire stripping machines are, at their core, pretty simple devices.
They basically cut the insulation covering the wire, so it can be removed easily.
Wire Size Adjustment
There are two main types of ways to adjust an automatic wire stripping machine for the size of the wire you plan to strip.
Some stripping machines will need to be manually adjusted whenever you will be changing the size of the wire you are working with.
There are others that can automatically adjust to different wire sizes on the fly without any manual adjustment needed.
Manual Adjustment
Automatic wire stripping machines with a manual wire size adjustment usually have a knob that moves the insulator cutting blade height to the optimum stripping performance.
Wire stripping machines with a manual wire size adjustment are best if you will be stripping the same size wire for long periods.
If you need to strip different sizes of wire often then you will likely be happier using an automatic wire stripping machine with an automatic wire size adjustment feature.
Most of the more inexpensive machines you will come across will be types with manual wire size adjustment.
Automatic Adjustment
In contrast to wire stripping machines with a manual wire size adjustment, ones with an automatic adjustment feature can strip different sizes of wire without manually adjusting the insulation stripping blade.
Wire stripping machine with this type of adjustment will normally have their blades mounted to a spring loaded assembly.
This will allow the blade to automatically move up and down to accommodate the size of the wire inserted into the stripper.
There will normally be some knobs on these types of machines for a fine adjustment to the amount of pressure the springs apply to the blades.
This fine adjustment allows you to get the pressure just right.
Automatic wire size adjustment is a very nice feature if you will be stripping different sizes of wire at the same time or need to change wire sizes often.
Most automatic wire stripping machines with automatic wire size adjustment will be more expensive than ones with manual adjustment.
They also normally have multiple wire feed channels of different sizes.
Rollers Guide the Wire
They basically consist of a set of rollers that guide the insulated wire though the machine, some kind of cutting knife or wheel that cuts the insulation, and some method to move the wire through the automatic wire stripping machine.
Wire is Moved Through the Machine
As far as the method of moving the wire through the machine goes, there are many different methods across the different machines that are available on the market.
Manual Wire Feeding
The simplest of the wire stripping machines use a manual process to pull the wire through the machine, and thatmanual process is the user pulling the wire through the machine.
We guess these types of wire stripping machines might not technically qualify as automatic to some people, but many do still refer to these as automatic wire stripping machines.
Hand Crank
The next step up from wire stripping machines where the user has to manually pull the wire through the machine would be ones that have a hand crank.
These are pretty much what they sound like.
You turn a hand crank to feed the wire through the machine.
Drill Powered Wire Strippers
Other machines are available that are powered by normal drills to make the job of feeding the wire through the stripper very easy.
Drill powered wire strippers also cut down on the cost of the machine, and since most people that would be interested in stripping copper wire probably have a drill, this type of machine can make sense for a lot of people.
Dedicated Electric Motors
The most expensive automatic wire stripping machines have their own dedicated electric motor that is used to feed the wire to be stripped through the machine.
If you plan to strip a lot of wire we think it is best to spend the extra money on an automatic wire stripper with a dedicated electric motor.
These types of machines will normally strip more wire in less time and need less tweaking during their operation.
How do you Use One?
Using an automatic wirestripping machine is pretty simple.
You would just need to adjust the guide wheels for the size and type of wire you will be stripping the insulation from.
Then you simply insert one end of the wire into the machine, and then start feeding the wire.
That is pretty much it, the machine will do the work of cutting the insulation covering the wire.
Once the insulation is cut the copper wire can then be easily removed.
Conclusion
An automatic wire stripping machine will make sure you get top dollar for your scrap copper wire when you sell it.
How much wire you plan to strip will probably be a big factor in which type of machine you choose.
If you plan to only strip a small amount of wire then a more manual model where you pull the wire through the machine or one that is powered by a hand crank or drill might make sense.
On the other hand, if you plan to strip a lot of wire then you will probably be better served with a wire stripper with a dedicated electric motor.
In any case, the amount of extra money you will get for your scrap copper wire once it is stripped vs not being stripped will very likely pay for your automatic wire stripper and make it worth the purchase.
It is not just about the extra money either, an automatic wire stripping machine will save you time as well as the effort required versus manually stripping wire and cable.
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