Best multi tool for cutting and stripping wire

I prefer to use the Toolzall electrician multi-tool whenever possible for wiring jobs. While not spectacular in appearance, the strippers and crimpers in the plier head can't be beat.;)
 
jtb49er2000 said:
I would like to hear from folks who use their multi tools on a regular basis, especially at work - primarily for electrical and wiring jobs. I am curious to hear about your opinion on which multi tool works best for cutting, stripping, and crimping while working with wires and cables ranging from small low voltage (18 - 22 awg) usage to household wiring (12-14 awg) - both solid and stranded. Thanks for any input.

- jtb49er2000
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To my knowledge there were only 6 tools made with the electrician in mind previous to the new ones made by SOG discussed here recently at thread ;

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379318

I would probably agree with matches that the Crescent Toolzalls models are the best . But look at the others discussed below .

If it helps electrican type multi's various models was discussed here earlier at ;

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311111&page=3

Here is a posting from there ;

So far we have Bob who answered the Leatherman Squirt EL which can be seen at ;

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t_id=64-2912

Bob also answered the Crescent ToolZall Techician which I could not find currently on the internet and he also answered the Crescent ToolZall Electrician Pro which can be seen at ;

http://www.kiesub.com/misctools.htm

A picture of it is there although they say it is discontinued , another site that does not have a picture of it but lists it as available is at ;

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/Newark...s/HotDeals.jsp

It is listed at the bottom of thier page for $19.95 , a bargain for this tool . It is well made , a full size multi tool 4 inches closed .

Joe answered correctly that Bear Jaws currently lists one in thier catalog the model 155EL: 4" Electrical Bear Jaws which can be seen at ;

http://www.bearcutlery.com/

Joe also answered the BuckTool 360-FL (File)which is no longer currently available though it is sometimes can be found on ebay .

Last the one that no one answered ( though somewhere on this board I seem to remember someone said they had one ) is the Klien tripsaver ( actually made by Kutmaster ), a site that illustrates this one with all its features can be seen at ;

http://www.kleintools.com/Multi-Tool/multi-tool.html

It is listed as available at ;

http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/1016.html
 
Not a multi-tool but the best tool for wire stripping and cutting is the Klein 11055 stripper/cutter.
 
Here is my own little observation about "some" foldable pliermutitools. If you ever had the misfortune of trying to snip off a wire that just so happens to be a little more harder than than the cutting edge; you just might find the wire clamping down the pliers head in a tight locked-in position with no way of re-opening the jaws except by prying it loose with a bar of some sort (screwdriver/icepick) around the bolt fasterner area. Because of non lockable handles you would be unable to set it right as the handles have on each end a pivot connected to the plier head.

Not so for others which have developed single pivots as found in a certain American cutlery company now owned by Finns. Question here is, what exactly is lost or gained in having a single or dual pivot point? To an extend the old SOG paratool overcomes this, and the now discontinued Bucktool offers a slightly improved condition; however their handle designs have obvious strength limitations. Anyone has thoughts on this?

Just my two cents worth.
 
@GirlyMann,

Your observations are right on the point. On one hand, this has been an issue which shows the favorable pliers design of the Gerber MP-series "flick" tools. I used to EDC a Gerber MP-650 Deluxe more than 5 years ago, and used the plier head to pry things apart more times than I can remember. On the other hand, this very same plier design is the reason why the other tools on the handles are so darn stubby. Even the knife length on my supposedly huge MP-650 was too short for my tastes. What's more, the protruding needle nose (when the plier head is retracted) is a sheath-poker (especially for non-leather sheaths).

On another note, since I EDC a SwissTool, I also carry a SAK just in case I'll need to pry apart the plier jaws (when a similar predicament like you mentioned presents itself). I know I can count on the SAK to be a more than adequate "emergency pry bar". =)
 
BTW josekym you did express a couple of notable points pretty well yourself.
Dude allow me to express all that shortcomings in one line "c'est la vie".
Until such time some new device is in, I am doomed to stare at endless shelves looking for that "one perfect" multitool solution! As it is, without counting for sure that I probably have close to a dozen pairs laying about some place, and counting. Now if that doesn't make me an 'accidental collector', I dunno what does.
 
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