Disappointing Automatic Wire Stripper for Flat Cables - Not Worth the Price

Hello there, fellow reader!

I've been using automatic wire strippers for a while now, and I'm excited to share my thoughts on this particular model.

I first saw this tool at a friend's place back in 2013, but I never got to try it out. Then, at the Moscow tool fair in 2015, I stumbled upon Weicon-Tools' booth, and that's when I first laid eyes on this baby.

I was particularly interested in the model designed for stripping the outer sheath of flat cables. There's a similar model for stripping the outer sheath of round cables, like NYM, VVG, KG, and PVS. What caught my attention back then was its ability to strip the outer sheath of PUGV 1x16mm2 cables.

I remember standing in line after seeing the product's capabilities on display. It was priced around 3,000 rubles on the exhibition stand back then. That was a significant amount for a tool, but it was worth it for the job.

Unfortunately, I couldn't buy it at the time because the Germans had already sold out and were packing up their stand on the last day of the exhibition. They just gave me a business card and a brochure, promising that I could order the tool soon.

That's exactly what happened – it took a few years. By then, I had already acquired a few strippers, and when I saw this model on sale, I just didn't feel the need for it. It was too expensive, and I didn't need it to save time on my projects.

But, seeing how the ruble was being devalued and how hard it was to make ends meet, I started thinking that my time and nerves were worth more than this tool. So, when I had to deal with a repair job that required stripping around 80-100 meters of flat cable, I decided to order it through the Ozon marketplace.

One more thing about the exterior casing – for a flat cable like VVG-PNG-HHH, it's better suited for a private home or apartment rather than VVG-HHH or NYM cables. The only exception might be when you're installing a standalone component, like a cable management panel, hooded cabinet, dishwasher, washing machine, clothes dryer, electric kettle, boiler, or something similar.

Cable management panel,hooded cabinetdishwasherwashing machineclothes dryerelectric kettleboiler (tankless/standard)and so on.But if it's a socket group connected in a daisy chain, like a combined light and socket switch (a master switch controlling multiple outlets), a backbox, it's better to work with flat cable and it takes up less space and leaves more room in the backbox.

And if someone's a seasoned electrician, they might need two modifications. Often on sites, you'll find the round type of cable.

I've mentioned the Weicon-Tools company before in my review of the manual universal stripper S4-28 Multi 0.5-6 mm2.

The Weicon-Tools cable automatic stripper #7-F for flat cable 0.75 - 4

The exterior design of the stripper has become a standard for this form factor thanks to Weicon-Tools. The reason is that earlier tools already had this shape. For the target audience, it's proven to be practical.

The product comes in the usual packaging format from Weicon-Tools in a cardboard box with the familiar color scheme and material.

I'm guessing the packaging is actually done by our suppliers, not shipped directly from Germany. I've noticed that some boxes have different article numbers or packaging formats for the same tool.

The box also includes the necessary info on how to use the tool.

As you'd expect, the main purpose of this tool is to strip the outer insulation of cables, up to a 4mm² cross-section.

There's a QR code on the box that lets you access the tool's page on your smartphone.

The tool itself isn't super large, but it's not tiny either.

In addition to the main blade, there's a secondary blade for cutting wires up to 3mm in diameter.

I'd still use it for multi-strand cables, not single-strand ones.

And for long-term use, some users recommend removing this useless knife to prevent it from snapping the handle and rendering the tool useless. You'll definitely notice this when you pick up the tool and start checking its functionality without a cable. The blades snap shut too tightly in this position, creating extra stress points. If you're not careful when stripping the cable – especially if the insulation is tricky – you might end up breaking the tool in two.

So, I'll reiterate the importance of choosing the right model.

There are two models available: #7 - F and #7 - R.

The latter is designed for stripping round cable insulation.

I have a dedicated stripper for this purpose – the Weicon-Tools № 400, which handles even the toughest jobs with ease.

As per the description

Automatic clamps are designed for fast and precise stripping of insulation from two- and three-core flat power cables and removal of PVC insulation from such cables with a cross-sectional area of 0.75 ~ 4 mm2.

They can also be used to remove insulation from round cables with a cross-sectional area of 0.5 ~ 16 mm2.

For stripping cables with a cross-sectional area of 10 ~ 16 mm2, a preliminary cut of the insulation is made by rotating the tool 90° along the axis.

One thing I love about this tool is the five-position switch. It lets you dial in the perfect setting for cables with different gauge sizes within a certain range, without damaging the internal flexible wires.

The body is made of a sturdy polyamide reinforced with fiberglass. You can adjust the range of insulation you can remove by moving a hand-cranked stop.

It also comes with a side wire stripper for cables up to Ø 3 mm.

It comes in a cardboard box.

On the box, you'll find the part number for ordering a set of replacement blades - 10017069

Not designed for live work!

Main product characteristics:

Part number: WCN51001007

Cable sheath cross-section (mm²): 0.75 - 4 (AWG 18 - 11)

Weight, g: 220

Length, mm: 165

Warranty: 1 year

Manufactured in Germany

The benefits

This tool is great when it's not just collecting dust on a shelf, but actually being used in practice. As I mentioned earlier in another review.

Some small examples of use.

For stripping the insulation from flat cables like VVG-PNG 3 x 1.5 / 3 x 2.5 / 3 x 4.0 mm² and similar cables.

You adjust the switch to the cable diameter. As you move the slider to the plus position, the blades are released and the force on the cable insulation increases, for example for cables like VVG-PNG-LS 3 x 1.5 mm².

It's always a good idea to take the end of the cable you need to clean and try a small section first to adjust the force of the blades. Especially if the cable is from the same manufacturer.

At first, I noticed some scratches on the casing.

That was when I tried to remove and adjust the diameter right off the bat. But then, by adjusting the pressure, I didn't encounter any more issues like that.

If I need to clean the long end of the casing, this tool allows me to do it like this.

I can insert the desired length, which I plan to remove. This is especially useful for assembling and connecting the panel, distribution box.

I was blown away by the design of these strippers - the angled blades and ergonomic grip make it a breeze to get into tight spaces like light fixtures, outlet boxes, and electrical panels. And if you've got a decent cable, stripping the insulation is a piece of cake.

Getting into the outlet box was a cinch, thanks to the blades' reach.

It handled cables up to 2.5mm² with ease, but I'm not sure about 4mm² - I had some doubts. Don't even think about stripping cables in the cold, or you might end up breaking the tool. Be careful with cables that have the insulation stuck to the wires, too.

For stripping the insulation from a group of wires (1-2-3-4) on a cable like 3 x 1.5mm² / 3 x 2.5mm² / 3 x 4.0mm² VVG-PN and similar cables, you'll need to adjust the tool's setting for insulation removal.

You'll need to set the cable diameter and see the insulation removal setting on the side of the tool, which shows how much insulation to remove for a quick clean-up.

I'm more interested in stripping long cable ends - it's super handy when preparing cables in an electrical panel.

I've found this tool to be decent at stripping insulation from multi-strand wire. I've tried it with up to 10mm² PVA-3 (PugV 1x10mm²) and similar cables.

However, I've encountered some low-quality cable insulation. This happened with a VVpNG 2x1.5mm² cable, for example.

The insulation can be a bit flimsy and doesn't always come off cleanly. I had to use a Jokary knife to carefully cut it off.

THE VERDICT

I've got a few things to note. I saw a different version of this tool at a trade show back in 2015-2016, and it was a lot better in terms of quality.

Unfortunately, the tool I've got now seems to be a different story. A lot of reviews mention that one of the cutting teeth breaks within a short period of time - around 12 months from purchase and first use. I get it, a 2-5% failure rate within a year is acceptable.

However, the statistics suggest that around 35-40% of users experience this issue. I'm not sure if 20-25% of these are due to misuse, but even 15-20% is a concern, especially considering the price.

In my opinion, this tool is overpriced. I think a fair price for it would be around 2,700-3,500 rubles.

When you're doing renovations in your apartment or house, or changing the electrical wiring, or you're on a project that involves laying round cable, you're going to need this tool. Without it, the workload and time spent on the job will increase significantly, and it's just not worth cutting corners when it comes to your own safety and well-being.

I've come across this type of stripper under different brand names before. The same EKF that I'm not too familiar with in terms of automation is selling a Weicon-made product, and it's priced around 20-30% higher than the tool I bought. I've seen two other variations of this product as well.

I wouldn't say I'm completely satisfied with this tool, and I'm torn between giving it 3 or 4 stars. After all, I did manage to negotiate the price down to 5,200 rubles after purchasing it. Considering the original price of over 7,000 rubles, I'm giving it 3 stars.

The complexity of the job really depends on the quality of the cable insulation. For example, on a flat cable like the Kabbel silovy VVG-PNG(A)-LS 3x2.5-0.66 RЭK/Prysmian with a cross-section of 3x1.5mm², this tool performed really well. The outer casing came off easily after being cut by the tool, and there was no sticking of the insulation. However, on most cables of the same type, the tool struggled a bit with the outer casing. It's not the tool's fault, though - it's just that we don't have the same level of standardization in Russia as they do in Europe or the US. Any German cable, for instance, would be easily stripped by this tool in a matter of seconds.

I've got some friends who've been using this tool to cut cables for their automation projects, and they swear by it. I got to try it out when they were building a circuit with a round cable, and it cut through 350 cables in no time. It was a real time-saver. We were working with NYM, TKD, and Helukabel cables.

These days, the tool is designed to help with building electrical panels, outlets, and distribution boxes. But you need to make sure you understand the insulation type used in your cables, or the tool might not work as well.

THE GOOD

It's got a super comfortable grip.It handles cables with Russian GOST insulation, German, and European insulation with ease, stripping the outer sheath and individual wires without any issues, saving time and streamlining the process.The mechanism for feeding the cable through the tool lets you adjust the length of the cut to your liking.It's a breeze to work with flat cables when installing them in panels, distribution boxes, or outlet boxes.It's also great for cleaning the outer sheath from individual or grouped wires.THE NOT-SO-GOOD

The tool itself is pretty pricey.The replacement blades are also quite expensive.From what I've seen, the early versions of this tool had a more robust plastic build, but the newer models from 2025-2026 seem to have a more flimsy design.It only works well with high-quality cables.You can usually find it in specialty stores on platforms like Ozon or Valberis.

OTHER USEFUL FEATURES

Also worth mentioning are the UVEX Ultravision 9301105 safety glasses

I've got to say, the Haupa FlexBag reversible ratcheting driver with 51 bits has been a game-changer for me. It's been over 13 years since I got it, and it still gets the job done like a pro.

I've also been using the KVT press pliers PKVk-16t for torquing in-place, and they're a beast for gripping and twisting those 16mm diameter brass fittings. They're not just for pros, either - they're perfect for DIY projects around the house.

My Kraftool PKF-16 press clamps have been holding up surprisingly well, too. I've been using them for years to grip and twist brass fittings and sleeves, and they still get the job done without any issues.

But let's talk about the real star of the show: my Metabo BS 18 Li 602116530 cordless drill. I've got two 2.0 Ah batteries, and it's been a workhorse for me. The SC60 chuck is solid, and it's been able to handle even the toughest tasks without breaking a sweat.

And finally, I've got to give a shoutout to my Toughbuilt TB-CT-20-LX belt holster. I've had it for years, and it's still going strong. The detachable bit holder is a lifesaver, and it's been a game-changer for me when it comes to organizing my tools and bits.