OX Tools Strippers & Crimpers
OX wire strippers are built for clean cable prep and solid terminations, whether you're first fixing, rewiring, or sorting control panels on site.
When you're stripping back cable all day, blunt jaws and sloppy crimps just waste time. OX strippers and crimpers are the sort of hand tools sparks keep close for neat cores, clean cuts and terminals that hold properly. If you're already carrying OX pliers and cutters, these make sense alongside them. Pick the tool that matches the cable size and terminal type, and get the job done right first time.
What Are OX Wire Strippers and Crimpers Used For?
- Stripping insulation off twin and earth, singles, and control cable cleanly before terminating accessories, boards, or fittings without nicking the conductor underneath.
- Crimping insulated and non insulated terminals onto cable tails for panel work, maintenance jobs, and vehicle or plant electrics where a loose connection will only come back to bite you.
- Working through first fix and second fix electrical installs where you need one tool that can prep cable fast and keep terminations tidy in sockets, spurs, and lighting points.
- Sorting snagging and repair work in cupboards, ceiling voids, and plant rooms where a proper ox wire stripping tool gives you more control than trying to make do with side cutters.
- Prepping smaller gauge wiring for alarms, data, controls, and similar low voltage work where clean stripping matters if you want the cores to land properly.
Choosing the Right OX Wire Strippers and Crimpers
Match the tool to the cable and terminal in your hand. That is what stops damaged cores, loose crimps, and wasted time.
1. Stripping Only or Strip and Crimp
If you are mainly prepping cable for sockets, switches, and board work, a dedicated ox wire stripping tool gives better control and cleaner results. If you are constantly fitting terminals as well, a combined stripper and crimper saves pocket space and speeds up repetitive work.
2. Match the Cable Size
Do not guess on capacity. If you are working on fine stranded control cable and smaller conductors, choose jaws suited to that range. If most of your day is twin and earth or heavier singles, go for a tool built to cope without tearing insulation or marking the copper.
3. Think About Live Working Rules
If you need insulated hand tools for electrical work, look at OX VDE wire strippers. Standard tools are fine for dead work and bench prep, but if the job spec calls for VDE, do not cut corners.
4. Comfort Matters on Repetitive Jobs
If you are stripping and crimping all day, pay attention to handle shape, spring return, and how the jaws line up. A decent tool feels predictable in the hand and leaves you with fewer bad crimps by the end of the shift.
Who Uses These on Site?
- Sparkies use ox wire strippers every day for first fix and second fix, especially when they're dressing cables into back boxes, consumer units, and containment.
- Maintenance electricians keep ox crimpers in the bag for quick repairs on controls, plant, and site lighting where a failed terminal needs sorting there and then.
- Panel builders and controls fitters swear by ox strippers and crimpers because clean prep and repeatable crimps make neater work inside tighter enclosures.
- Security and fire alarm installers use them on smaller cables where rough stripping can damage the core and cause nuisance faults later.
- Plumbers and heating engineers will also reach for them when wiring boilers, pumps, and controls, though for pipe and valve work you're better off in the OX plumbing hand tools range.
The Basics: Understanding Wire Strippers and Crimpers
These are simple hand tools, but using the right one makes a big difference to connection quality. Here is what actually matters on the job.
1. Wire Strippers Remove Insulation, Not Copper
A proper stripper is shaped to pull the insulation off cleanly while leaving the conductor intact. That matters because nicked cores weaken the cable and can lead to heat build up or failures once the circuit is loaded.
2. Crimpers Compress a Terminal Onto the Cable
A crimping tool squeezes the terminal barrel onto the conductor so it holds tight and carries current properly. Done right, it is fast, tidy, and reliable for repairs, panel wiring, and repeated terminations.
3. The Wrong Jaw or Size Gives You Trouble Later
If the stripping notch is too big, it tears insulation instead of cutting it clean. If the crimp profile does not suit the terminal, you end up with loose fittings that pull off or fail in service. Matching tool, cable, and connector is the whole game.
Extras That Make OX Strippers and Crimpers More Useful
A few sensible add ons keep your electrical hand tools close, organised, and ready for the next job.
1. Electrician Pouches
A proper pouch stops you digging through the van or tool bag every time you need your stripper, crimper, or tester. The OX electrician pouches range keeps the everyday kit on your hip where it belongs.
2. Screwdrivers
Once the cable is stripped and terminated, you still need to land it properly. Keeping a set of OX screwdrivers alongside your stripping and crimping tools saves messing about when fitting accessories and tightening terminals.
Choose the Right OX Wire Strippers and Crimpers for the Job
Use this quick guide to sort the right tool before you start cutting into cable.
| Your Job | Category or Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| First fix and second fix wiring on sockets, switches, and lighting | Wire strippers | Clean insulation removal, clear sizing, and good control on common site cable sizes. |
| Fitting ring terminals, spades, and connectors on repairs or panel work | Crimpers | Crimp profiles matched to terminal types, steady jaw pressure, and reliable grip on stranded cable. |
| Mixed snagging, maintenance, and van stock work | Stripper and crimper combination tools | One tool for prepping and terminating cable when you want less kit in your pouch. |
| Electrical work where insulated tools are required | VDE strippers and crimpers | Certified insulation for the right working practices and better peace of mind on electrical tasks. |
| Smaller control, alarm, or low voltage cable work | Fine gauge wire stripping tools | Better feel on thinner conductors so you do not nick the core or pull strands out. |
Common Buying and Usage Mistakes
- Using side cutters or a knife instead of a proper ox wire stripping tool often nicks the conductor, which weakens the cable and gives you faults later. Use the right stripper size for the cable in front of you.
- Buying a crimper without checking the terminal types means poor crimps and connectors that pull off under light strain. Match the tool profile to the insulated or non insulated terminals you actually use.
- Assuming one tool covers every cable size wastes time and damages insulation on smaller cores. Check the stated capacity before you buy, especially if you do control or alarm work.
- Ignoring VDE requirements is a basic error on electrical work. If the task or site rules call for insulated tools, use the proper rated version rather than standard hand tools.
- Letting dirt and copper offcuts build up in the jaws makes the action rough and less accurate. Clean the tool out and keep the pivot moving freely so it keeps stripping cleanly.
Wire Strippers vs Crimpers vs Combination Tools
Wire Strippers
Best when the main job is removing insulation quickly and neatly without touching the copper. They are the better choice for repeated prep work on installs where clean, consistent stripping matters more than anything else.
Crimpers
Best for securing terminals and connectors properly onto cable ends. If you do repairs, panel terminations, or any job using lugs and connectors regularly, a dedicated crimper gives more reliable results than a multitask tool.
Combination Tools
These suit snagging, van stock, and general maintenance where space matters and jobs vary. You gain convenience, but if you spend all day stripping or all day crimping, a dedicated tool usually feels better and works faster.
Standard vs VDE Versions
Standard tools are fine for dead work, bench prep, and general fitting jobs. VDE versions are the right call where insulated tools are specified, giving you the proper protection and compliance for electrical work practices.
Maintenance and Care
Keep the Jaws Clean
Brush out bits of insulation, copper strands, and site dirt after use. Clean jaws grip cable better and give you a cleaner strip or crimp.
Light Oil on the Pivot
A drop of light oil on the moving joint keeps the action smooth and stops stiffness setting in after damp site work or long spells in the van.
Store Them Dry
Do not leave them rolling around in a wet van tray. Dry storage helps prevent rust on the metal parts and keeps the cutting and crimping faces in decent order.
Check for Jaw Wear
If the stripper starts nicking conductors or the crimper leaves loose terminals, inspect the jaws. Once the working edges are worn or damaged, replace the tool rather than fight with bad results.
Do Not Use Them as a Pry Bar
These are for cable prep and terminations, not levering lids or twisting stubborn fixings. Misusing them knocks the jaws out and shortens the life of the tool.
Why Shop for OX Wire Strippers at ITS?
Whether you need a simple ox wire stripping tool for everyday second fix, ox crimpers for terminal work, or ox strippers and crimpers to cover mixed jobs, we stock the range in depth. It is all held in our own warehouse, in stock, and ready for next day delivery so you can get the right hand tools on site without waiting about.
OX Wire Strippers and Crimpers FAQs
What are wire strippers used for?
Wire strippers are used to remove insulation from cable without damaging the conductor underneath. On site, that means faster prep for sockets, switches, lighting, boards, and control wiring with less risk of nicking the copper and causing faults later.
What is a crimping tool used for?
A crimping tool is used to compress a terminal or connector onto the end of a cable so it stays secure and carries current properly. It is the tool you want for ring terminals, spades, butt connectors, and similar fittings on repairs, panel work, and maintenance jobs.
What is the difference between strippers and crimpers?
Strippers remove insulation. Crimpers fix terminals onto the cable once it is stripped. Some tools do both, which is handy for mixed work, but if you spend all day doing one task, a dedicated tool usually gives cleaner results and better control.
Are OX wire strippers any good?
Yes, they are a solid choice for trade use if you buy the right pattern for the cable sizes and terminals you actually work with. The real test is whether they strip cleanly, feel predictable in the hand, and keep giving repeatable results on site, and that is exactly what you want from this sort of kit.
How do you use a crimping tool?
First strip the right amount of insulation off the cable. Insert the conductor fully into the terminal, place the terminal in the correct crimp section of the tool, then squeeze firmly until the crimp is complete. Give it a light tug after to make sure it has bitten properly before you fit it.
