Lost $200 on a fancy tool that was totally useless for residential work

I bought this brand new automatic wire stripper last month thinking it would speed up my rough-ins. Paid $200 for it from an online supplier. First job I took it to was a kitchen remodel in Denver and the thing kept jamming on 12 gauge romex. It stripped the insulation wrong half the time and actually nicked the copper on two runs. I spent more time fiddling with it than just using my old strippers. Called the company and they said I can't return it because it was used. So now it's sitting in my truck, a $200 paperweight. Has anyone else fell for one of those fancy tools that just made things worse?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordan_henderson134d agoTop Commenter

And THAT is EXACTLY why I tell every apprentice I see to stay AWAY from those gimmicky tools. I fell for the same thing with a pair of "automatic" wire nut twisters a few years back, thought I was being smart and saving time. Nope, they just mangled the wires and made a mess of every junction box I touched. The old school strippers and your own two hands will ALWAYS beat some overpriced gadget that promises to do your job for you. It's like these companies have never actually stood in a crawlspace trying to work with romex that's been sitting in the sun all day.

johnson.river3d ago

Bought a "self adjusting" drywall screw gun once that was supposed to set depth automatically. First screw went straight through the board and the second one barely grabbed. $250 for a tool that made me look like I'd never held a screwgun before in my life.

charles_baker284d ago

Man that sucks, I feel your pain. Dropped $150 on a "self leveling" laser level that was supposed to be amazing for finish work but it drifted so bad I had to check it every 10 minutes. Ended up using my old bubble level the whole job. Nothing worse than having a tool you spent real money on just sitting there mocking you every time you open the truck.