Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper Review

Everyone knows that Klein Tools is no slouch in the tool-making business, but the question for multi-function tools always revolves around whether the tool can perform each of its functions as well as a dedicated tool would. Today, I’ve got just such a tool in the brand new Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper. But its name doesn’t quite give it the full credit for all the functions it performs. Let’s take a closer look at what it says it can do and find out if it can get the job done!

Key Features

Stripping, Crimping, And Cutting

To get to the conductive part of a wire, you have to strip the insulation from it without damaging the wire. The Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper can strip 10-20 AWG solid wire and 12-22 AWG stranded wire. This is a standard, satisfactory range of wire gauges that will handle a large chunk of the work an electrician does.

I really like the clear markings on the front of the tool. The markings are mirrored on the back, but aren’t highlighted and not as easy to see.

We often join two wires with a wire nut. Sometimes we join a connector to the end of a wire by crimping it. The Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper includes this function in the handle. It can crimp both insulated and non-insulated connectors.

Inside the jaws, just behind the stripping gauges, Klein includes a precision cutting shear. Like wire stripping, you can handle the same range for cutting – up to 10 AWG solid or 12 AWG stranded.

Reinforced Head And Tip Design

The Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper begins to distance itself from its peers with its reinforced head and unique tip design. It’s only natural to twist the tool as you strip wire, and it’s inherent when bending/looping it. Over a short time, this stress on the rivet allows the jaws to flex and overlap. In turn, that makes the stripping gauge untrue and really limits the life of the tool. This reinforced head prevents that from happening.

It’s unusual for a stripper/crimper to have a plier-like tip for grabbing, pulling, and bending wire. Klein includes it here and it’s a smart move. It saves time by keeping me from having to swap out my strippers for other pliers. If you come across the need for more bending and looping functionality, Klein also includes two holes just above head handle for that purpose.

Handle And Grip

I’ve never gripped a Klein Tool that wasn’t comfortable. The Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper won’t be the exception to this rule – it boasts the Klein-Kurve, an ergonomic handle feature that Klein has included in many of their newer hand tools. This design fits more comfortably in the hand by matching the natural curve of your palm. These grips, while not insulated, provide more cushioning than most and make stripping and crimping jobs pretty comfortable, even with heavy use.

Interestingly, Klein opts to leave off the spring and lock you might typically find on a set of wire strippers. This might seem like an oversight, but it’s undeniably a positive change in my book. Sound strange? Spend a day having the lock catch up in your pocket or pouch, or the handle springing apart in your pocket. I can’t be the only one that gets frustrated by that!

Despite the lack of a spring and lock, the Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper is easy to open and close with a simple change of your grip. Just put your dominant hand pinky between the handles and you’ll have all the control you need without the hassle of a spring system.

Approaching Perfection, But…

If I have to make one gripe about the Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper, it would be the with the omission of a screw cutter. There’s often a need to cut 6-32 and 8-32 threads, and many wire strippers allow it. In fact, most of the other Klein-Kurve wire strippers can cut screws. Don’t get me wrong, this version is already my go-to wire stripper, but it would be really helpful to have this functionality.

The Bottom Line

There are tools that you loan to your coworkers, and there are tools that you don’t let out of your sight. If you’re wondering what I think of the Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper – well, I don’t loan it out! It easily handles all of my cutting, stripping, crimping, bending, and looping tasks, and it does them comfortably. If one of my coworkers needs a wire stripper, they can borrow my old one.

The Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper makes a great addition to your toolbox. All of its functions perform as Pros expect without making trade-offs for multi-functionality. The Klein-Kurve grip design feels great and gives you a bit more leverage for stripping, crimping, and cutting. The omission of the spring and lock is actually helpful when working as the lock doesn’t get caught in your pocket/pouch, or break off altogether. If this tool had a 6-32 and 8-32 screw cutter, I would shout about it from the rooftops. Even without it, it’s an exceedingly great tool.

Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper Features

Klein Tools Long Nose Wire Stripper Crimper Specifications

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