Definition
A hand tool used to remove the insulation from the end of an electrical wire without nicking, cutting, or weakening the metal conductor underneath. Most wire strippers have a series of sized notches matched to standard wire gauges, so the blades cut through the insulation at the correct depth for each size.
Plain English
A small tool that cuts and pulls off the plastic coating at the end of a wire so the bare metal can be connected to something, while leaving the metal itself undamaged.
Context Anchor
Seen during aircraft electrical maintenance, avionics installation, and repair of wiring connections.
Why Pilots Care
Properly stripped wires create secure connections that maintain reliable power and signal flow in critical aircraft systems.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse a wire stripper with a wire cutter. A cutter is meant to cut through the wire; a wire stripper is meant to remove only the outer covering and leave the metal wire intact.
Example Sentence 1
The technician used a wire stripper to expose half an inch of conductor before crimping the terminal.
Example Sentence 2
Select the correct notch on the wire stripper so the insulation comes off cleanly without nicking the wire strands.