On 8/15/2009 3:01 PM Robert Green spake thus:

A much more critical newbie error is to cut into the wire while
stripping it which is a risk for either sort of connection method,
screw or backstab. Ah, for a nickle for every time I've seen or
accidentally done that myself!

Since you mention it, this is certainly a potential source of
frustration to anyone doing wiring, newbie or not.

I bought myself a really nice automatic wire stripper--the kind that
strips the wire in one squeeze, made by GB (Gardner Bender). Very
well-made tool, very useful. Except that it doesn't always strip the
wire correctly. I actually returned the first one I bought because of
this problem, but it seems to be due to inconsistencies in actual wire
diameters between cables that are nominally identical (#12, for
example). So sometimes it strips perfectly, but other times I have to go
to the next-smaller set of teeth, which can nick the wire if you're not
careful.

When this tool works correctly it's an absolute pleasure to use: put the
wire into the right set of teeth, squeeze, and the insulation is ejected
like a shell casing.


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism