I was stripping 12-gauge wire with my lineman's pliers for years until a foreman in Boise asked why I didn't just use my strippers.

He said I was work-hardening the copper and making a weak point, which explained some failed connections I'd seen. Anyone else have a basic habit they had to unlearn?

3 comments

3 Comments

leo_fisher21h ago

So when you use the pliers, do you actually see a visible crimp or dent in the copper strands before you twist them into the connector?

lee_reed1d ago

Man, I did that for ages too, it's a hard habit to break lol.

dianahayes16h ago

Been there, done that.