KNIPEX ErgoStrip Cable Stripper: Match the Metric Cable First

A cable jacket, the insulation around an individual conductor and the layers inside a coaxial cable are different stripping jobs. Carrying a separate tool for each can make a small bag crowded. The KNIPEX ErgoStrip 16 95 01 SB puts several stripping positions into one compact body, but buying it starts with a compatibility check.

This is the right-handed, metric version. KNIPEX’s US page expressly identifies it for metric wire. If your work revolves around American wire gauge labels or a cable shape outside its stated range, a familiar brand name is not enough reason to assume it fits.

Match the cable, not the word universal

The stated applications include round installation cable with an outside diameter of 8–13mm, coaxial cable at 4.8–7.5mm and CAT 5–7 twisted-pair data cable. These categories do not mean every jacket, conductor or cable geometry is interchangeable.

For individual conductors, the tool has six defined metric positions: 0.2, 0.3, 0.8, 1.5, 2.5 and 4.0mm². Cross-sectional area is different from the outside diameter of a complete cable. Write down which measurement you have before comparing it with those numbers.

A sensible buying check is to identify the actual cable specification and the stripping job you need to do. Someone routinely handling compatible round installation cable plus coax and data cable has a clearer reason to buy than someone hoping one tool will handle an unspecified household wiring project.

Several stripping positions serve different layers

The ErgoStrip includes separate areas for removing a round cable’s outer jacket, opening a sheath lengthwise, stripping coax and data cable, and removing insulation from individual conductors. The value lies in reaching the appropriate cutting position without changing tools for every layer.

KNIPEX’s operating instructions distinguish those operations. They do not describe one opening that should be used indiscriminately. The conductor position must match the stated cross-section, while the coax and data holder serves its own application.

That distinction matters when inspecting the tool’s photos. A cable passing through the open body is not proof that every opening fits it. Treat the illustrations as explanations of the contact points, then follow the complete instructions for the actual operation. Buying fewer tools still requires knowing which part of this one to use.

Handedness and access affect the everyday fit

The 16 95 01 SB is the right-handed version, measuring 135mm, or about 5¼ inches. Its tapered ends, opening spring and locking catch are intended to make positioning and storage manageable. The US specification describes a fiberglass-reinforced plastic housing with soft grip zones.

Those features make a plausible case for a compact cable-work bag. The narrow ends can help approach a working area, while the spring and catch handle repeated opening and closing. They do not eliminate the need for space to position the cable and turn the tool as the instructions require.

If you are left-handed, check the separate left-handed model rather than assuming this listing is ambidextrous. Also consider the work you already do successfully with your current stripper. Consolidation is worthwhile when the relevant cable jobs recur, not simply because a tool has several functions.

A plastic body is not electrical insulation

The US product specification explicitly lists this model as not 1000-volt insulated. It also directs users to switch off power, avoid live circuits, wear approved eye protection and take care with the sharp blades. The red-and-blue housing is a grip and structure choice, not permission to work on energized wiring.

The purchase makes most sense for someone who can identify compatible cable and carry out the work using the proper procedures. It is less convincing as a first tool bought on the assumption that “universal” means all cable sizes or that a soft handle establishes an electrical rating.

Choose the ErgoStrip when its documented metric positions match a recurring mix of stripping tasks and right-handed operation suits you. Skip this version when the required sizes or cable geometry do not match. The useful benefit is fewer tool changes across compatible jobs, with the fit checked before the first cut.