This is one of the hottest new tool gift items for the 2025 holiday season – a multi-functional folding wire stripper for cheap. Let’s talk about it.
A reader asked about this new “multi-function electrician’s pliers set.” My first reaction is the same as my lasting one – “ugh.”
At first glance, this new folding wire stripping tool looks to have it all – pliers, wire cutters, wire stripping loops, wrench cutouts, a cable strippers, cable wire separator, voltage detector, screwdrivers, crimping jaws, and more.
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Saker has it on their website for $30, which they say is 50% off right now. The more you buy, the more extra savings you get.
I found one on Amazon for $17, and with some more searching I found another one on Amazon for $12. I found a listing on Walmart where it’s $10.
I’ve seen a pattern where gimmicky tools are hyped-up on social media and sold directly at inflated pricing, and it looks like that’s what’s happening here.
The tools look identical, so no, $30 is not really 50% off.
You can fold it up and shove into a pocket, as long as you don’t mind the multiple sharp protrusions. That hook-shaped cutter looks like it’ll tear up your pocket, and maybe even your leg.
Wait a second. That cutting hook doesn’t appear in any of the other product images. Not only that, a bunch of features seem to have completely disappeared from the tool. The tool they’re actually selling is larger – so much for “folds compactly.”
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Frankly, it does look interesting, but that’s the hook, where you start to think “hey, that could be useful.”
“High quality chrome vanadium steel prevents rust and corrosion.”
One seller has it as a “folding tester screwdriver and wire strippers,” and they used an abundance of really bad AI images.
The “electricity test function” part that really bugs me.
“Press and hold the pliers to…” – I’m sorry, what? “Contact with the live wire,” they say.
“Continuity detection.” HUH?
“Voltage tester function for emergency use only.” “Beware of electric shock.” “When using, the palm must touch the sensing plate at the end of the handle.”
This screams “BAD IDEA” to me.
Poking around energized electrical wires with a contact-required voltage tester? NO, NO, NO.
The same tool is all over social media, Amazon, and other online marketplaces right now.
I wish I were exaggerating.
I’m actually a bit horrified at the thought that unsuspecting users might think it’s safe to use a conductive contact tool to test for live voltage. If you’re in an electrical box, you might be the tiniest movement away from a severe shock – or worse.
The folding multi-functional wiring tool shown above looks janky at best, but also potentially dangerous. Actually, I think it’s really dangerous.
It’s a good thing some of the sellers provide safety information. Here’s what one of the Amazon listings says in the product description:
Integrated voltage tester pliers with clear indicator lights and audible alerts. Ensure safe operation during live electrical work, preventing accidents effortlessly.
And here’s what it says in one of the image graphics:
Non-insulated tools, do not work with electricity with stylus function, only emergency use of the use of the palm of the hand to contact the end of the sensor piece of the head of the non-insulating body / careful electric shock.
“Ensure safe operation during live electrical work.” NO NO NO NO.
“Only emergency use of the use of the palm of the hand” – yes, so that you don’t severely injure yourself, potentially start a fire, or worse.
Ergonomic dual-layer, non-slip grips provide reliable shock protection on live circuits – so you can work confidently without fear of electrical hazards.
NO!!
Going back to a Saker page that I’m guessing you land on after clicking on social media posts: “makes electrical work safer.”
You know what makes electrical work safer? Turning off the circuit breaker and ensuring that the wiring is de-energized.
They have a FAQ. “Is it safe to use?”
Absolutely. The handles are non-slip and partially insulated, providing a secure grip and added safety while working with electrical components.
Okay, here’s another one on Amazon.
The device provides real-time LED feedback on safety conditions, powered by an intelligent system with accurate voltage detection
You’ll have “real-time” feedback when you accidentally bridge the tool across live-voltage wires.
Am I overreacting? I don’t think so. Something’s wrong some sellers advertise that the voltage detection is for emergency use only with the palm of your hand while others advertise that the tool provides “reliable shock protection on live circuits.”
I would NEVER buy this tool. Please be careful. I think everyone would be smart to avoid it too.
You can get multi-functional wire strippers at Amazon. At the cheapest, I’d buy an Irwin wiring tool for under $13 after coupon – or something better – and a brand-name non-contact voltage tester. You can buy a well-regarded Klein tester at Amazon for around $20. Home Depot also has a Milwaukee tester for $20.
Thanks to JoeM for the heads-up about this abomination.
MB
I know of a very very small niche of professional users who could use something akin to this….if it were quality which I highly doubt it is. For them space, size, and weight is a major consideration.
But this is clearly marketed towards a very different demographic of people.
Jared
Combination electrical pliers are pretty handy. It speeds things up when you’re not switching between tools to crimp, strip or cut. I’m guessing these are so unwieldy that, even ignoring the safety hazard they invite you to experience, they wouldn’t do any of those functions well.
Bonnie
Seems like something the greybeards who still use a tester screwdriver might like. For everyone else it looks like a deathtrap.
will
I could buy separate tools that does everything this does and ways less. Maybe they’ll take up more room but this thing looks heavy and unwieldy. Give me small tools that are agile, the thought of using this monster near live wires makes me cringe.
James
A tool I didn’t know we needed. A non contact wire checker and milwaukee stripper is all I need for my line of work. Absolutely don’t buy this junk.
Jared
That’s scary. “Work confidently” with your “partially” insulated grips by touching live wires on purpose.
I wonder how something like that comes to be? I’m sure it doesn’t actually work well at any of it’s functions – but somebody must have designed it to integrate so many. I suppose it was designed from the get-go to be a gimmicky novelty – like, there’s no “pro” version the manufacturer was trying to imitate. It’s just a game of combining as many functions as possible.
MM
Designed to be a gimmicky novelty sounds exactly right to me.
Nathan
Pass with a capital hell no.
Jerry
It seems everyone here is very safe and professional. So lets remind anyone who is not. Please, please always check your circuits with a well maintained meter. Never even trust your best friend that a circuit is off. Test it.
Jack D
Struth! Safety cat at all times!
Adam
And if you’re in *any* situation where someone might turn the breaker back on, lockout kits aren’t expensive, and should be used.
Jim Felt
I bought one on Amazon months ago. Mostly out of curiosity. It had physically sharp edges. Pokie to hold. And physically difficult to usefully access its multitude of claimed “features”. Pretty nice color way though.
Sent it back within a day or two.
Jef
For people who collect gas station knives.
Yadda
Or quirky multi tool collectors.
IronWood
One of the worst tools I’ve seen in a long time. And it’s too dangerous to even laugh at… ☹️
zchris87v
Dangerous? You mean you don’t test for live voltage by sticking screwdrivers in terminals and seeing if they spark when contacted together?
David Z.
I learned all I needed to know from an old Eveready battery. You use a cat to test for live voltage. They can be used 8 times before retiring.
Scott K
Oof. It’s almost time for a listicle of dangerous gimmicks – this is up there with those super cheap mini chainsaws.
The voltage detection jumped out at me – unfortunately, the target market isn’t the person who knows better.
David
I once had a supervisor I despised whom I gifted a metal handle multi-screwdriver after he ran out the good kid just starting in maintenance. This looks more dangerous.
Doresoom
Ha, I was going to give them the benefit of the doubt that the live circuit detection was for emergency use only – a last chance reminder in case you had forgotten to flip the breaker.
But then I got to the part with the quoted “ensure safe operation during live electrical work” and realized that they designed it for use on live circuits. Yikes!
Kevin W.
It somewhat makes sense for accidently touching a live wire. But for working on a live circuit (not that you should) I’m not sure how it is supposed to help. This thing just beeps and flashes while you are touching the live wire, which you already know is live. Meanwhile you contemplate your choices and remember the product description of “partially insulated handles”.
Robert
This thing pops up in ads on some tool related YouTube videos. Yeah, growing up professionally in an environment where electrical circuits were red tagged, my jaw dropped at the electrical testing stupidity.
JoeM
To be Fair… I apologized to Stuart Many times for showing this to him. In our conversation about this, I agreed the one with the wire tester handles was awful, and was hoping he’d debunk it.
As to the ones with the plain handles, that don’t light up, and don’t recommend you use on live wires, I saw a lot more of those than the insane “touch this to a live or neutral wire” version. What catches my eye on these, isn’t the foldable part at all. It’s the wire twister, stripper, insulation slot cutter, screw cutter, crimper, basically everything from where the folded handles stop, and upward to the end. Yes, I saw the one with a hook cutter at the end, there’s also one where that hook is more middle-of the tool, which makes more sense.
Now, if Klein, Tekton, Wera, Wiha, Milwaukee, DeWALT, or really any reputable tool company were to make these in the form of those ViseGrip ones by Irwin up there, straight, fixed handles, with all those features for cutting, twisting, and stripping cabling of all sorts, I would think it would be okay. I would genuinely consider a quality-increased version of this for myself. Especially if it’s along the lines of the Klein Comfort Curve (Model 1019) Electrical Stripper/Pliers. No electronics in the electrical tool, please. There’s just some insulation cutting, separating, and twisting functions on the working-end of these pliers, that I believe would be better done by someone reputable.
I don’t even like that they fold. I like all the physical functions involved in safely preparing Non-Live Wiring. I’m pretty sure it would make a great network cable stripping tool as well. I asked Stuart to “Debunk” the one with the electrical tester in it, and he not only did that thoroughly, I think I may have ruined his day. Ultimately, I was wishing/hoping he would come back with “Oh, Klein Model (X) has all that, without the folding handles.” Or “Irwin makes this other one that is awesome.”
Stuart
It is my belief that tools like this were seemingly designed for viral marketing rather than functionality.
I started off thinking “oh wow that looks so janky,” but it quickly escalated to “that’s so unsafe!!” Reputable brands wouldn’t touch this design with a 50ft fish tape.
It’s good that you brought it up, and it’s not your fault it’s such a terrible design.
JoeM
Yes. I have come to learn this from you. But, I don’t like that wire testing function anyway, and don’t want that in any “Professional” version of this. No live wires involved, just a multi-tool style “It’s all there” wire stripper. For Preparing wires of all sorts, not for testing them, not for live repairs. I’ve never seen a tool that has that little four-slot hole for twisting and separating 2-4 strand cables before. I just want to be entirely clear. It’s the “All There” aspect that caught my eye. I hate what you hate about this tool. It looks cheaply made, nobody should be touching live wires with this thing, and those odd variants with a hook at the very end are very dangerous!
It’s only the “All There” aspect that I would think a higher quality steel, and a really reliable manufacturer, would do much better. Maybe leave off the outside edge blades, and keep it all the inside stuff. Wrench or two won’t hurt. Split ring pliers at the end? Sure, sometimes we do use split rings to attach tags, like “Inspection Records” sort of thing. For now, I’m quite happy about owning the Klien Comfort Curve stripper pliers. They do a good job on what little wire work I need them to do.
Stuart
You’re wondering if this is novel and innovative, but I think it’s just gimmicky. The jaws are not shaped for use on split rings. These aren’t features as much as they’re just marketing sales points.
MM
I don’t see “all there”. I see a tool that’s fundamentally flawed from the get-go because it’s stamped from sheet metal rather than being forged. Then, in an attempt to make it appealing (specifically to non-professionals), it has a bunch of silly gimmicks added to it. These gimmicks ranging from “potentially useful but really just overly bulky” to “downright dangerous”, with a stop at “WTF were they thinking” along the way.
I would much rather have that Klein Comfort Curve than this. Honestly the Klein is just as capable, as I am assuming that nobody on this board is dumb enough to actually trust the testing function. The idea that someone is going to use this as a wrench is laughable. The 4-hole thing supposedly meant for twisting wires together is an even bigger joke. The chance of the insulation slitter being the correct length for your particular job is 1/1000. The electrical tester function is downright dangerous.
There are good, professional, wire-prep multi tools. Examples I can think of off the top of my head:
Milwaukee 48-22-3078
Knipex 13 96 200 (among many similar variants)
These are good because they are ergonomic and the jaws are forged. The difference in feel is massive.
avi
I wrote a long piece about touching a live wire with a glorified screwdriver to test if its live, I included a link to a google image search, so it probably hit a filter
Long story short, it’s a real thing
Nathan
Is that what you think this is? Junk tool item made purely for like/hits?
Or ai algorithm design ?
SteveP
I don’t buy any product that doesn’t use real photos in its description. There’s a tendency to “Photoshop” (actually, render) images instead, and they look clean and expensive but as noted some “features” may not actually be present
On Amazon you can look in user reviews for real photos and videos sometimes, but in general it’s just a bad sign