Klein Tools 11055 Wire Stripper and Cutter vs RIDGID 31010 Model 10 Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (10 inch)

The Klein 11055 is the second tool because the first electrical job most owners attempt, replacing a fixture, switch or outlet, needs clean strips on copper wire, and a utility knife does that badly. The 11055 has precision-ground holes for 10 to 18 AWG solid wire and 12 to 20 AWG stranded. Standard household circuits run 14 AWG on 15 amp breakers and 12 AWG on 20 amp, both inside that range.

It is more than a stripper. Shear-type blades near the pivot cut copper cleanly, the serrated nose grabs and pulls wire, and holes in the jaw bend a neat hook for wrapping around a terminal screw. It also cuts 6-32 and 8-32 machine screws, the sizes used on switch plates and electrical boxes, to length without crushing the thread. At 7 1/8 inches and about 5.4 ounces it fits a pocket, and Klein makes it in the USA.

The limits are worth knowing. This version is not rated as insulated, so it is not a tool for live work; turn the breaker off first. It will not strip anything heavier than 10 AWG, and the stripping holes are fixed, so you need to read the gauge stamped on the cable. Retailer rating: 4.8 from 9,118 reviews.

The RIDGID Model 10 is the third tool, and the one that matters the day a plumbing joint will not move. A pipe wrench grips round stock that an adjustable wrench slides off, and its jaw tightens as you pull, so the harder you lean the harder it bites. The 10-inch size suits household work: RIDGID rates it for 1/4 to 1 inch pipe with a 1 1/2 inch maximum, which covers supply lines, drain fittings and the fittings on most water heaters.

The build is why it costs more than generic wrenches. The housing is ductile iron with an I-beam handle, the hook jaw is forged and floats so it grips and releases quickly, and the threads on the adjusting nut are designed to clear grime. The hook jaw, heel jaw and spring are all replaceable, and the wrench meets federal specification GGG-W-651E. At about 1.75 pounds it is the heaviest tool here.

It is also the most specialized. The teeth that hold pipe also chew up chrome and brass finishes, so wrap decorative fittings in a rag or use a strap wrench. Nothing else in a first toolkit needs it, which is why it sits last. Retailer rating: 4.8 from 1,014 reviews.