Wire stripper repair or bin?

As if suffering from extreme back pain wasn't enough, yesterday one of the wire stripper's jaws parted company with the main body, much to my annoyance.

I was in the process of wiring up a control box for my coffee bean roaster.

For once I didn't hurl the blithering thing through the window

The tool is die-cast, and no doubt from the Far East as is the norm nowadays.

I did have one years ago and that was of all steel construction.

Is it worth trying to patch it up, make a new part in steel or bin?

More photos in Album

Geoff - Back pain is the pits!

Edited By OuBallie on 03/04/2014 14:38:44

I've had another look and it's definitely bin!

Too much involved to even think about repairs, let alone make a new part.

Geoff - Can't think straight at present.

That's Mazak = Bin

I am not sure what my original Hellaman ones are made of but all three are still going strong after a few decades of use, dropping from high heights etc.. .

Jo

"The tool is die-cast, and no doubt from the Far East as is the norm nowadays"

You knew the correct answer in advance really Geoff didn't you?

IanT

Sympathy with your back by the way.

Thanks for the replies.

Jo,

Correct. I will remove useable parts then bin the rest.

Jason,

Far too many projects to add this piece of junk to the list.

IanT,

Correct. As soon as I noticed the grain on the pieces I knew, but I always live in hope.

Luckely I have different strippers to use.

Makes me wonder how many suffer the same fate in daily use.

If I was still in the profession and it broke on the job, I would be really peed off.

Trouble is, how do we now determine quality, and can brand names be relied upon anymore?

Geoff - Painkillers doing their job, but only 50% of the time.

Hi OuBallie

Sent you a PM

Regards
John

I've repaired a few unsolderable things in the past by sewing them with 0.5mm stainless steel wire.

I use super glue to hold the parts together, drill small holes to take the wire, then use the wire to stitch it together. After the wire is pulled tight I then smother it in super glue. It works pretty well - not pretty, but serviceable.

Gary

Thanks Gary.

Will give that a try and report.

Nobody hold their breath though.

Geoff - Retirement does NOT mean lots of spare time!

Hi Geoff

I agree - take useful bits off & bin the rest. Have a look on eBay for some Hellerman strippers.

For the back pain I'd recommend Voltarol gel. The other week I lifted a spare Bridgeport motor into the workshop and after a day or so I knew about it! Voltarol sorted my back out in two days!!!

I saw a coffee mug at the car boot sale the other day - it had 'Work is for people without anything better to do' on it - I should have bought it!

John