We are excited to add Jokari as the latest brand in our lineup of German tool producers. And while Jokari may not be a household name in the United States, they are well known in Germany and Europe as a preeminent maker of 100% German-made wire and cable stripping tools. In fact, the company’s founder, Joseph Krampe, invented one of the first cable knives and his version became so ubiquitous that “Hand me the Jokari” became an oft-heard expression. The family-owned business has not rested on its laurels through the years and continues to produce new and unique designs that range from general stripping to tools for specific wires and cables. Here is a brief overview of the product line.
Cable Knives
The original product of Jokari, the cable knife is a simple handle with a recessed sharp blade. A spring-loaded bracket holds the cable against the blade, and a thumb rest allows the tool to be safely turned round the cable circumference, perfectly cutting the insulation while leaving the conductors untouched. On most Jokari models, the blade has an automatic swivel function allowing a cut to then be made down the length of the cable to the end, longitudinally slicing the insulation and allowing it to be easily peeled off. The depth of the cut can be precisely adjusted to compensate for different thicknesses of cable jackets. One model, the 4-70 even has the option of swapping different size brackets, allowing one to strip a broad range of cable sizes. Brackets are sold individually, or the 4-70 System Set includes the entire range of brackets along with the knife
Automatic Wire Strippers
The most familiar style of wire strippers in the Jokari line, these automatically adjust to strip standard PVC insulated wires in the general range of 24 - 10 AWG. Glass-fiber reinforced polyamide construction keeps the weight down, while remaining durable for years, and the ergonomically designed pistol grip is comfortable even during all-day use. Some models even have an extra layer of soft plastic on the grip for even more comfort. An adjustable depth stop makes this type perfect for repetitive stripping tasks, and a built-in cutter keeps you from having to reach for another tool. The narrow jaws also allow this tool to reach into hard-to-reach spots like junction boxes and cabinets. Spare blades are also available and easily replaceable.
Clamshell-style Cable Strippers
More specific in their design, these lightweight cable strippers spring open with the release of a catch. At the end is an opening with a small recessed sharp blade. This opening is precisely sized for specific types and sizes of wire or cable. Simply open the tough plastic clamshell, insert the wire, close the clamshell, rotate and pull to remove the jacket. Most models have markings on the inside to indicate specific strip lengths, and many feature multiple openings for differing strip sizes (e.g. outer jacket and inner dielectric on coaxial cable or outer jacket and inner conductor insulation on network cables). If you are working on a specific task, especially when it involves repetitive strips of the same wire or cable, these can be a huge timesaver.
The X-Frame Family
Sharing the same lightweight, ergonomic design, this series features an easily-replaceable cartridge blade. And while some are designed for specific tasks such as sensor control cables or AS-interface cables, the FKZ and the 6 - 162 are more general purpose strippers. The FKZ is unique in that it is designed for removing the jacket on flat cables, such as NM (RomexTM), but it also has the added feature of stripping individual round conductors without adjustment. The 6 - 162 is a general purpose automatic stripper for larger wires from 10 – 5 AWG. All of the X-frame strippers have an opening in the center of the handle joint allowing the cable to feed through for unlimited strip length.
German Engineering You Can Trust
While Jokari may not yet be a familiar name in the United States, if your job or hobby involves wire stripping, why not check out these unique and well-designed tools. They have long been an OEM supplier to many more-famous named German brands, and we are pleased to be able to offer their complete line to our customers.
