Every day during their work, electricians face tasks that can be solved only with a certain tool. The better the tool is, the faster and more efficiently the work is done. One of the most valuable tools for electricians is a knife. While there is a great choice, in this review, I will talk about the best electrician knives that stand out from most of the options on the market.
What do electricians use a knife for?
Electricians use their knives for various functions, mainly cutting and stripping cables, electrical tape, and insulation. Such knives can also be used for slicing and opening equipment boxes and packages. And as an ordinary cutting tool, a knife is helpful for various electrical and installation work.
The blade is manufactured to avoid damaging the core wire while stripping. It is strong enough to sever the isolation coating, yet the tip is designed not to cut through the inner wire. However, as with any tool, electricians must understand what it’s for and how to use it properly to avoid accidents.
Best electricians knife reviews
SOG Kilowatt – best overall
The SOG Kilowatt EL01-CP has a 3.4-AUS8 stainless steel blade with an original laser engraving. However, just don’t be fooled by its lovely appearance. This knife features a robust, fiberglass-reinforced nylon grip. I especially like the one-handed reversible opening with a liner lock. Using it is very convenient because both hands are often busy during the working process.
Premium materials, ergonomic design, and an extremely sharp stainless steel edge make the knife a decent option for electricians. Plus, this knife is significantly more lightweight than the analogs (for example, Klein Tools 44228), thus becoming handier.
While it is not a substitute for an actual wire stripper, this great electrician pocket knife is universal and will do an excellent job with any wire and cable stripping/cutting tasks. It’s hard to find a worthy competitor on the market, and the SOG Kilowatt can be deservedly considered the best electricians knife.
Key specs
- Blade Thickness, inch/mm: 0.12 / 3.
- Blade Material: AUS-8 stainless steel.
- Handle Material: glass-reinforced nylon.
- Blade Length, inch/cm: 3.4 / 8.6.
- Weight, lbs/g: 0.23 / 104.3.
- Dimensions, inch/cm: 7.5 x 1 x 0.3 / 19 x 2.54 x 0.76.
Pros
- Robust feel.
- Portable.
- Ready to use right out of the box.
- Fast stripping.
- Notable stripper.
Cons
- Pocket clip might be improved.
Klein Tools 44228 – also a great choice
The pocket knife for electrician from Klein Tools is made from 440A stainless steel featuring a subtle edge drop point blade. A liner lock secures the blade firmly in the open position for additional protection. Klein Tools 44228 is practical in equal parts for cutting wires and taking insulation off cables, not to mention daily tasks on the job site. This lightweight, portable pocket knife is easy to open and carry with a single hand, keeping it within reach.
The superior stainless steel blade provides excellent sharpness and has useful stripping notches. This may be helpful if you get in a confined spot and prefer not to stand up to grab your tool. The hole at the base of the blade is suitable for winding electrical cords.
Klein Tools 44228 has a simple, one-handed blade opening using the bearings. But if you want a spring-assisted style of opening, perhaps you should choose another model.
This knife is neat and compact and isn’t too bulky, so it slips snugly into your pocket, thanks to the included clip. The pocket clip here is sturdier than the one on the SOG Kilowatt. It opens/closes easily and looks to be well-made. To summarize, this model is in high demand among electricians and is one of the best offerings on the market.
Key specs
- Blade Thickness, inch/mm: 0.11 / 3.
- Blade Material: stainless steel.
- Handle Material: aluminum.
- Blade Length, inch/cm: 2.95 / 6.4.
- Weight, lbs/g: 0.23 / 104.3.
- Dimensions, inch/cm: 7.18 x 1.25 x 0.62 x 18.2 x 3.17 x 1.57.
Pros
- Developed specifically for the skimming of cables.
- Thumb knob for effortless opening.
- Replaceable blade.
- Readily accessible pocket clip.
Cons
- Heavier than a lot of other models.
- No one-hand operation.
Klein Tools 44131 – best budget
Klein Tools 44131 folding utility knife is vibrant orange, making it easy to find in your toolbox. The ergonomic rubber grip and aluminum handle offer more comfort and enhanced slicing performance. Its grip also functions as a blade holder and stores a maximum of six blades. So you can rapidly move from one blade to another on the fly when you are far away from your toolbox. You simply have to push a button to extract and place the blade. When locked, the blade snaps into place to guarantee reliable performance.
Additional details feature a lanyard opening for clipping and safe storage, along with a wire cutter for multi-purpose usage. A waist clip means you can attach the knife to your belt and carry it everywhere you take it.
However, certain aspects of this knife could be improved. For example, unlocking the blade with one hand can be difficult because the lock button sometimes sticks. This can cause some inconvenience when using the Klein Tools 44131, so pay extra attention to the functioning of this button when purchasing.
This electrician pocket knife is sturdy and of decent quality, not lower than most of the more expensive analogs. It sits well in the palm and has a lovely appearance. Buying Klein Tools 44131 will not significantly damage your budget, but it will definitely make your work easier.
Key specs
- Blade Thickness, inch/mm: 0.025 / 0.6.
- Blade Material: stainless steel.
- Handle Material: aluminum, rubber.
- Blade Length, inch/cm: 2.44 / 6.2.
- Weight, lbs/g: 0.26 / 118.
- Dimensions, inch/cm: 4.13 x 0.5 x 0.5 / 10.5 x 1.27 x 1.27.
Pros
- Blades remain sharp longer – triple sharpened.
- Opening and closing by push button.
- Handle with a rubber grip.
- Wire stripping notch.
Cons
- Lock button sometimes sticks.
Morakniv
A practical good knife to cut insulation from electrical cables. Being developed for electricians, this knife is a good option if you need to keep a reliable tool handy. The recycled Swedish stainless steel blade offers long-term use and sharpness.
The convenient, ergonomic handle offers a supple friction grip and prolonged polymer fingertip sheath along the knife’s rim. A 1.4mm thick stainless steel blade offers tenacity and power for all your cutting needs. Its blade and handle make the Morakniv perfect for effective and productive use in various outdoor elements all year round. And the polymer sheath attaches to the Morakniv Smart Button System, allowing you to connect a set of utility knives for a variety of uses. Plus, it has a helpful belt snap for attaching to your belt.
This tough guy is developed to support you in removing insulation from wires more efficiently than most others. The Morakniv Knife is engineered specifically for the high-precision job of the electrician, either for fans, fridges, or delicate electronics. You can choose to use it both for regular wire stripping and more challenging work on wires.
Key specs
- Blade Thickness, inch/mm: 0.055 / 1.4.
- Blade Material: stainless steel.
- Handle Material: rubber.
- Blade Length, inch/cm: 0.86 / 2.2.
- Weight, lbs/g: 0.19 / 87.2.
- Dimensions, inch/cm: 8.74 x 3.7 x 1.5 / 22.2 x 9.4 x 3.81.
Pros
- Cost-effective.
- Ideal for high stress.
- High friction rubber grip.
Cons
- The angle of the bevel is too sharp to grind against copper when skinning greater sizes.
Milwaukee 48-22-1985
Milwaukee 48-22-1985 makes it easier for you when you have to trim wires or cables with a big cross-section. These blades are made to allow a clean cut right through the material you are cutting, owing to their sharpened point. As a result, the process becomes faster and easier. The curved blade winds closely around a thicker wire’s periphery during stripping. If needed, it is quite easy to sharpen the blade.
A Hawkbill blade is considered more dependable for cutting under tension. I think you’ll be happy to know that the blade releases with one hand using a push button. A single liner lock is there to hold the knife locked in the unlocked configuration firmly. In addition, you get the awesome Milwaukee grip that fits pleasantly and comfortably in the palm.
Milwaukee 48-22-1985 might greatly simplify your life. It lets you get smoother cuts and will save your time by not needing to create notches in the cord.
Key specs
- Blade Thickness, inch/mm: 0.055 / 1.4.
- Blade Material: stainless steel.
- Handle Material: rubber.
- Blade Length, inch/cm: 0.86 / 2.2.
- Weight, lbs/g: 0.19 / 87.2.
- Dimensions, inch/cm: 8.74 x 3.7 x 1.5 / 22.2 x 9.4 x 3.81.
Pros
- Stripping wire without slipping off.
- Tapered tip for a neat cut.
- Liner locked.
- Highly durable.
Cons
- Belt clip could be firmer.
Electrician’s knife buying guide
Knife type: fixed or folding
The requirements of electricians may differ. Whereas some electricians prefer long and rigid knife models, some prefer folding and portable knife types. Folding knives are shorter and thicker to suit any pocket, whereas fixed knives come slim and long. When you expect to need your knife a lot, a folding knife becomes really practical.
Blade type
Within the knives universe, there is a wide range of blade types. I will provide you with a summary of the commonly used knife blades in the electricians’ work:
- Hawkbill: In this blade type, the cutting edge and the back are both bent inward.
- Sheepfoot: There is no sharp tip on this type of knife.
- Clip Point: Commonly used on folding knives.
- Drop Point: Like the Clip Point, yet with a not-so-sharp edge.
- Tanto Point: A strong knife whose blade ends with a super sharp tip.
- Utility Knife: Widely used for a range of work in the craft and for many general tasks.
Blade and handle materials
The material used to forge a knife blade significantly determines its overall capabilities, such as strength, endurance, and capacity to retain a sharp edge. Hardness is evaluated with the Rockwell scale using the level of penetration by a direct source. Among the popular blade materials are: stainless steel, high carbon steel, titanium, ceramic.
The grip material affects durability, texture, security, and moisture absorption. Below you will find several of the most popular materials for the grip of an electrician’s knife:
- Carbon Fiber.
- Fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN).
- G10.
- Micarta.
- Stainless steel.
- Aluminum.
- Titanium.
- Derlin.
- Nylon.
Knife size and weight
The size and weight of your wire skinning knife can significantly impact your work performance. While it may be tempting to conclude that lighter, more compact models are ideal, that’s not always the case, depending on your needs.
Heavier blades feel better in the palm, which some electricians should favor. On the other hand, lighter blades can lead to less hand and arm fatigue while being easier to handle in tight spaces.
