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I am trying to wire three hot wires together with a pigtail which means I need to twist four 14-gage wires into a nut (I am using a tan nut which I believe is suitable for this).

The problem I'm having is holding them all steady so I can twist them together real good before capping them off. Is there a tool designed for this? It's a problem I've always had and it seems like someone would have come up with a solution.

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  • Is the power on? I thought we dealt with this issue a few years back.
    – Chris Cudmore
    Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 14:40
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    You could try just using some electrical tape to hold them.
    – Brad Gilbert
    Commented Apr 24, 2013 at 15:01

5 Answers 5

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Yes. It's called Lineman's Pliers.

enter image description here

To use:

  1. Strip the wires a bit longer than required (1" - 1 1/2").
  2. Hold the wires at the insulation between your thumb and forefinger.
  3. Pinch the tip of all the wires in the lineman's pliers.
  4. Twist the wires together using the pliers.
  5. Trim the end of the wires to the proper length.
  6. Twist on the twist-on wire connector.

enter image description here

You could also try using crimp connectors, with insulated caps.

Crimp ConnectorCrimp Connector Insulator

But then you'll need a crimp tool

Crimp Tool

Or as auujay points out, you can use push-in wire connectors. Which you can read about on the blog

enter image description here

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    Personally I get too frustrated trying to cram a large number of wires into a nut (even a large one designed for it). I just use the multi-push in connectors for the few times I need to do this: diy.blogoverflow.com/2012/01/…
    – auujay
    Commented Apr 23, 2013 at 14:59
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    @auujay If you're "cramming" wires, you're doing it wrong.
    – Tester101
    Commented Apr 24, 2013 at 11:45
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Drill AWG # 10 holes in a solid thimble, and push 2 or 3 wires into the holes, and twist with the addition of wings on the thimble like a wing nut. This would twist the wires together to get first a good mechanical connection prior to putting on a wire nut style connector. The current goes through the wires and not the spring of the wire nut connector, so this mechanical "bonding" is what would be desired using a tool that is better to do the job than an electricians line mans pliers.

I saw one for sale at an electrical wholesalers outlet, but didn't remember to pick it up thinking I'd see it again.

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Three wires can be held nicely at 120 degrees from each other in three-jaw drill chuck.

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Simplest "tool" to twist the wires, is the wire nut.

Put the wires in the wire nut untwisted and as you twist the wire nut, the wires will naturally twist.

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I always hand twist the wires before inserting into the wire nut,the wire nut doesn't always twist the wires,therefore they can easily be pulled out.Of course some folks may not do this,however it seems to be a good thing.🤗

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