Airmont Products (Pack of 10) 12 AWG Solid Copper Ground Wire with Green Ground Screws – 6.5" Edge-Stripped Grounding Wire, 5/8" Strip, 10-32 x 3/8" Captive Green Screws for Electrical Boxes

A small accessory that saves real time

Grounding pigtails aren’t glamorous, but they’re one of those small parts that can either slow you down or quietly keep a project moving. I put the Airmont grounding pigtails to work over a few days of swapping devices and cleaning up grounds in older metal boxes, and they did exactly what I wanted: reduced fuss, kept my workflow predictable, and provided a clean bond every time.

What’s in the bag

Each pack includes ten 12 AWG solid copper pigtails with green insulation, pre-fitted with a green 10-32 x 3/8-inch ground screw on one end and a 5/8-inch pre-stripped section on the other. The pigtails are roughly 6.5 inches long. Everything arrives in a resealable bag, which sounds trivial but is genuinely useful when you’re bouncing between rooms and don’t want loose wires floating around in a tool bag.

The conductor is solid, not stranded. That choice makes sense for this application: it holds its shape as you position it, and once you tuck it into the box it stays put. The insulation is uniform, the strip length is consistent across the pack, and the copper was clean with no nicks at the stripped end. The green screws thread smoothly; the finish is even, with no flaking or paint build-up in the threads. Out of the bag, every pigtail was ready to install—no rework needed.

Installation and handling

My use case was straightforward: bond metal boxes and tie the box to the equipment grounding conductor bundle. With these pigtails, the box side is a non-event. The pre-installed screw is captive on the looped end of the wire, so you’re not juggling a tiny ground screw and a loop while perched on a ladder. I aligned the screw with the box’s 10-32 tapped hole, ran it in, and tightened to a firm bite. The screw head accepted a standard driver, and I didn’t experience cam-out or soft metal issues. The captured screw also means fewer drops—nice when you’re working in an old work box with a lot of knockouts and sharp edges waiting to catch a falling fastener.

On the other end, the 5/8-inch strip length is practical for both wirenuts and lever connectors. With wirenuts, I used it as-is; with lever connectors, I trimmed a hair to fit the manufacturer’s strip guide. The 12 AWG copper feels robust without being overly rigid; in shallow boxes, I needed one extra bend to tuck the slack cleanly, but the wire held shape and didn’t fight to spring back. I was able to maintain a neat service loop in standard depth boxes without cluttering the space.

Over several boxes, I tested continuity and verified a solid bond from the box to the grounding conductor bundle through the pigtail. The connections stayed tight after device installation and box makeup, and I didn’t see any movement at the ground screw when pushing devices back into the box—something that’s occasionally a problem with less substantial screws or softer loops.

Length and gauge choices

The 6.5-inch length is a sweet spot. It’s long enough to give you working room for splicing without creating a coil of excess wire that steals box volume. For device-rich gang boxes or shallow boxes with multiple cables, a shorter option would sometimes be convenient, but I prefer having the extra inch for flexibility. If you routinely work in compact boxes, you can trim the stripped end and re-strip; the insulation takes a clean cut and the copper doesn’t fray (being solid helps).

As a 12 AWG pigtail, it plays nicely with common 15 and 20 amp branch circuits. The stiffness is part of the appeal: you can set the pigtail out of the way and it stays, and it doesn’t feel fragile during repeated bends while you sort the rest of the conductors.

Where it shines

• Metal boxes: Thread engagement is clean and reliable in standard 10-32 ground holes. I used these in both new steel boxes and older boxes that had been painted; the screws cut through light paint without cross-threading, and the loop stayed centered under the head.
• Speed and consistency: Not having to cut short lengths of green wire, strip, form loops, and fish for ground screws adds up. One grab from the bag and the box is bonded.
• Clean makeups: The pre-stripped end and consistent length produce uniform splices. It’s easier to maintain a tidy bundle when each pigtail matches the last.

Where it doesn’t

• Plastic boxes: If you’re working mostly with nonmetallic boxes, you won’t need the box-bonding screw. You can still use these as spare ground jumpers, but the captive screw becomes unnecessary bulk.
• Tight, overfilled boxes: The stiffness of 12 AWG is generally an advantage, but in very shallow or crowded enclosures it can feel a bit “big-boned.” You can manage it, but stranded jumpers bend and tuck more easily.
• Non-standard ground provisions: Some specialty enclosures use different grounding hardware or require a longer screw; the included 3/8-inch length is standard for tapped ground holes, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all for unusual boxes or bonding lugs.

Build quality and reliability

I paid attention to a few failure points I’ve seen on similar pigtails: paint-clogged threads, brittle loops that crack on tightening, and inconsistent strip lengths. None of those showed up here. The loops stayed intact through multiple bends (I intentionally “re-aimed” a few to test), and the screws held torque without feeling like they’d strip. The green finish on the screws remained intact after tightening and minor repositioning, and I didn’t end up with flakes of coating in the box.

Across the pack, manufacturing consistency is good. Every pigtail was within a few millimeters of the stated length, and strip lengths were nearly identical. The resealable bag is sturdy enough to survive being opened and closed repeatedly without splitting—handy if you’re stretching a pack across a week of small tasks.

Practical tips

• Pre-route before tightening: Set the pigtail’s path and light-form your bends before final torque on the box screw. It reduces stress on the loop and gives you a cleaner tuck.
• Trim for your connector: The 5/8-inch strip is great for wirenuts; for lever connectors, use the strip gauge on the connector and trim accordingly for best grip.
• Know your box: These shine in metal boxes or enclosures with a 10-32 tapped ground hole. In plastic boxes, skip the screw and use a standard ground splice instead.
• Don’t overtighten: The loop is sturdy, but there’s no prize for crushing copper. Tighten until the loop is firmly captured and secure, then stop.

Value

Could I make my own pigtails from scrap copper and loose ground screws? Absolutely. Do these save enough time and hassle to justify themselves? For me, yes. On a small project, the time saved forming loops and chasing ground screws is modest but obvious; on a bigger day with a dozen boxes, it becomes significant. The pack-of-10 count is sensible for small jobs, though I’d like to see a larger-count option for pro users who go through these quickly.

Wish list

A few tweaks would make this kit even better:
- Offer a stranded version for tight boxes requiring extra flexibility.
- Include a longer screw option in a variant pack for thicker-wall enclosures or bonding lugs.
- Provide mixed lengths (4", 6.5", 8") to match different box depths and device counts.

None of these are deal breakers; they’d just broaden the appeal.

Recommendation

I recommend the Airmont grounding pigtails. They’re consistent, genuinely time-saving, and well executed for their intended job: bonding metal boxes and simplifying ground splices. If you work regularly with metal boxes or want to streamline device swaps and remodels, the pre-installed, captive screw and clean pre-strip make a noticeable difference. If your work is mostly plastic boxes or you prefer making your own jumpers to squeeze every last bit of cost out of a job, you’ll get less value here. For everyone else—from seasoned electricians who want to shave minutes off each box to careful DIYers aiming for tidy, reliable grounds—these pigtails are a smart, low-drama upgrade to your install kit.