…without destroying the wire?
Rich
Rich,
A few questions: 1) How would you describe or define the material used for the insulation? 2) Is the wire copper, steel, bronze or something else? 3) Is the wire a single strand or stranded? 4) Are you dealing with a single wire or something bundled or ganged in a flat-pack? 5) Do you intend to remove it at the end or expose a short (or longer) length in the middle?
There are a couple of techniques, but only four basic means: cutting it with a blade (I’d suggest length-wise if it’s single-strand: lay it in a pre-cut slot so that it doesn’t roll); softening it and then pulling it off with something not so soft (pinched fingernails?); burning it off; or dissolving it with something that doesn’t also attack the wire.
Hopefully it’s not a discrete length already attached to something and you’ve got a little stock to practice on. Experimentation will be your friend on this one.
Good luck - and share your results, please.
John
Rich, can you be specific about the wire in question?
I’ve had two cases. 1) Thin magnet wire used in N-scale signal masts. I stripped that with the back of a #11 Xacto blade. 2) Flat ribbon cable with 10 thin conductors. I tried separating the wires and stripping the insulation as above. No luck. Thicker, softer PVC insulation. I gave up and bought special breakout boards. Attach normal 10-pin connector to ribbon, plug connector into board, attach wires to screw terminals on the outboard side. Wimp out, I know. But it saved a lot of headaches.
Robert
Specifically, this is Teflon insulated 32 AWG silver plated copper stranded wire consisting of 7 strands of 40 AWG per conductor. I will just be stripping off the ends. I will have some extra length to play with.
Rich
I feel your pain. I have a pair of wire strippers that start at 25 and will go to 80 gauge. Got it at my LHS.
Teflon and stranded makes it a tougher job (no pun intended). But with the stranded you can lose one or even two and not be torpedoed. Soldering it later?
Here’s an idea: cut a groove in a flat piece of wood (the harder, the better), depth about 3/4 the diameter of the insulated wire. Scrape off the teflon with a new #11 blade or plane it off with a #17 chisel, held upside down, bevel flush with the wood surface.
This might sound crazy but for striping wires from #28 and smaller I just use my thumb nail. I pinch the end of the wire using my thumb nail as the cutter and bingo it works.
This is #30 TFE Teflon.
The lighting is bad but the wire in the picture above is 7 strand #30 copper.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
wirewrap wire is 30 gauge. the tool has an opening with a slit to strip the insulation.
Certainly can’t beat high-tech, Mel!
The best part of my way is I don’t have to search for the wire strippers. My stripper is always on hand.[:-^]
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I do it the same way as Mel. Always works, no tool to misplace.
–Randy
I’ve used a Jonard ST-450 for “small” wire. Range is 26 to 36.
Ed
Thumbnail method for me too.
Martin Myers
Thumbnail strippers are great. Generally come packaged together in both right- and left-handed models. Washable, no lubrication necessary (though some operators have been know to get “lubricated”). Price per set is variable, consult experienced parents regarding probable cost. Not available on-line.
When I was in high school we built electronics projects using “wire wrap sockets” for fragile ICs that could be easily damaged by heat. I believe the wire used in “wire wrap” assembly was 30 gauge. We had a special tool to strip this wire that worked great. It looked a little like a vegetable peeler.
.
If you search for wire wrap tools you might find something that will work.
.
That is my best idea.
.
-Kevin
.
I have Klein strippers that go down to 30 and that is pretty close but sometimes I use my thumbnail since it can strip away the insulation but can’t really cut the wire.
I got a small wire stripper, in my Christmas stocking last year, however, before that I would turn it ever so lightly with surgeons touch on a blade just to score it, and that made for a nice clean break when I put my thumb nail into it.
When rotated, a stripper (wow, that sounds sorta naughty) can score the wire. Which can allow it to break at that point, either now or later. Not sayin’ it will, but be careful. The vibration in a locomotive MIGHT be enough.
Ed
I appreciate all of the suggestions.
The fingernail solution certainly has appeal.
I found a Klein wire stripper on the Home Depot web site that will handle 32 AWG wire, but a few of the customer reviews cast doubt on its effective with such small wire.
I will let you all know what solution I settle on. Thank you, everyone.
Rich
I found a YouTube video where a guy used his cigarette lighter to strip the insulation off a thin stranded wire. No way. Way.
He held the flame under the end of the wire for a split second, then used his thumb and index finger to remove the insulation. A perfectly clean “cut”.
I’m not a smoker, so I used a butane fireplace lighter. Voila!
Rich