Why bother with the stinky stuff at all? And, who wants to wait for 15
minutes before you can make the solder connection? I just tin my
soldering iron and leave the little solder blob on the iron and apply it
to the end of the wire. In a few seconds, the enamel coating melts off
and the solder blob tins the end of the wire at the same time.

Scott
N0EDV

wrote:

Not too long ago, I inquired about a substitute for General Cement
"Strip-X", an old stand-by on quick removal of the enamel of "coil
wire." It was a smelly, blackish gel, came in a small bottle, and
wonderful for stripping off coil wire enamel in a minute or two.
It isn't made for the electronics hobby trade anymore, but there
IS a reasonable substitute: Jasco 0201 Premium Paint Stripper,
available at most Lowe's, Home Depot, OSH, True Value chain
stores, about $4.75 for a pint.

I have some toroid coils under construction, all using #32 and #34
AWG enameled coil wire. A #$%^!!! to strip those with either
single-edge razor blades or fine-grit finishing paper. With the
Jasco stripper gel, two dips and a WAIT of about 15 minutes will
allow a wiping cloth to remove the enamel without damaging the
wire. A lot longer wait than with Strip-X, but it is better than
nothing.

The same Jasco paint stripper will also loosen the lithographic
designs/labels on small tin cans. [see other post] The newer
can paints are tougher than those of 30+ years ago so it might
be necessary to use some steel wool to help remove the paint
(with the gel still on it). Doesn't appear to affect the steel
wool.

The product contains methylene chloride (said to be a toxic
substance, especially to Californians and their overly-strict
hazardous materials rules). Another brand and product at Do-It
Centers had that plus formic acid; didn't get that, a bigger
can and it cost about $18. Whatever was in old Strip-X must
have been stronger and nastier. [my last bottle dissolved the
bristles of the bottle cap brush after sitting for a few years]

So far, the hobby room's production line has been humming along
without breaking any fine coil wire in order to solder to the
toroid winding's ends.