Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?

Also, a retired technician that I once knew had a pair of ingenious
'stripper pliers' that he had acquired back in the '60s that did
a fabulous job. These pliers had special jaws that would scrape the
enamel off without nicking the wire. They worked GREAT. Supposedly,
this tool originated from a mfg in Germany. I have never seen this tool
since. Anyone have a lead on something similar?

Thanks and take care.
-jim
WB5KYE

Jim Flanagan wrote:
Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?

Also, a retired technician that I once knew had a pair of ingenious
'stripper pliers' that he had acquired back in the '60s that did
a fabulous job. These pliers had special jaws that would scrape the
enamel off without nicking the wire. They worked GREAT. Supposedly,
this tool originated from a mfg in Germany. I have never seen this tool
since. Anyone have a lead on something similar?

Thanks and take care.
-jim
WB5KYE
I've heard about that tool, also. My only experience with enameled wire
is melting/burning it off, then sanding off the little remaining crud.

I know, probably "Been there, Done that".

John
AB8O

Jim Flanagan wrote:
Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?

Also, a retired technician that I once knew had a pair of ingenious
'stripper pliers' that he had acquired back in the '60s that did
a fabulous job. These pliers had special jaws that would scrape the
enamel off without nicking the wire. They worked GREAT. Supposedly,
this tool originated from a mfg in Germany. I have never seen this tool
since. Anyone have a lead on something similar?

Thanks and take care.
-jim
WB5KYE

These work great, but maybe a bit pricey for your needs...
http://www.eraser.com/catpdf.cgi/Mag...d&catpdf_id=11

www.telstar-electronics.com

For a long time, I've used heat-strippable wire which I got surplus. It
can be stripped just by heating at 750-800 degrees for a minute or so
with a soldering iron. The trade name, I believe, is "Solder-eze", but a
web search doesn't reveal a ready source. (I did find a number of people
asking where it could be found, but no responses.) Hopefully a reader
knows of a source and can tell us. A nice summary of various ways to
strip heat-strippable wire is at
http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/htm.../msg00598.html.

While searching for information on heat-strippable wire, I came across
the suggestion for stripping conventional enameled wire with paint
stripper. Apparently it takes a few minutes, but does work. It's nasty
stuff to work with, though.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Jim Flanagan wrote:
Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?

Also, a retired technician that I once knew had a pair of ingenious
'stripper pliers' that he had acquired back in the '60s that did
a fabulous job. These pliers had special jaws that would scrape the
enamel off without nicking the wire. They worked GREAT. Supposedly,
this tool originated from a mfg in Germany. I have never seen this tool
since. Anyone have a lead on something similar?

Thanks and take care.
-jim
WB5KYE

Roy Lewallen wrote:
For a long time, I've used heat-strippable wire which I got surplus. It
can be stripped just by heating at 750-800 degrees for a minute or so
with a soldering iron. The trade name, I believe, is "Solder-eze", but a
web search doesn't reveal a ready source. (I did find a number of people
asking where it could be found, but no responses.) Hopefully a reader
knows of a source and can tell us. A nice summary of various ways to
strip heat-strippable wire is at
http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/htm.../msg00598.html.

While searching for information on heat-strippable wire, I came across
the suggestion for stripping conventional enameled wire with paint
stripper. Apparently it takes a few minutes, but does work. It's nasty
stuff to work with, though.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Jim Flanagan wrote:
Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?

Also, a retired technician that I once knew had a pair of ingenious
'stripper pliers' that he had acquired back in the '60s that did
a fabulous job. These pliers had special jaws that would scrape the
enamel off without nicking the wire. They worked GREAT. Supposedly,
this tool originated from a mfg in Germany. I have never seen this tool
since. Anyone have a lead on something similar?

Thanks and take care.
-jim
WB5KYE

I mentioned a commercial paint-stripper in here, have tried another
brand. Wayyyy slow. Having used commercial paint strippers in
days before EPA had declared nearly everything "toxic, harmful to
health" those paint stripper compounds were a lot stronger. It
works, sort of, but one can use up a half roll of paper towels to
make a dozen-plus toroid inductors' end-stripping. [okay, some
exaggeration there] It is messy and usually takes a second
application of goo to clean it off good enough for soldering.

GONE is good old General Cement "Strip-X" (company says it
has no plans for anything similar in future) and the "Solder-Eze"
is relegated to "old stock." Since "magnet wire" is still used
in industry, hobbyists need a hint or three from those working
in that area now.

wrote:

Roy Lewallen wrote:
For a long time, I've used heat-strippable wire which I got surplus. It
can be stripped just by heating at 750-800 degrees for a minute or so
with a soldering iron. The trade name, I believe, is "Solder-eze", but a
web search doesn't reveal a ready source. (I did find a number of people
asking where it could be found, but no responses.) Hopefully a reader
knows of a source and can tell us. A nice summary of various ways to
strip heat-strippable wire is at

http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/htm.../msg00598.html.

While searching for information on heat-strippable wire, I came across
the suggestion for stripping conventional enameled wire with paint
stripper. Apparently it takes a few minutes, but does work. It's nasty
stuff to work with, though.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Jim Flanagan wrote:
Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?

Also, a retired technician that I once knew had a pair of ingenious
'stripper pliers' that he had acquired back in the '60s that did
a fabulous job. These pliers had special jaws that would scrape the
enamel off without nicking the wire. They worked GREAT. Supposedly,
this tool originated from a mfg in Germany. I have never seen this
tool
since. Anyone have a lead on something similar?

Thanks and take care.
-jim
WB5KYE

I mentioned a commercial paint-stripper in here, have tried another
brand. Wayyyy slow. Having used commercial paint strippers in
days before EPA had declared nearly everything "toxic, harmful to
health" those paint stripper compounds were a lot stronger. It
works, sort of, but one can use up a half roll of paper towels to
make a dozen-plus toroid inductors' end-stripping. [okay, some
exaggeration there] It is messy and usually takes a second
application of goo to clean it off good enough for soldering.

GONE is good old General Cement "Strip-X" (company says it
has no plans for anything similar in future) and the "Solder-Eze"
is relegated to "old stock." Since "magnet wire" is still used
in industry, hobbyists need a hint or three from those working
in that area now.




Years ago, working with "Litz wire", I used Red Spirit and a small burner or
a small blow torch. We dipped the wire in the spirit and then burned it.

I'm not entirely sure if the Litz wires we used had secondary lacquer
isolation but I think so and that was the major pain with that wire.

A quick heating up and a swipe with a cloth should do it. Red Spirit was
originally almost clean Ethanol ( While doing my military service in the
Signal Corps ages ago, we used to nick it and mix it with coke or tonic
water on Friday evenings... )


Cheers


Dan / M0DFI

Dan Andersson wrote:
wrote:

Roy Lewallen wrote:
For a long time, I've used heat-strippable wire which I got surplus. It
can be stripped just by heating at 750-800 degrees for a minute or so
with a soldering iron. The trade name, I believe, is "Solder-eze", but a
web search doesn't reveal a ready source. (I did find a number of people
asking where it could be found, but no responses.) Hopefully a reader
knows of a source and can tell us. A nice summary of various ways to
strip heat-strippable wire is at

http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/htm.../msg00598.html.

While searching for information on heat-strippable wire, I came across
the suggestion for stripping conventional enameled wire with paint
stripper. Apparently it takes a few minutes, but does work. It's nasty
stuff to work with, though.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Jim Flanagan wrote:
Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?

Also, a retired technician that I once knew had a pair of ingenious
'stripper pliers' that he had acquired back in the '60s that did
a fabulous job. These pliers had special jaws that would scrape the
enamel off without nicking the wire. They worked GREAT. Supposedly,
this tool originated from a mfg in Germany. I have never seen this
tool
since. Anyone have a lead on something similar?

Thanks and take care.
-jim
WB5KYE

I mentioned a commercial paint-stripper in here, have tried another
brand. Wayyyy slow. Having used commercial paint strippers in
days before EPA had declared nearly everything "toxic, harmful to
health" those paint stripper compounds were a lot stronger. It
works, sort of, but one can use up a half roll of paper towels to
make a dozen-plus toroid inductors' end-stripping. [okay, some
exaggeration there] It is messy and usually takes a second
application of goo to clean it off good enough for soldering.

GONE is good old General Cement "Strip-X" (company says it
has no plans for anything similar in future) and the "Solder-Eze"
is relegated to "old stock." Since "magnet wire" is still used
in industry, hobbyists need a hint or three from those working
in that area now.




Years ago, working with "Litz wire", I used Red Spirit and a small burner or
a small blow torch. We dipped the wire in the spirit and then burned it.

I'm not entirely sure if the Litz wires we used had secondary lacquer
isolation but I think so and that was the major pain with that wire.

A quick heating up and a swipe with a cloth should do it. Red Spirit was
originally almost clean Ethanol ( While doing my military service in the
Signal Corps ages ago, we used to nick it and mix it with coke or tonic
water on Friday evenings... )

Cheers

Dan / M0DFI



Thank you Dan (you spell the surname correctly!). :-)

"Red Spirit?" Unfamiliar term to me on this side of the pond.

I've tried Toluene and MEK and found them lacking. Turns out
that (in varying percentages) are part of the paint stripper goop
sold in do-it-yourself stores over here. I can get Ethanol and
may try that.

In years past, the General Cement Company of Rockford, Illinois,
had a blackish goop they marketed for stripping magnet wire.
Worked extremely well, dip once, let it sit for a minute and the
enamel coating can be seen to actually lift off of the wire. One
wipe and the wire surface is free, ready to solder. Had a
definite acid content from the smell of it (sharp, acrid). The
tradename was either "Strip-X" or "Strip-Var," not sure which
now. :-( Mine was used up years ago, bottle tossed out.

In article . com,
wrote:

In years past, the General Cement Company of Rockford, Illinois,
had a blackish goop they marketed for stripping magnet wire.
Worked extremely well, dip once, let it sit for a minute and the
enamel coating can be seen to actually lift off of the wire. One
wipe and the wire surface is free, ready to solder. Had a
definite acid content from the smell of it (sharp, acrid). The
tradename was either "Strip-X" or "Strip-Var," not sure which
now. :-( Mine was used up years ago, bottle tossed out.

GC Electronics "Strip-X", I assume? I found a MSDS which states that
it's 70% methylene chloride, 25% cresol (isomers of cresylic acid),
around 5% ammonia, plus some wax and thickening agents.

One poster stated that it was designed to work with Formvar
insulation, and might not work as well on the newer Polythermaleze
insulation.

I don't see it in their current catalog... probably gone where the
goblins go, yo ho!

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Depends a lot on the type of "enamel" that you are dealing with. As noted
elsewhere, some is fairly simple to do with hot solder and some is resistant
to thermonuclear techniques.


I've been successful with one of two methods on most of the stuff.

As noted, a solder pot (fairly cheap, by electronics tool standards) will do
the job nicely on 90% of enamel wire.

Or, a professional paint store (NOT HandyAndy) has a parTICularly nasty
chemical paint stripper called "Aircraft Paint Stripper", mostly methylene
chloride which is highly toxic. About five minutes soak in that would strip
the chrome from a trailer hitch. Don't sit in a spill of the stuff or
you'll be talking in a high squeaky voice for the rest of your life.


Jim

In article ,
Roy Lewallen wrote:

For a long time, I've used heat-strippable wire which I got surplus. It
can be stripped just by heating at 750-800 degrees for a minute or so
with a soldering iron. The trade name, I believe, is "Solder-eze", but a
web search doesn't reveal a ready source. (I did find a number of people
asking where it could be found, but no responses.)

Another variety of this is Belden "Beldsol", which seems to be widely
available... Mouser, Newark, RS Electronics list it.

And, an eBay search on "solderable magnet wire" will probably turn up
some supplies of this sort of wire.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!