Just starting out ? Here is some tips, how to strip those (pesky) tiny wires. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 09:29:27 pm
content: Thanks for reading!I always have trouble, eventually, ignoring how delicate those little wires are, soldered and unsupported...So, I use a needle nose pliers, holding the wire maybe 5/8 inch or 3 cm from end. Then, using a scissors, start cutting through, (as if fully through the wire). You can almost always feel, with sharp scissors, the slide across copper metal, (vs vinyl insulation).Try it when it can be redone, in case cut too much.Of course, twist that, a bit, to take off a scattered end of wire strands.Safety wise, better to wear shoes, face shield etc to protect eyes.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 09:33:36 pm
content: This post has picture, shows the fairly sharp scissors, and the pliers used for holding the delicate wire, (one by one).

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 11:47:44 pm
content: Craftsman 82544, or similar. My USA-made ones have been great over the years.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2021, 11:57:38 pm
content: I just use flush cutters.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 12:02:40 am
content: I've seen these being used. They look good. Some Amazon reviews are negative. I haven't tried them.https://www.amazon.com/Knipex-1262180-Adjusting-Insulation-Strippers/dp/B003B8WB5U/

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 12:08:22 am
content: Thanks.I forgot to mention, the action is to slide ( the scissors) from fairly deep, into the 'V' while extremely gently squeezing... So you can duplicate this slide-cut using a lightweight Xacto knife.But question is whether the use of literal thumb nail, for wedging / pulling off that little segment you are stripping off, whether that passes muster in a regulatory sense: Having LEAD and other hazards in potential.Thanks, I will check out your mention...

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 01:58:44 am
content: Quote from: MikeK on March 06, 2021, 11:47:44 pmPro'sKit 8PK-3001D does it for me, down to 30 AWG (0.2 mm)

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 03:32:52 am
content: Quote from: alsetalokin4017 on March 07, 2021, 01:58:44 amThe jaws/blades/strippers on the Pro’s kit look similar to the Paladin/Greenlee (which are excellent).https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tempo-communications/PA1123/1990599https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/upgrade-to-wire-strippers-automatic-or-otherwise/msg3422124/#msg3422124~$27 at Amazon for two wire strippers:Paladin Tools PA1123 Wire Stripper Bundle, 24-10 AWG and 30-20 AWG

author: Capernicus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 07:36:35 am
content: These ones never did me wrong, get the job done quick, watch out you dont nip yourself tho! =)When your desoldering wires (and pulling them apart) and salvaging/scavenging components off pcb's then I always get out the safety specs, thats when you need em for sure.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 09:18:40 am
content: I would not trust those grip and strip tools unless you are really sure about the results on the same wire. I just use wire strippers, the sort with different circular blades for different sizes. I don't necessarily go by the size the stripper tells me and just work my way down until one of the sizes grips and cuts the insulation. With these tiny wires any error in something that is automatically guessing the cut depth can pull some of those few vital strands off the wire.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 10:04:11 am
content: Anything that nicks the strands of the wire will weaken it. I can't see how you're going to get reliable results with a pair of scissors, where the angle of the blades means that they will be tighter (more closed) on one side of the wire than the other.I too prefer the strippers that have a blade with a circular hole, sized to the cut the insulation. without scraping the conductors.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 11:12:05 am
content: Yes, GYRO, you may be right, there: I put post to learn as I go, but also 'on the cheap'. Old-school wire strippers came down originally, as descendants from house wiring tasks...By the way, concerning (scissors) blade angles: The two blades closing gives a balanced 'pinch', hopefully cutting equally in two places around the wire. So my mention of optionally cutting the insulation with an Xacto knife was incorrect: such a delicate wire will be pushed or bent over, by the Xacto action.AND, I know any wire nicks compromise reliability, but the hardware is hobby / TOY / Recycled type for experimenting and learning, not any consumer safety type product.Having delicate stuff (wires) has always been a pet peeve, when there's no strain relief, etc.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 11:21:26 am
content: Yes, those tiny wires are the pits, they are a nightmare for breaking off PCBs when flexed, partly because they are so weak and partly because they suffer solder wicking up the strands, making them fatigue easily. That's why I mentioned the nicking - anything that further weakens an already marginal attachment has so much more of an impact.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 11:34:09 am
content: All wires will solder wick. I once soldered 12 AWG wire into a 4mm plug and was surprised at how much of the wire still in it's insulation had gone rigid due to solder wicking. This was a procedure that took some time given the amount of metal involved so it's not surprising and I suppose the one good reason to have a powerful iron.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 01:00:07 pm
content: I typically use one of these generic side strippers, which does a good job for me.I also use the circular blades on occasion.However, when the wire shielding is very thin (wire wrap sized, for example), I simply use my nails: thumb and middle finger can strip a thin insulation without collateral effects.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 01:42:31 pm
content: its a bad habit,but i use me teeth,got side cutters, strippers and knives,but those piddly little wires that stretch as soon as you go near them with a tool,straight in the gob,gentle bite and pull.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 01:44:24 pm
content: That is why I would use the strippers as they are doing repeatably what your teeth do once you have established the correct blade size to use.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 02:09:38 pm
content: If nothing else helps, sometimes just the soldering iron to weaken the isolation and then the finger nails work. It is not pretty and smelly - so more like 2nd choice if the proper tools as lacking.There are also those V shaped adjustable pliers that can work für thin wires too, though adjusting is a bit tricky and needs many tries.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 03:48:19 pm
content: Reading this, I realize how behind I've fallen, thinking of those old (crap) Radio Shack $7 strippers. The Mil-Spec wire strippers, I hadn't realized, are now used by any common professional.Not sure what a 'FLUSH CLIPPER' is... was that called 'Dyke Pliers' ? (Not trying to be funny, here).Curious, as I and many others, simply use thumb nail, but imagine some Industrial Hygene authorities probably have standards (forbidding contact with harmful metals etc). Just curious.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 04:03:32 pm
content: Well the wire I use most at work it Raychem 44 so not really nail or mouth friendly.

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 05:28:18 pm
content: Self adjusting types have very short-lived blades and can be your undoing. It's all to easy to put too much pressure on your side cutters and ruin your day. I've always used correctly adjusted manual types. Anything with flat handles is crap.Invest in good tools early in your career and don't misuse them, always the right use the tool for the job.Knipex or Lindstrom strippers, cutters and pliers will outlive you.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 05:57:43 pm
content: I find this style the most reliable for general use, they have the circular blade pattern that I mentioned. Just make sure the smallest diameter is small enough for you (they come in different sizes)...

author: agehall
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 07:10:11 pm
content: Quote from: MikeK on March 07, 2021, 12:02:40 amI got myself the Kinpex Preciostrip a week ago. Similar to the one you showed, it had a bunch of bad reviews on Amazon. I can see where that comes from - you need to adjust it before it works well. However, the adjustment took 30s and a few test cuts and then it works just great.I’ve used cheap cable strippers before and this is a whole different level - I only wish I had bought it years ago.

author: Mp3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 09:42:39 pm
content: Quote from: Capernicus on March 07, 2021, 07:36:35 amI've been using this exact model for years and with the exception of VERY tiny wire (38 awg or smaller) it is fool proof.I have accidentally cut off some 38 or smaller wire with it, so i prefer to use a manual wire stripper or simply melt off the insulation of those smaller cables, if I have a solder pot available.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2021, 11:40:07 pm
content: Thanks mp3, your solder pot idea really nice! (Although perhaps for doing numbers of wires...But I gotta remember that one, for later. -Rick).

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2021, 12:55:43 am
content: Silicone insulated wire strips, for even as thick as 18AWG with just pulling gently between your thumbnail and index finger, no tools required, no damage done.Also more flexible and more temperature resistant so can carry higher current for the same AWG (if you can tolerate the voltage drop) and doesn't retreat when soldering.I very seldom reach for strippers these days.

author: jbeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2021, 02:58:48 am
content: A pair of these from Ideal Industries are my go-to wire strippers. Have been for years.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 08, 2021, 06:24:55 am
content: Those really small wires with low temperature coatings would be ideal to just dip. I also found that due to the way the coating shrivels up with heat just having a small amount of visible wire poking out to touch with my iron was enough so I would sometimes not strip at all and if I did always by a fraction of what I needed as with what disappears during soldering you quickly end up with more exposed wire than you want. I always wished I had a tinning pot for those.

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2021, 07:25:31 pm
content: Me, I use CK Tools.They had the old "Nickless" line with side action.These are the new ones that come in fixed and adjustable.https://www.newark.com/ck-tools/330013/wire-stripper-98mm-0-25-0-8mm/dp/50M6745

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2021, 10:40:05 am
content: Quote from: Renate on March 08, 2021, 07:25:31 pmI use these at work and they are excellent. One thing I really like about them (compared to most automatic strippers) is that the strip depth stop can be set very short, which is often needed for small crimp terminals where you may need to strip only 2-3mm of insulation. (FWIW, these aren’t really new, they’ve been around for decades. We have a bunch of them at work that have the old Siemens logo on them, the logo used from 1973-1991.)Just beware that the wire gauges printed on them area) for solid wire (for stranded, go one size bigger)b) the mm gauge isn’t in mm2, but is the conductordiameterAt home, I have a Hakko-badged (Pierluigi OEM) stripper similar to the Ideal one shown above. Works great, but of course has no depth stop. Klein Tools makes a really nice version of this in their Klein Curve line with ergonomic grips. I have one of those for larger gauge wires, and it’s extremely well made, with very precisely ground cutting jaws.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2021, 10:52:29 am
content: Quote from: Renate on March 08, 2021, 07:25:31 pmOh yeah, I also recently discovered a stripper that looks to be an auto-adjusting version of those, theWEICON 51000002 “Precision Wire Stripper S”.We have one on the way, so hopefully this week I should be able to give some initial impressions of it.

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2021, 12:49:11 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on March 09, 2021, 10:40:05 amI make up JST XH connectors which take a very short strip, maybe 1.5 mm?I move the slider back to clear the old stripped bit (which tends to stay there when it's set very tight).I put my wire through thesideand close the slider.That gives me the perfect distance.Then I put the wire through theendand strip it.Quote from: tooki on March 09, 2021, 10:40:05 amAhh! Found it! I was thinking of the Clauss "NO-NIK" strippers we used for wire wrapping.https://www.efibertools.com/fiber-optic-tools/fiber-strippers/clauss-nn016-no-nik-new-surplus-wire-stripper/(These are the ones for fiber but they had ones for wire.)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2021, 10:56:43 pm
content: Quote from: Renate on March 09, 2021, 12:49:11 pm2.3 nominally (acceptable range 1.9-2.5mm)Quote from: Renate on March 09, 2021, 12:49:11 pmThat sounds about right, since your wire likely has a diameter around 1.3mm (for AWG 24, for example), and the blades aren’t quite flush with the slider. I’ll have to give that method a try!Quote from: Renate on March 09, 2021, 12:49:11 pmLooks like they’re probably not made any more? I found one page mentioning that the Clauss name had been bought, but not that product line, or something like that.

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2021, 12:21:42 am
content: Quote from: tooki on March 09, 2021, 10:56:43 pmI'd advise you not to Google "Claus strippers" unless you're in the holiday mood.

author: rfclown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2021, 02:27:56 am
content: Quote from: jbeng on March 08, 2021, 02:58:48 amYour looks shiny new. Mine (same model) are much older. This is what I grab at my home bench. I bought a pair of Paladins which I really like. I took them to work because I use them more there, and the strippers that have at work are crap.