Stripping very thin wire

[fourtytwo]

Soldering Iron...........as long as it's not PTFE
Usually works for me, cut the end to expose some wire to conduct the heat in, blob of solder & bobs your uncle

[sandy]

Use a cigarette lighter to strip insulation off wire. Just past flame under end of wire and pull off with finger nails. Works fine for me, and quickest way I have found. And no danger of cutting few strands of wire off either. Do it quick enough so you don't feel the heat. Certainly the best way to strip thin wire. Dont try it on twin and earth mains cable. Please.

[teedoubleudee]

Use a cigarette lighter to strip insulation off wire. Just past flame under end of wire and pull off with finger nails. Works fine for me, and quickest way I have found. And no danger of cutting few strands of wire off either. Do it quick enough so you don't feel the heat. Certainly the best way to strip thin wire. Dont try it on twin and earth mains cable. Please.

I don't smoke

A sharp knife works well for me.

[sandy]

I don't smoke either TWD but you can buy lighters for £1 for 5. I always have a couple in my soldering iron kit box. Bet you have taken a few thin wires away with the insulation as well at times with your sharp knife.. The lighter method wont do that.

[Walkingthedog]

Not sure I want a naked flame under my layout but if it works for you good idea. Doesn’t the flame/melted insulation contaminate the wire?

[sandy]

Of course it does not melt the plastic unless you hold the flame under too long. I thought that was obvious. Its just another skill to learn like all the other skills modellers have. You only warm the end of the wire. You can do the same with a soldering iron but you may not have it on at the time.

[Walkingthedog]

OK no need to say "thought that was obvious" a polite question would just require a polite answer.

So you don’t melt the plastic just shrink it.

[sandy]

Warm it is enough. Iv done it for years that way with small wires. Lighter also good for lighting candles if you get a power cut.

[Hound Dog]

I recently stripped thin decoders wires by pressing the wire on the Granite work surface in the kitchen and using a finger nail to penetrate and separate the insulation - worked a dream and didn’t break a single wire…………. With hindsight it is a pity it worked so well as I somehow fried the decoder sometime later and now have a Class 08 in pieces in a box that has been banished to the naughty corner of the workshop !

[sandy]

When I use a cigarette lighter to warm end of small wire you only just quickly pass the end of wire above the flame. You only have to warm the wire, not melt it than nip off the insulation with your finger and thumb nails. I normally do this on the bench when I am preparing wires before soldering them to where ever they are going to be soldered to layout. Hope that is clear. Dont take the flame near anything flammable. Like plastic scenics and the like.