Model Railway Forum

Hi All

I am struggling to strip the wires from DCC decoders without damaging the wires.

All my wire strippers, and I actually have a range of them, do not have a small enough gate to actually do the job.

I end up trying to delicately strip the insulation using anything I think is suitable. But this usually takes out some of the wires as well.

Does anyone know of a suitable tool that will do the job without damaging the wires as well ? Or how do you achieve this ?

I am converting a number of older loco's to DCC, hence the question.

Thank you in advance.

Joe H

Hi
DCC Concepts supply fine wire strippers...
Direct sales... Link to DCC Concepts

Edit...10-11-20 Ebay sale now ended so link removed.

Brian

Thank you so much for the information and the link.

I have ordered the DCC Concepts Fine Wire cutters.

Fingers crossed I won't be doing any more damage to the wires on the decoders

Joe H

2027Joe wrote: ↑Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:28 pm Brian

Thank you so much for the information and the link.

I have ordered the DCC Concepts Fine Wire cutters.

Fingers crossed I won't be doing any more damage to the wires on the decoders

Joe H

Let us know how you get on with them Joe.

They work well had mine for ages now
Just check the screw depth is tight all the time

I've tried many different types of wire strippers with mixed success but keep going back to my faithfull old pair issued to me as part of my tool kit when I was repairing computers back in the 1970s! They also have a screw type adjustment with a lock nut but are end fed rather than side fed. They are perfectly capable for most cable sizes except the very tiny wires found on decoders and some led accessories where less than a handful (sometimes only one) strands of wire are used. For this job I use a sharp knife to remove the insulation by slicing it lengthways so as not to cut into the copper strands. It's slow work and the result can sometimes look untidy but at least I end up with a complete set of starnds and you can't tell the difference once solder has been applied.

I am sure this answer will bring some giggles but I strip thin wires by touching end of wire with soldering iron or cigarette lighter then snip the insulation off with my finger nails. Works for me every time. I keep an old lighter in my box just for that. Gave up smoking years ago.
Just tiny nick with craft knife where you want to remove insulation helps. Or you may take off more than intended.

I have a pair of Stanley FatMax wire strippers and despite their chunkiness they are capable of stripping even decoder wires.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-fatm ... pper/5934k

I also went to Screwfix for these. Happy with them except I am left handed and you have to feed wires in from the left side, hence hold the tool in your right hand.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/c-k-automati ... pper/97204

Screwfix also do the cheaper basic screw adjustable V slot strippers.

I have a version of that tool, excellent. Use it up the other way Rob.