How to strip very small wires?

[djmcmath]

Here's a good one for the PPOT Brain Trust: For a project I'm working on, I end up stripping the insulation off the ends of a whole bunch of small wires, roughly 22AWG. I'm using a pair of wire stripping pliers I picked up at Home Depot, and they ... work. But it's slow.



I picked up a pair of "auto strippers" from Amazon, and they work much better, as long as the wires are much bigger than the ones I need to strip. I mean, if you're doing 12AWG, these guys work great. I've tried a couple of variants on this theme, both of which claimed to be able to do as small as 22 or 24 gauge wire. One didn't work at all on the small stuff, and the other one actually broke the wire as often as it stripped it. No good.



So what do you guys do when you have to strip a bunch of tiny wires? Any tools that actually *work* for this job?

Thanks,
Dan

[rattlsnak]

I have a pair like the bottom picture but it has an adjustable pinch mechanism on it so you can use it on any size wire.

These cheap ones work also and are adjustable.

https://www.zoro.com/greenlee-adjustable-wire-stripper-cutter-pa1161/i/G5305955/?gclid=CNLRx5_R8dACFQ8lgQodPrIOEQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

[dad911]

Thumbnail for small wires. Or a light tough on a pair of dikes.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

These cheap ones work also and are adjustable.

https://www.zoro.com/greenlee-adjustable-wire-stripper-cutter-pa1161/i/G5305955/?gclid=CNLRx5_R8dACFQ8lgQodPrIOEQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

These and a lot of patience is how I do it. I tried burning. Didn"t work.

[HardDrive]

What is this for? Could you use premade breadboard wires?

[1990C4S]

Buy these. Set them up properly, strip at a slight angle.

Adjustable Stripper / Cutter | Pro'sKit USA

[aschen]

At work? I wouldent use anything but an electric/thermal stripper. The last one I bought was over a decade ago and $300+. There are probably cheapo versions though. No problem to strip 32 gauge wire with ptfe or 8 gauge jumper cables

[aschen]

i think you could mimic the thermal stripper method with the back side of an exacto knife and a candle. Just get the blade back hot and press/roll against the wire on a wood block. There will be no damaged strands to cause trouble down the road

[Gogar]

Use the one in your first pic, squeeze medium hard. Then remove the insulation with fingers.

I have one like Pic#2 and i can do 18 and 20 with no prob, I dunno.

[RANDY P]

thumbnail or teeth. Seriously. You can just pull it off...You need tactile feel and tools will just result in cutting the wire.

rjp

[bleucamaro]

Thermal strippers are the way to go, but if you are in an area without electricity or if the cord will get in your way, I've used Stripmaster Ideal (45-097) on wires down to 24 awg with different types of insulation, including teflon coated. They look like the Klein squeeze style in the OP, but have good jaws. The clamp also releases before snapping back in place so you don't damage strands. And if it makes you feel better, these were approved by Boeing for use on GPS satellites.

[MBAtarga]

I bought some inexpensive strippers that automagically adjust for any size wire - got them at a flea market or such. They look/work like this design below. They can strip multiple (same size) wires at the same time - just insert them aside each other and squeeze.

[URY914]

I rent my strippers for a $1. Much cheaper this way.

[scottmandue]

I like the type of the stripper in your first pic... take that back to depot and splurge for the Klien version.
Like this:
https://www.zoro.com/klein-tools-wire-stripper-18-to-10-awg-7-18-in-11055/i/G3181227/

or I like the greenlee stripers

https://www.zoro.com/greenlee-wire-stripper-14-to-6-awg-7-14-in-1956-ss/i/G5302367/

[look 171]

bite it and strip the plastic off. Did lots of that in my youth building models.

[NY65912]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

thumbnail or teeth. Seriously. You can just pull it off...You need tactile feel and tools will just result in cutting the wire.

rjp

Yup

[anotherblack944]

We use this in the CO for stripping 22AWG jumpers. Old school but quick, repeatable and never fails.

[billybek]

I just use my diagonal cutters.

[anotherblack944]

Originally Posted by NotaBRG

I found that phone wire, while low voltage, will still give quite a shock when the common wire is in your teeth and the live wire touches your cheek.

POTS is -48V nominal DC. Goes to -96V ringing. It can bite even if you just brush it at the right time!

[stomachmonkey]

Xacto knife held in right hand.

Wire / s in left.

Place wire over blade.

Hold down with right thumb and give a little roll.

Pull wire away with left hand.