DIY Electronic Wire Strippers

[D from BC]

Has anyone created homemade electronic wire strippers?
I've hated every type of mechanical wire strippers I've ever used.
Adjustments, gauge grooves, bulky strippers, wire nicks...
Just awful

I like the idea of thermal wire stripping...

Say something with heated nichrome wire?
Perhaps some fancy mechanics that spins a heating element around the
wire?

Or even more cool..
How about a blade iris like used in cameras?
Ex:
http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/00FY3Q-28646484.jpg
If the iris blades are hot, it can melt into the wire insulation of
any wire gauge.

Got any wire stripping gizmo idea's?
It can be battery powered or corded...


D from BC

 

[[email protected]]

you want the military version of the ideal (tm) Stripmaster with the
smooth rather then serrated jaws. hard to find but worth it. Not
mentioned on the Stripmaster page but I know they make it, I own my
father's unit, and he worked for a defense contractor. Perfect every
time,even in teflon, and adjustable blade assemblies for different
sizes of wire, ie I have #22 to #8 installed now.

Steve Roberts

 

[D from BC]

I would not want to be breathing the burnt plastic fumes from a thermal
stripper. If it had fume extraction then maybe that would be ok but
cumbersome. If the temperature was not high enough to cause burning of the
plastic, just softening it to help a mechanical blade then maybe that would
be an idea.

Chris

Oh yah... those smelly plastic fumes... And I was just thinking about
laser wire strippers.
D from BC

 

[Chris Jones]

you want the military version of the ideal (tm) Stripmaster with the
smooth rather then serrated jaws. hard to find but worth it. Not
mentioned on the Stripmaster page but I know they make it, I own my
father's unit, and he worked for a defense contractor. Perfect every
time,even in teflon, and adjustable blade assemblies for different
sizes of wire, ie I have #22 to #8 installed now.

Steve Roberts

Yes, the Ideal Stripmaster is the only thing I have found that will strip
Teflon perfectly every time. The only disadvantage with this tool is that
the clamping jaws are quite wide so there must be a certain minimum length
of wire which remains unstripped to be able to use this tool. Very short
wires are a problem, though probably they could just be avoided in most
cases, e.g. using sleeving for those wires instead.

Chris

 

[Chris Jones]

Has anyone created homemade electronic wire strippers?
I've hated every type of mechanical wire strippers I've ever used.
Adjustments, gauge grooves, bulky strippers, wire nicks...
Just awful

I like the idea of thermal wire stripping...

Say something with heated nichrome wire?
Perhaps some fancy mechanics that spins a heating element around the
wire?

Or even more cool..
How about a blade iris like used in cameras?
Ex:
http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/00FY3Q-28646484.jpg
If the iris blades are hot, it can melt into the wire insulation of
any wire gauge.

Got any wire stripping gizmo idea's?
It can be battery powered or corded...


D from BC

I would not want to be breathing the burnt plastic fumes from a thermal
stripper. If it had fume extraction then maybe that would be ok but
cumbersome. If the temperature was not high enough to cause burning of the
plastic, just softening it to help a mechanical blade then maybe that would
be an idea.

Chris

 

[DaveM]

I would not want to be breathing the burnt plastic fumes from a thermal
stripper. If it had fume extraction then maybe that would be ok but
cumbersome. If the temperature was not high enough to cause burning of the
plastic, just softening it to help a mechanical blade then maybe that would
be an idea.

Chris

Too easy to nick a wire when you use a blade. A nicked wire will fail QC
inspection every time. Even small, seemingly insignificant, nicks are a no-no in
military electronics.
Thermal strippers are the way to go

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

"In theory, there isn't any difference between theory and practice. In
practice, there is." - Yogi Berra

 

[D from BC]

Has anyone created homemade electronic wire strippers?
I've hated every type of mechanical wire strippers I've ever used.
Adjustments, gauge grooves, bulky strippers, wire nicks...
Just awful

I like the idea of thermal wire stripping...

Say something with heated nichrome wire?
Perhaps some fancy mechanics that spins a heating element around the
wire?

Or even more cool..
How about a blade iris like used in cameras?
Ex:
http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/00FY3Q-28646484.jpg
If the iris blades are hot, it can melt into the wire insulation of
any wire gauge.

Got any wire stripping gizmo idea's?
It can be battery powered or corded...


D from BC

Gotta add...

Solid state lasers have gotten quite powerful nowadays.. Some are
cheap on Ebay..

I'm thinking of spinning a laser around a wire..
Maybe something like a pencil sharpener.. Just stick the wire in.
Press a button, the laser spins around and presto... cut wire
insulation without a copper nick.
All that's needed is to pull off the insulation.

That...or somehow guide that laser light around the wire with a
rotating mirror..


D from BC

 

[PhattyMo]

Gotta add...

Solid state lasers have gotten quite powerful nowadays.. Some are
cheap on Ebay..

I'm thinking of spinning a laser around a wire..
Maybe something like a pencil sharpener.. Just stick the wire in.
Press a button, the laser spins around and presto... cut wire
insulation without a copper nick.
All that's needed is to pull off the insulation.

That...or somehow guide that laser light around the wire with a
rotating mirror..


D from BC

You could perhaps leave the laser/blade stationary,and rotate the wire
on axis..
Might be kinda hard if the other end is already soldered to something
though.

 

[mpm]

Has anyone created homemade electronic wire strippers?
I've hated every type of mechanical wire strippers I've ever used.
Adjustments, gauge grooves, bulky strippers, wire nicks...
Just awful

I like the idea of thermal wire stripping...

Say something with heated nichrome wire?
Perhaps some fancy mechanics that spins a heating element around the
wire?

Or even more cool..
How about a blade iris like used in cameras?
Ex:http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/00FY3Q-28646484.jpg
If the iris blades are hot, it can melt into the wire insulation of
any wire gauge.

Got any wire stripping gizmo idea's?
It can be battery powered or corded...

D from BC

We have a beheamoth (sp?) of a machine in the back that can strip any
size wire, either or both ends, and cut it to size, all fully
programmable than can run 24/7 no problem. I think we paid about $6K
US for it.

But I have to tell you, for just doing stuff around the bench, (12ga
to maybe 26/28 ga), it's hard to beat the Telvac handheld tool. I've
never had a problem with any insulation with it. In fact, for THHN
type wires, you can even strip just the plastic coat on top of the PVC
jacket!

Or for insulated jacketed pairs, strip just the jacket, etc... Very,
very nice tool.
Relatively inexpensive too. -mpm

 

[Paul E. Schoen]

Has anyone created homemade electronic wire strippers?
I've hated every type of mechanical wire strippers I've ever used.
Adjustments, gauge grooves, bulky strippers, wire nicks...
Just awful

I like the idea of thermal wire stripping...

Say something with heated nichrome wire?
Perhaps some fancy mechanics that spins a heating element around the
wire?

Or even more cool..
How about a blade iris like used in cameras?
Ex:
http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/00FY3Q-28646484.jpg
If the iris blades are hot, it can melt into the wire insulation of
any wire gauge.

Got any wire stripping gizmo idea's?
It can be battery powered or corded...

Over 25 years ago, my friend Tony made a wire stripper from two strips of
nichrome in a V shape, and heated with about 5 amps from a very low voltage
transformer. He perfected the concept and got a patent on it, and he makes
and sells them from the basement of his home. I can testify to the fact
that they are excellent products which I use myself, and they are required
to be used where I work to avoid reliability issues from nicked wires.

At the risk of being labeled a spammer, here is his site, which has a lot
of good information on thermal stripping technology:

http://patcoinc.net/

Paul

 

[D from BC]

We have a beheamoth (sp?) of a machine in the back that can strip any
size wire, either or both ends, and cut it to size, all fully
programmable than can run 24/7 no problem. I think we paid about $6K
US for it.

But I have to tell you, for just doing stuff around the bench, (12ga
to maybe 26/28 ga), it's hard to beat the Telvac handheld tool. I've
never had a problem with any insulation with it. In fact, for THHN
type wires, you can even strip just the plastic coat on top of the PVC
jacket!

Or for insulated jacketed pairs, strip just the jacket, etc... Very,
very nice tool.
Relatively inexpensive too. -mpm

Damn..did quick search on Telvac wire striper..nothing yet...
D from BC

 

[Joel Kolstad]

Over 25 years ago, my friend Tony made a wire stripper from two strips of
nichrome in a V shape...

I purchased one of those Patco wire strippers something like 15 years ago now.
It's always worked fine... although at the moment I don't know where mine is!

I should mention I only have the "low-end" unit (PTS-10?) and have never tried
it on Teflon wire, though.

 

[D from BC]

Over 25 years ago, my friend Tony made a wire stripper from two strips of
nichrome in a V shape, and heated with about 5 amps from a very low voltage
transformer. He perfected the concept and got a patent on it, and he makes
and sells them from the basement of his home. I can testify to the fact
that they are excellent products which I use myself, and they are required
to be used where I work to avoid reliability issues from nicked wires.

At the risk of being labeled a spammer, here is his site, which has a lot
of good information on thermal stripping technology:

http://patcoinc.net/

Paul

Is is me...or does this gizmo seem to have an odd shape?
Looks like the case shape is for a linear transformer...no smps yet?

It doesn't look ergonomic..
I can't always bring the wire to the tool...Sometimes I have to bring
the tool to the wire when the other end of the wire is attached to
something.
The Patco looks like it has the ergonomics of holding a rock.

I'd like to see the same idea but with a gun shape and with a smps in
the handle for light weight handling.
Perhaps take the old soldering gun design as seen on
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips6/tool_tips/soldering_gun.jpg
...put in an smps and make the whole design as small as possible..

Heck.. Doesn't it look like all that needed is to put v shaped
nichrome on that soldering gun and "presto" it's a Patco wire
stripper.
D from BC

 

[D from BC]

Is is me...or does this gizmo seem to have an odd shape?
Looks like the case shape is for a linear transformer...no smps yet?

It doesn't look ergonomic..
I can't always bring the wire to the tool...Sometimes I have to bring
the tool to the wire when the other end of the wire is attached to
something.
The Patco looks like it has the ergonomics of holding a rock.

I'd like to see the same idea but with a gun shape and with a smps in
the handle for light weight handling.
Perhaps take the old soldering gun design as seen on
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips6/tool_tips/soldering_gun.jpg
..put in an smps and make the whole design as small as possible..

Heck.. Doesn't it look like all that needed is to put v shaped
nichrome on that soldering gun and "presto" it's a Patco wire
stripper.
D from BC

I have to add...

Take this design..
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/onlinecatalog/literature/550465.pdf
and turn it into a Patco wire stripper..
It's has a 3 oz weight.
Now I'm interested
D from BC

 

[Paul E. Schoen]

Is is me...or does this gizmo seem to have an odd shape?
Looks like the case shape is for a linear transformer...no smps yet?

It doesn't look ergonomic..
I can't always bring the wire to the tool...Sometimes I have to bring
the tool to the wire when the other end of the wire is attached to
something.
The Patco looks like it has the ergonomics of holding a rock.

The tool is actually quite comfortable, and you can apply it to a
stationary wire if need be.

I'd like to see the same idea but with a gun shape and with a smps in
the handle for light weight handling.
Perhaps take the old soldering gun design as seen on
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips6/tool_tips/soldering_gun.jpg
..put in an smps and make the whole design as small as possible..

Heck.. Doesn't it look like all that needed is to put v shaped
nichrome on that soldering gun and "presto" it's a Patco wire
stripper.
D from BC

I have to add...

Take this design..
http://www.cooperhandtools.com/onlinecatalog/literature/550465.pdf
and turn it into a Patco wire stripper..
It's has a 3 oz weight.
Now I'm interested

Some time ago I designed a simple SMPS for a higher power stripper, so that
the handheld portion contained only a small toroidal ferrite transformer,
and a relatively high voltage at maybe 50 kHz was fed to it through fairly
thin, flexible wire. The power for these strippers is only between 2 and 10
watts, so the components are tiny. I think that was a special purpose tool,
but it might be available. I'm sure Tony would be able to make something
that would meet your needs and desires. You could get an element from him
and try it on a soldering gun.

I think a good design might be one that could be attached to your finger,
so you would not need to be constantly picking it up and putting it down
somewhere. The power supply could be on the bench, maybe even part of a
solder station, or it could have a battery pack that could be carried in a
pocket, strapped to your arm, or clipped on your belt. I'll talk to him
about it. He also has a fascinating line of diving equipment, with battery
powered lights and heaters, as well as the most powerful spear gun in the
world. That stuff is on his other website www.patcoinc.com. I am now
working on a design for his super bright LED diving searchlight. I had
posted about that here several months ago.

Paul

 

[D from BC]

The tool is actually quite comfortable, and you can apply it to a
stationary wire if need be.


Some time ago I designed a simple SMPS for a higher power stripper, so that
the handheld portion contained only a small toroidal ferrite transformer,
and a relatively high voltage at maybe 50 kHz was fed to it through fairly
thin, flexible wire. The power for these strippers is only between 2 and 10
watts, so the components are tiny. I think that was a special purpose tool,
but it might be available. I'm sure Tony would be able to make something
that would meet your needs and desires. You could get an element from him
and try it on a soldering gun.

I think a good design might be one that could be attached to your finger,
so you would not need to be constantly picking it up and putting it down
somewhere. The power supply could be on the bench, maybe even part of a
solder station, or it could have a battery pack that could be carried in a
pocket, strapped to your arm, or clipped on your belt. I'll talk to him
about it. He also has a fascinating line of diving equipment, with battery
powered lights and heaters, as well as the most powerful spear gun in the
world. That stuff is on his other website www.patcoinc.com. I am now
working on a design for his super bright LED diving searchlight. I had
posted about that here several months ago.

Paul

Nah..I handle too many tools to have something attached to my finger.

I have another form idea
Ever see those paper staple removers?
Ex:
http://www.theofficea-z.co.uk/images/296905.jpg

Just change the jaws to 2 meshing V nichrome heating elements.

/\---cord----------------pwr supply----D=
/ \
/ \
< > -nichrome V jaws that mesh like scissors

So the action is clamp,melt and then pull.
But some problems I see are:
The jaws don't completely surround the wire insulation.
The jaws can get loaded with goopy melted wire insulation.

Another crazy idea..

The idea is to get two nichrome wires to complete 360 degree contact
with the wire insulation

Starts like this:

[------nichrome wire-----]

(O) < wire to be stripped

[-----nichrome wire-----]


Then nichrome wire then wraps around the wire like this:


| |
| ---- |
| |(O)| |
|_|___|_|
| |
| |


D from BC

 

[Paul E. Schoen]

The tool is actually quite comfortable, and you can apply it to a
stationary wire if need be.


Some time ago I designed a simple SMPS for a higher power stripper, so
that
the handheld portion contained only a small toroidal ferrite transformer,
and a relatively high voltage at maybe 50 kHz was fed to it through
fairly
thin, flexible wire. The power for these strippers is only between 2 and
10
watts, so the components are tiny. I think that was a special purpose
tool,
but it might be available. I'm sure Tony would be able to make something
that would meet your needs and desires. You could get an element from him
and try it on a soldering gun.

I think a good design might be one that could be attached to your finger,
so you would not need to be constantly picking it up and putting it down
somewhere. The power supply could be on the bench, maybe even part of a
solder station, or it could have a battery pack that could be carried in
a
pocket, strapped to your arm, or clipped on your belt. I'll talk to him
about it. He also has a fascinating line of diving equipment, with
battery
powered lights and heaters, as well as the most powerful spear gun in the
world. That stuff is on his other website www.patcoinc.com. I am now
working on a design for his super bright LED diving searchlight. I had
posted about that here several months ago.

Paul

Nah..I handle too many tools to have something attached to my finger.

I have another form idea
Ever see those paper staple removers?
Ex:
http://www.theofficea-z.co.uk/images/296905.jpg

Just change the jaws to 2 meshing V nichrome heating elements.

/\---cord----------------pwr supply----D=
/ \
/ \
< > -nichrome V jaws that mesh like scissors

So the action is clamp,melt and then pull.
But some problems I see are:
The jaws don't completely surround the wire insulation.
The jaws can get loaded with goopy melted wire insulation.

Another crazy idea..

The idea is to get two nichrome wires to complete 360 degree contact
with the wire insulation

Starts like this:

[------nichrome wire-----]

(O) < wire to be stripped

[-----nichrome wire-----]


Then nichrome wire then wraps around the wire like this:


| |
| ---- |
| |(O)| |
|_|___|_|
| |
| |

The problem with using wire is that the melted insulation can rejoin. You
need a sort of barrier, which the flat nichrome strip provides. But the
staple remover concept is good. You might be able to use SMD removal
tweezers as a starting point.

Paul

 

[neon]

They are there allready the USA goverment uses them. must use suction air to remove some nasty chemicals by products.

 

[JosephKK]

D from BC [email protected] posted to sci.electronics.design:

Has anyone created homemade electronic wire strippers?
I've hated every type of mechanical wire strippers I've ever used.
Adjustments, gauge grooves, bulky strippers, wire nicks...
Just awful

I like the idea of thermal wire stripping...

Say something with heated nichrome wire?
Perhaps some fancy mechanics that spins a heating element around the
wire?

Or even more cool..
How about a blade iris like used in cameras?
Ex:
http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/00FY3Q-28646484.jpg
If the iris blades are hot, it can melt into the wire insulation of
any wire gauge.

Got any wire stripping gizmo idea's?
It can be battery powered or corded...


D from BC

The patents have expired, build your own.

 

[D from BC]

D from BC [email protected] posted to sci.electronics.design:


The patents have expired, build your own.

Yayyyyyyy! Expired patents! Wooo hoooo!
Party time with strippers.
D from BC