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I purchased some pre-wired nano LEDs.  The  wires are stranded with insulation.   The wire is very very  thin.

I am having a problem trying to strip off the insulation without actually cutting off the wire at the same time.  No matter how I try to strip the insulation back I end up cutting the wire.

I would appreciate any tips you might have.

Thanks,

Ed

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I use No-Niks strippers. You need a specific model for each wire gauge. I have one for 30 AWG (.014") and 22 AWG (.025"). They are best for stripping Kynar and Teflon coated wires. For softer insulation I have a Paladin Wire stripper. It handles all gauges up to around 12 depending on insulation material and thickness. You can get Asian imported copies but they are not as good as the original.

 

Pete

 

Hi Ed - when I had to do that I used a small piece of sandpaper (220 grit, I think) wrapped around the end of the wire and pulled it through a couple of times. You have to rotate the wire a bit after each stroke to get all of the insulation off. It's not really fun to do, but it does work.

Thank you to everyone for the tips.

I think for now I will use the soldering iron.  But for the long term I would prefer to get a stripper such as those mentioned.

I am making some outside lights  for a commercial building using the info from a forum member using parts from plastruct.  I want to see what kind of illumination the nano LEDs  put out before trying to make 10 of them.

Thanks again,

Ed

Reminds me of old timer electricians checking for live 120vac with their spit wetted fingers tips. (no joke)

(I don't know if spellcheckers are in FFox, or hoopla, but this one is awful. When I can out spell a program 4-5 times a day, it's really bad. I write phonetically then correct myself. "Wetted" is a 2cnd grade word. The red line under it; a joke)

 

Heat is easy and cheap never nicks; very very important on small wire.

Last winter, I bought a single bulb from R. Shack a bit larger that a grain of wheat bulb, because they had run out of the GOW bulbs..AGAIN! [maybe they would actually sell electronic parts if they made an effort at restocking them weekly?]

  Anyhow this one always came with insulated wire, machine soldered on (and possibly even insulated after than process if made today).

The new wire was so delicate, it often broke before the insulation gave way. (using my nails could cut both too)

Heat stripping was my only option.

  Then I found you couldn't solder it. The heat melted the wire insulation far too easy. That,then caused the solder to run from the wire too. Flux couldn't cut the contaminant quickly enough. A useless part after being redesign by penny pinchers (<Spl chk again). I returned the bulb with no wire left. "But you ruined it". That was repeated back to the manager word for word, as my explanation of why I was an idiot, began... "Sorry, but you ruined it..." 

I think this type of wire is for use with micro- plugs that use a small flat plate/tab as a sprung, pressure connection.  

Anyhow, ..Good luck

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