Stripping thin Teflon coated wire

[Chris Wilson]

I am in the UK and want a means of reliably stripping very thin solid core Teflon coated cable. i am thinking I may need a heated stripping tool? Any recommendations, without going too over the top on price please? Thanks. Wire is 0.7mm insulation diameter, and 0.4mm (26 SWG) conductor diameter.

http://uk.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=15001&langId=44&urlRequestType=Base&partNumber=1183994&storeId=10151

[coppice]

I've only ever seen one or two professional wireman use a thermal stripper for PTFE wire. Most use a version of http://hken.rs-online.com/web/p/cable-strippers/5423357/ with the appropriate sized gate for the wire they are using. It doesn't nick the wire, unless you are really clumsy using it. It doesn't cause the PTFE to stretch and string. It doesn't involve nasty temperatures, or result in evil fumes. It just works.

[Chris Wilson]

I've only ever seen one or two professional wireman use a thermal stripper for PTFE wire. Most use a version of http://hken.rs-online.com/web/p/cable-strippers/5423357/ with the appropriate sized gate for the wire they are using. It doesn't nick the wire, unless you are really clumsy using it. It doesn't cause the PTFE to stretch and string. It doesn't involve nasty temperatures, or result in evil fumes. It just works.

Thanks, but that won't strip wire this thin, I was just looking at these, albeit it would need powering off a transformer, as we are 240V and it's in the USA:

http://patcoinc.net/pts30.html?fav=0&LargePic=ALL&categoryid=17&fpage=&Page=&ProductID=5

[coppice]

I've only ever seen one or two professional wireman use a thermal stripper for PTFE wire. Most use a version of http://hken.rs-online.com/web/p/cable-strippers/5423357/ with the appropriate sized gate for the wire they are using. It doesn't nick the wire, unless you are really clumsy using it. It doesn't cause the PTFE to stretch and string. It doesn't involve nasty temperatures, or result in evil fumes. It just works.

Thanks, but that won't strip wire this thin, I was just looking at these, albeit it would need powering off a transformer, as we are 240V and it's in the USA:

http://patcoinc.net/pts30.html?fav=0&LargePic=ALL&categoryid=17&fpage=&Page=&ProductID=5

That one won't strip 26 gauge wire, but you can get a 26 gauge gate for it. I used to use thin PTFE wires by the thousand which had been stripped with those tools. The thermal strippers are nasty. If you insist on using one make sure you have proper ventilation for the fumes. Thermal strippers tend to leave a fine film of PTFE on the stripped wire, which makes soldering a pain. That's the main reason wiremen avoid them.

[vikasbly44]

PTFE and Teflon® Wire have a low power factor, high volume and surface resistivity, low dielectric constant, and a good dielectric strength. All of these qualities remain constant over a wide range of temperatures and frequencie.

[Chris Wilson]

PTFE and Teflon® Wire have a low power factor, high volume and surface resistivity, low dielectric constant, and a good dielectric strength. All of these qualities remain constant over a wide range of temperatures and frequencie.

I don't understand how the jacket can affect the volume and surface resistivity of the conductor(s)?

[4thDoctorWhoFan]

Have a look at this type of wire stripper.  It's awesome for small wire sizes.

http://www.all-spec.com/products/ck%20tools/Wire.Cable_Tools_and_Acc%7CWire_Strippers_and_Cutters%7CTOL-4F/3757-1.html

They have various models depending on the range of wire sizes you need stripped.  Not cheap but worth the money.

[Kjelt]

Have a look at this type of wire stripper.  It's awesome for small wire sizes.

Yeah the CK's are also what I have been using the last 20 years but in occassion it does nick the wire and cause stretching of the teflon.
Any nicking in this kind of wirewrap wire is very desastrous since the wire snaps when mechanically fastening it on a connector or even worse snap somewhere in the lifetime of the product.
These are great when they are new but the older ones tend to do it quite often. You then can and need to replace the metal cutters but where can you order them?

[nanofrog]

Another alternative would be a Pressmaster Embla with the V blade cartridge, which is made for PTFE/Teflon (here). Straight cartridge is meant for PVC, and can be had inexpensively (here).

Wire capacity is 28 - 12AWG for the PTFE V blade cartridge, and 34 - 8AWG for the PVC straight cartridge. It's light weight and is comfortable to use as well IME, which is really nice to have when there's a lot of wire to be stripped.

[artag]

I like this little rework tool. I don't use the wire wrap ends much these days but the incredibly crude little blade in the centre does a great job for stripping PCB mod wires. The wrap/unwrap parts are occasionally useful for adding a semi-permanent link onto a square post jumper.

http://www.specialized.net/Specialized/Jonard--OK-Industries-WSU30-WrapStripUnwrap-Tool-30AWG-Std-1471.aspx

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/wire-wrapping-tools/0605239/

One thing though. ALWAYS pull the wire so that the blade is pulled against the body. If you pull it the other way, it will break off in no time.

They always strike me as a bit expensive for what they are, but professionally it's not excessive. There's someone in Hong Kong selling them on ebay for £10 though, so I've ordered one to find out if it's a fake (or more importantly, a poor fake).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Wire-Wrap-Strip-Unwrap-Tool-WSU-30M-Prototyping-Wrapping-New-/191090954301?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item2c7de8903d

[jbryan2]

I've been using the "Stripmaster" for over thirty years.  This one isn't specifically for PTFE.  I have those too, and for different insulation thicknesses, plus they have a grit rather than serrated gripper and are ten times as expensive, but this will work okay if you pause for a moment after clamping down on the wire to let it grab.  I know you're in the UK, but maybe this will help you find one:

http://www.amazon.com/Ideal-Industries-Stripmaster-Wire-Stripper/dp/B000B5Y9YM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423177166&sr=8-1&keywords=ideal+45-098

[PlainName]

albeit it would need powering off a transformer, as we are 240V

Take a look at the PTS-100 which uses a 100-240V switching PSU:

http://patcoinc.net/PTS-100.html