stripping insulation from magnet wire

[danbob]

I am making some 3/8" od torrid baluns and inductors. I would like to know if any one has a trick way to remove the insulation from the magnet wire? I am using sand paper now but it is a pain in the posterior and the point were the insulation ends is not to even. Dan

[Janitor Tzap]

I am making some 3/8" od torrid baluns and inductors. I would like to know if any one has a trick way to remove the insulation from the magnet wire? I am using sand paper now but it is a pain in the posterior and the point were the insulation ends is not to even. Dan

I've used a old 25 watt Soldering Iron to melt the insulation off.
I would place the Irons tip on the insulation, and melt down to the bare metal.
I would then melt it all the way around the wire.
Then I would pull the insulation off the end.

If this wire has a thin lacquer insulator coating.
You probably need to use the Irons tip to scrape off the rest of the insulation.

Or use a Heat Gun on the insulation.
Get it to its melting point, then take a damp cloth, and wipe the insulation off.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

[MrAl]

Hi,

I've used a 40 watt iron and some solder. Heat up the end and
then apply solder to the iron tip, and it takes away the enamel.

I've also used a solder pot, dipping the end into the solder about
1/4 to 1/2 inch depending on how long i wanted the bare (tinned)
wire to be. The solder heats up the wire and the rosin helps take
the enamel away.

[Robert Reed]

Hello Danbob
If the magnet wire you are referring to is varnished wire in general , then there are two basic types that I have encountered. The first type is used in winding motor armatures and other devices that encounter a lot of heat in use and these are vitually impossible to remove with heated devices such as solder irons etc. The second type is of a thinner less durable varnish and is very easily removed with just the heat from a solder pencil tip. In fact you may directly tin this type without any prior preparation. If this second type fits your needs (not exposed to extreme heat) and if you have not already purchased your wire yet - check it out as it makes construction a whole lot easier. I am sorry, but I have forgotten the classification of the different types, but I suspect a short trip down "Google Lane" will bring up the info you need.

[Externet]

Perhaps from lo-tech acetone to high-tech laser :
http://www.spectrumtech.com/product-gro ... stems/1275

Miguel

[Bigglez]

I am making some 3/8" od torrid baluns and inductors. I would like to know if any one has a trick way to remove the insulation from the magnet wire? I am using sand paper now but it is a pain in the posterior and the point were the insulation ends is not to even.

As others have noted, by far the easiest method is thermal stripping.
The wire that you use should be the right kind for this operation,
the stuff I've seen and used most often is here: Beldsol

Getting the right wire to begin with will make the coil
assembly easier. In production, a winding shop will
often use a solder-pot to dip the wire ends for soldering.
Mechanical scrapping (sand paper) or open flame is not
a good method.

[PICmeUp]

I've wanted to make my own inductors, too - for an analog theremin.

Would you please describe your calculations?

Thanks!