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Old September 20th 06, 09:05 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.homebrew
Dave Platt Dave Platt is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jul 2006
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Default 'Stripping' Enamel Wire.

Guys..
Does anyone have any better method for stripping small, enameled
wire, other than using sandpaper or an exacto knife (scrapping)?
There used to be a chemical stripper called 'Xvar', years ago.
This stuff worked great. Nasty stuff as you can imagine and has
been EPA'd years ago. Is there anything comparable, today?


Depending on your location you _might_ still be able to buy a quantity
of MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) at a paint or hardware store. This is a
strong and effective stripper for many insulations, and may very well
have been the primary ingredient in the Xvar stripper you mention. As
you say, it's bog-nasty stuff, and should be used with serious caution.

Some people just flame the end of the wire briefly - long enough to
scorch the insulation but not long enough to oxidize the wire. It
makes scraping off the insulation much easier... but takes practice.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
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