Tried and True Wire Strippers?

[Bamadawg]

I have had fun acquiring all the parts for my first time amp build...  I am almost stocked on essentials - a used Fluke meter, used Weller solder station, nice eutectic solder... I guess the only other thing I am lacking now is a dependable wire stripper - one that can handle teflon wire esp.  What should I look at... I know Rat Shack has some heavy-duty ones - but if there are some favorites, I would like to hear also...

Cheers...
Nate

[tubesornothing]

I picked up a set from Circuit Test that have been working on teflon fine for a couple of years.  I am sure Klein would work as well.

[Fresh_Start]

Search for "teflon" in the Amp Building Tweaks & Repairs section.  The "Jokari" style did not work for me.  McMaster Carr part #7294K58 seems to work fine -similar to the Klein strippers spec'd in that thread.  The little critters from Radio Shack work great on PVC insulated wire but not so well on Teflon.

I still haven't figured out how to strip cloth-covered wire without making a mess though... ;)

Hope this helps,

Chip

[Aurora]

Teflon is funny stuff.....
Strippers designed for teflon wire are usually quite expensive. I use an Ideal Stripmaster  no. 45-174 at work ( and privately when necesseary), - it's good, but probably around 150-200 $ in the US.........
I've seen several references to cheap strippers that supposedly work OK on teflon, but if someone else doesn't chime in with exact references, all I can suggest is goggling around...
- and scalpels or other really sharp knives work OK, - just don't press too hard, or you'll cut into the wires...

[Bamadawg]

Found this StripMaster Lite - more the consumer line of the workhorse StripMasters that are more expensive.

http://www.goodmart.com/products/86188.htm

Nate

[EL34]

I have two of these.
They are by far the best I have ever used and I probably have 3 or 4 different styles/types laying around here.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=63011&group_ID=796&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

[sluckey]

Get the $15 red Kleins from Lowes. Get some 18, 20, and 22 gauge teflon insulated wire and set down to practice until you can produce cleanly cut insulation with no nicks or broken strands of wire. Try not to disturb the factory twist of the strands.

You want to get very familiar with your strippers. You'll probably have to slightly change your technique for different gauges or insulation thicknesses. I use a firm pressure while 'cutting' through the insulation and relax the pressure ever so slightly during the 'stripping' action. This prevents or minimizes fraying the individual strands.

You also have to figure out how to hold this slippery stuff while stripping. I avoid using needlenose pliers unless absolutely necessary. They will most likely leave an ugly fingerprint on the teflon.

When your strippers will no longer give clean and neat results, give them to your electrician friend and buy a new stripper. SHARP, SHARP, SHARP is essential. Teflon ain't forgiving like PVC.

PS... Don't waste time trying to strip teflon with those cutter heads that use two inverted V shaped blades.

[triode]

A lot of peeps use the automagic ones, but over the past 25 or so years I
have always gone back to some simple strippers from xcelite...

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/CF_Files/model_detail.cfm?upc=037103483560

You can get them with a spring (self opening I think its called) or without...
If you get them, grab some wire that you do not need and practice. After
a little bit you can feel it cut through the insulation, and at that point you
can strip any wire without choosing the size from the cheapie strippers,
and I think these are better than the automagic in one respect: I can cut
 and strip a 32ga wire to a 10ga wire with one tool in record time. You could
probably strip smaller and I have certainly stripped larger wires, but that
takes a little bit of work on the 8ga and up. At that point grab a klein.

[jbrew73]

i use the same ones as doug.  they work great in tight places too.