MOTM

Well, i've been using the small handy dandy type (as in the previous 
link) for years and have no problems using them for everything like 
you mention..  I was just wondering if there is something better that 
is simple like these and also versatile and cheap..  I found it!! 
today at Home Depot of all places..  for $7.50,  one similar to this 
style:
http://www.botron.com/functions/functions/images/B0924WEBLG.jpg
the ones I got are real small (yay) and strip in the perfect range 
for synth work (16-26 ga) They work great. . just squeeze and pull!  
cool, a notch for every gague. 

anyway...  
carry on carrying on
~Steve

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, Richard Brewster <pugix@n...> wrote:
> I have a small desktop air filter, a Walmart type product, that I 
turn 
> on to blow solder fumes away.
> 
> Wire stripping is a skill you can learn.  A good tool helps, but 
it's 
> the skill more than the tool.  I strip wires with a tool similar to 
the 
> one you linked.  Mine is yellow, has straight, rather than curved 
> handles, and has no spring.  (The spring can fatigue your hand.)  
It's 
> permanently set to a #24 gauge but I strip everything including 
coax 
> with it.  I work under a magnifier, so I can see the details 
clearly.  I 
> use two hands, one holding the wire, the other the stripper.  I 
sense 
> the depth of the cut and pressure needed.  I've learned to be 
careful 
> and also to tolerate a little nick here and there.  It doesn't have 
to 
> be perfect because it's not avionics (which I actually did a long 
time 
> ago).  If you nick too much, take a new wire.  I've tried all sorts 
of 
> strippers over the years, but always come back to the little hand 
tool.  
> Large strippers that grip the insulation are ungainly, don't fit in 
a 
> tight space, and tend to damage the insulation.  You can hand craft 
> better with a light, little tool.  The trick is to find a good 
one.  
> There are a lot of cheap units out there.  These are inexpensive 
enough 
> to buy several until you find one that works well.  It should 
operate 
> smoothly, and be comfortable in your hand.  I've been using the 
same 
> stripper for 25 years!   Insulation doesn't dull the cutting edge.
> 
> Of course if you are building a MOTM kit, you don't need to strip 
> wires!  Paul spoils you.
> 
> -Richard Brewster