MOTM

for "fume extraction" I use a little 12v black computer type fan with 
a wallwart and switch soldered up.. just blows the fumes away.  works 
for me and these things are available as surplus everywhere for very 
cheap...

I was wondering what everyone does for wire strippers..  I have a few 
pairs of the super simple cheap pliers type where you hope to not cut 
the wire off as you cut through the insulation and hopefully strip 
off just the insulation..  
so Ive got this type...
http://www.surplustronics.co.nz/image/TT0108.jpg

whats better, any recommendations?

thanks

~Steve

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

Steve wrote:

>for "fume extraction" I use a little 12v black computer type fan with 
>a wallwart and switch soldered up.. just blows the fumes away.  works 
>for me and these things are available as surplus everywhere for very 
>cheap...
>
>I was wondering what everyone does for wire strippers..  I have a few 
>pairs of the super simple cheap pliers type where you hope to not cut 
>the wire off as you cut through the insulation and hopefully strip 
>off just the insulation..  
>so Ive got this type...
>http://www.surplustronics.co.nz/image/TT0108.jpg
>
>whats better, any recommendations?
>
>thanks
>
>~Steve
>
>
>  
>

I been drinking about this fuming concussion and conluded that they
are all fillaments of your imoogination. I like the smell and snuff it
very chance I get. Maskes MTOM boards come out sounding better too.
My sillyscope looks cool too.

That Jay, he's aa hooter aint he?

bye bye

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

On Mon, 7 Feb 2005, Steve wrote:

>
>
> for "fume extraction" I use a little 12v black computer type fan with
> a wallwart and switch soldered up.. just blows the fumes away.  works
> for me and these things are available as surplus everywhere for very
> cheap...
>
> I was wondering what everyone does for wire strippers..  I have a few
> pairs of the super simple cheap pliers type where you hope to not cut

The best wire stripper I've ever used:
http://tools.tycoelectronics.com/autwirstrip.html

It auto calibrates for whatever you put in it. Just pick the depth and 
pull the trigger.

I've sent this link before, but it has been a while.  I use these:

http://larry.retrosynth.com/larry/misc/strip_1.jpg
http://larry.retrosynth.com/larry/misc/strip_2.jpg

Sweet. Insert wire (notice adjustable strip gauge stop).
Squeeze.  One motion holds wire, cuts, and strips off insulation.

Larry H