stripping small wires

If you are very carful - especially with solid core wire, you can strip with a pair of diagonal cutters, or even a utility knife - otherwise the safer way is to get a finer gauge wire stripper

I bought the ones below from Amazon.  Perhaps they're the same as the ones above, I can't tell.  I use it all the time for 30 gauge.  Free Prime shipping, less than $21, and made in USA!

Klein Tools 11057 Wire Cutter / Wire Stripper, Heavy Duty Wire Cutter Stripper for 20-30 AWG Solid Wire and 22-32 AWG Stranded Wire

  Evans Designs sell one for 8 bucks for wires down to 32 gauge.  Get some LED's while your at it.

I've been using these for basically forever.  After years of use, I finally upgraded to a new pair.

HANLONG TOOLS HT-5023-R Tool Wire Stripper, Cutter Clamp Wire Loop, 20-30AWG

Around $15 on Amazon, and they work great from #20 to #30 wire.

Try this on a scrap piece of #30 wire and see how you like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDpwHA2uA-0&t=66s

John

@Craftech posted:

Try this on a scrap piece of #30 wire and see how you like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDpwHA2uA-0&t=66s

It really depends on the insulation on the wire.  However, a good stripper is far easier to use than cooking the insulation off in any case.

Thanks evveryone, I didnt know they made strippers for small wire. I'v been using my stripper for 50 years

Tom,

I bought the stripper recommended by Gunrunner, and it works great!  No problem stripping fine wire.

Mannyrock

I just use my sodering iron ,it works for me .

@gptom posted:

I am trying to hook up a bunch of street lights. my stripper's smallest gauge is 22. the lights wires must be 30 ga. any sugestions on how to stip the wires

I got tired of struggling to strip very thin woodland scenic's wires, so I bought these, which go up to 32 AWG.

Can't believe I never bought a pair sooner.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001...dt_b_product_details

Yep, that's the one.  Got mine years ago, but can't remember where.

George

I have one like the orange handled one for larger wires (20 and larger), and the Klein one for the little wires. I like the Klein tool much better. I actually enjoy using it.

I confess I like buying tools almost as much as buying trains, and get pleasure from using quality ones, so I may be an outlier. The Klein tool is $21 at Home Depot, so for me, $6 more to have what I really want for the rest of my life, instead of settling. I'm worth it.

@Ken Wing posted:

The Klein tool is $21 at Home Depot, so for me, $6 more to have what I really want for the rest of my life, instead of settling. I'm worth it.

Odd, I have a Klein stripper and I like the Hanlong HT-5023-R better and use it all the time, I never felt I was settling.  The Klein stripper is in my car toolbox for on the road.

@Ken Wing,

I agree with you re the Klein stripper.  I too like purchasing quality tools perhaps more so than buying trains.  I always look for Made in USA, but sadly that's not always available.  I have a lot of Japanese and German tools.

I have the HT-5023 as shown by several posts above, and have used it very effectively, including on products by Woodland Scenics and Evans Designs. Would recommend it. If of any interest, has "Taiwan" printed on back.

Michael

My old set had Taiwan on the back, the newer ones put it on the front.

I had to order something from McMaster-Carr for one of my other hobbies and wanted to make it worth the shipping, so I found this set of wire strippers, Imperial brand, made in the USA, $16.41. They do 22-30 AWG. The only thing I don't like is it doesn't have a lock to keep them closed.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I bought a Klein 11057 thru Amazon and its what I needed.

A tip: if your wire is finer than the smallest slot on your wire stripper, use your smallest slot and hold the stripper at an angle off the perpendicular ...  strips the smallest wires...

Two more tips:

I have often made the error of using the wrong size when I didn't know the gauge of the old wire I was stripping: too small and you cut the wire, too large and the insulation doesn't come off--kinda like the three bears.

Tip one: get a bare wire one way or another, then close the pliers, and insert the wire into successively smaller holes. The smallest hole the bare wire fits through is the correct gauge.

Tip two: make a label with the gauge size and put it on the wire so you don't have to mess around the next time.