I've managed to convert my first loco to DCC but I could really do with some wire strippers for fine decoder wire which I think is 0.25mm.

Has anyone got any suggestions or tool recommendations for stripping this fine wire,my normal wire strippers are too heavy duty for such fine wire.

Allan

This is funny, for many years I worked as a Powder Monkey handling explosives set off by electric detonators, always in a hurry to wire up the dets I used my teeth to strip the bell wires, probably did this for 20+ years and wore one of my bottom front teeth almost down to half size, went to the dentist in December last year for the first time in 16 years he nearly took a fit when I told him why my tooth was so worn.

The point is don't use your teeth but there are plenty of good quality wire strippers available at electronics stores.

Allan,   

Dont use wire strippers on  decoder wire,  a sharp  knife blade held on the top   of the wire  very lightly  while  rotating   the wire to  just break  the insulation  works .......... then use a fingernail  where the  nick  is   while  gently twisting the insulation  off   the wire.
Doing it  this way will  twist the wire far tighter than  you   can   ready for tinning, & then  on to   install  in the loco.

DCC Concepts produce some fine wire strippers which are suitable for decoder wire.
http://www.dccconcepts.com/index_files/DCCcutterstripper.htm#Strippers

Quote from: Chinahand on February 10, 2012, 09:48:32 AM
DCC Concepts produce some fine wire strippers whaich aresuitable for decoder wire.
http://www.dccconcepts.com/index_files/DCCcutterstripper.htm#Strippers

I'll see if I can get any in the UK if my attempts with Upnicks suggestion don't work for me.

Allan
Edit...
They're in stock at Gaugemaster.

Tried Upnicks way.....easy peasy,thanks Upnick.

Allan

Quote from: Bikeracer on February 11, 2012, 11:14:27 AM
Tried Upnicks way.....easy peasy,thanks Upnick.

Allan

Sounds like Allan has fingernails, wouldn't work for me cause I bite the buggers.

Quote from: Bikeracer on February 11, 2012, 11:14:27 AM
Tried Upnicks way.....easy peasy,thanks Upnick.

Allan

The problem is that it's so easy to cut through a few strands of the wire doing it that way. Is it really worth risking ruining a deoder for the sake of not spending a few pounds on the right tool ? 

Quote from: upnick on February 10, 2012, 09:33:12 AM
Allan,   

Dont use wire strippers on  decoder wire,  a sharp  knife blade held on the top   of the wire  very lightly  while  rotating   the wire to  just break  the insulation  works .......... then use a fingernail  where the  nick  is   while  gently twisting the insulation  off   the wire.
Doing it  this way will  twist the wire far tighter than  you   can   ready for tinning, & then  on to   install  in the loco.

Quote from: Bikeracer on February 11, 2012, 11:14:27 AM
Tried Upnicks way.....easy peasy,thanks Upnick.

Allan

Quote from: Chinahand on February 11, 2012, 11:24:37 AM

The problem is that it's so easy to cut through a few strands of the wire doing it that way. Is it really worth risking ruining a deoder for the sake of not spending a few pounds on the right tool ? 

Caught up with  this thread   .........  Allan   glad you  found the method i suggested successful   & your happy with it   

When  i   said dont use  wire strippers i   wasnt aware of the DCC   concepts product which  i've never tried  if it  says for  decoder wire no   doubt it   has been tried & tested  for the purpose.

As Chinahand has said it  is  very  easy to  go through  fine strands of  the wires core  when  using a  blade  hence the gentle pressure to go through  the  insulation only  if your not  confident  to do this  go for the  strippers in the link   Chinahand has posted above.

I've been managing okay with only the occasional cutting a wire strand,however I've been to Digitrains for some bits and pieces and enquired what they use.
Jeremy uses wire strippers which they sell in the shop so I bought some because they were only £5.00 

Allan

I bought a pair of Snap-On Bluepoint ones the other day (thought I'd splash out) £20 and does the very tine TCS decoder wire without any problems, strips it perfectly!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLUE-POINT-SNAP-HEAVY-DUTY-WIRE-STRIPPER-/260953304730#ht_926wt_905

It's those ones, that's an ebay link but I bought mine straight from the Snap-On rep

Hmmm.....I'd already got some that look virtually identical to those,I'll have to have a look now to see if there's an adjustment knob on mine,although the new ones I bought are a bit less cumbersome.

Allan