Wire stripping removes the plastic covering the wire from the metal core. It is mostly applicable in metal scrap recycling or once in a while in households. Stripping a wire in the household may not need a machine because you are not handling many wires.
Therefore, there is a need to understand how to strip thin wire manually and using a machine. Even with the right tools, some wires are too thin for the wire stripping tools that call for manual stripping.
A wire stripping machine helps you strip many wires in less time. It is also easy to operate the machine and does not need a large task force saving on labor costs.
Ways of stripping thin wire
How to strip a thin wire depends on whether it is for home use or business use. Business use needs a machine since you will handle many wires. Notably, manually is the best option if you only need to strip thin wire once. In some cases, you find very thin wires that are too small for the stripping tool of the wire.
Steps to follow when manually stripping a thin wire
1. Nick the guarding
You must first nick the guarding sharply so that you weaken it and with care not to cut inside wires. Use a sharp knife and apply small pressure to make a slow slice that is perpendicular to the wire. Reinforce the wire on the left pad to give more feedback when breaking through the guarding and touching the inside of a wire.
It is important to stop immediately when feeling telltale metal grinding on the metal. If you feel a telltale grind of metal on metal, stop cutting immediately. A high ratio of downward cutting to slicing motion causes less damage.
Notably, some shielding yields in the proceeding step mean you do not have to do all the core cutting. It is good to stop cutting before breaking completely through the guarding to prevent nicking inside wires. After you nick the shield, bending your wire away provides a perfect idea of the guarding you have cut.
2. Grip your notches of the guarding
Grab your wire by placing the middle fingernail and thumbnail onto the notches with the tip of the wire pointing to your palm. Short nails are an advantage because you acquire good leverage after you start pulling. Longer nails may bend, which is painful, especially when bending at the nail bed.
3. Pull off the shielding
Put your hand at an angle so your thumb points significantly to the tip wire. The middle finger’s nails help you hold the wire against your thumbnail. Additionally, pull the terminal of your wire left, standing away from the thumb and at the least angle possible.
It gives your thumbnail a perfect reinforcement while pushing the guarding towards the wire terminal. It is necessary to ensure proper nicking of the shielding for nest tear between the pop-off and two nicks at the wires terminal without more struggle.
If it is hard to pull you’re guarding off, deepen the nicks with an inappropriate connection to your metal core.
4. Stripping thin wire using a wire stripper machine
A wire stripper machine is an alternative to manual stripping. It applies to businesses other than household wiring because the wire amount is insufficient for the machine. Using a machine stripper is vital for industrial work because it accomplishes a large amount of work in a short period.
Wire stripping machines have at least one inlet and outlet. You pass the wire through the inlet, and the stripped wire gets out of the machine through the outlet. Another compartment removes the plastic insulator as the wire gets through the outlet. Most wire-stripping machines use light as their source of energy. Electrical wire-stripping machines use electricity as a source of power.
A pneumatic stripping machine is advantageous since it is easy to use and operate conveniently. The electrical wire stripping machine operates automatically, while the pneumatic machine works through a forward and reverse rotation.
Benefits of using a wire stripping machine
Gives a complete separation
The machine strips the insulation from the metal core without crushing them together and then separates them like a copper cable granulator. It ensures the wire it strips has no plastic cover, thus improving the recycling rate and grade use of metal scrap.
Ensures protection of the environment
The machine gets support from the mechanical force without the involvement of water or any chemical solution. Therefore, no dust is given off in the process, preventing environmental pollution.
Easy to operate and saves on labor
Operating the machine does not need any special skills because it has a simple structure making it easy to know. It also saves on labor costs since one staff is enough to operate the machine.
Final Thought
Stripping thin wire depends on why you are doing it, which determines what tool you use. A wire stripping machine is the best option for starting a business stripping thin wire. Notably, the machine is easy to operate and handles many wires simultaneously, thus saving time.
You do not need to employ many people even when another person runs the business on your behalf, saving labor costs. Getting rid of plastic from the wire ensures perfect results and makes the wire suitable for recycling.