The varnish type coating on copper wire in a typical xover coil, how to remove it in a clean way?
I typically scrape it off and apply flux/solder but is there a chemical solvent I can use to get it off, anyone know?
I've tried acetone but nothing.
Normally my approach is ok but now I have to cut and re-apply a set of Audyn True Copper Max Capacitors that have 7 of these, very thin and braided.
I typically scrape it off and apply flux/solder but is there a chemical solvent I can use to get it off, anyone know?
I've tried acetone but nothing.
Normally my approach is ok but now I have to cut and re-apply a set of Audyn True Copper Max Capacitors that have 7 of these, very thin and braided.
Wow, lots of ideas I hadn't come across in that thread. I can't recommend scraping or filing the enamel off on thin wire. Too often, the wire gets damaged and breaks off after soldering.
For most enamels, simply turning your soldering iron up to 400°C and using electronics grade solder will do the job beautifully. My grandpa used to use a lighter flame and then dipped the wire in ethanol (cleaning alcohol, 94%).
For most enamels, simply turning your soldering iron up to 400°C and using electronics grade solder will do the job beautifully. My grandpa used to use a lighter flame and then dipped the wire in ethanol (cleaning alcohol, 94%).
Aspirn! Gotta try this one... also, I read that thicker wire can be stripped with a thread cutter tool, but that sounds like a PITA, too.
I normally use a combination of sandpaper, hot soldering iron, and lots of swearing. With enough swearing, it will work eventually.
Who invented this stuff!?
That aspirin method looks pretty good! 😎
Wire enamel removal with aspirin - YouTube
Learn something new every day! 😀
Wire enamel removal with aspirin - YouTube
Learn something new every day! 😀
we use this tool. it works flawlessly. Can't think of anything better.
X-6001 Hand Held Enamel Wire Stripping Machine - Buy Hand Held Enamel Wire Stripping Machine,Varnished Wire Stripper,Enameled Copper Wire Stripper Product on Alibaba.com
X-6001 Hand Held Enamel Wire Stripping Machine - Buy Hand Held Enamel Wire Stripping Machine,Varnished Wire Stripper,Enameled Copper Wire Stripper Product on Alibaba.com
Depends of the grade.
Grade 1 wire (clear color coating) is easy to clear off using simply soldering wire with flux or aspirin.
Grade 2 (dark red, brownish) is extremely hard and the easiest way is to scrape it off mechanically. Neither soldering, neither aspirin will remove it. There are scraping dremel-like tools that work good from 0.5mm diameter and above.
You can also take it off chemically by immersing into a 330 deg C. molten bath of DANGEROUS mixture of KOH + NaNO3 that will ignite anything on contact, including your fingers.
Grade 1 wire (clear color coating) is easy to clear off using simply soldering wire with flux or aspirin.
Grade 2 (dark red, brownish) is extremely hard and the easiest way is to scrape it off mechanically. Neither soldering, neither aspirin will remove it. There are scraping dremel-like tools that work good from 0.5mm diameter and above.
You can also take it off chemically by immersing into a 330 deg C. molten bath of DANGEROUS mixture of KOH + NaNO3 that will ignite anything on contact, including your fingers.
Great link, thanks. I will test the sulphuric acid as I have that at home and it will potentially work on a braided set.
Keep in mind sulfuric acid might not work for grade 2. Inside a chemical lab, we tried a lot of things, even an alcohol KOH solution. Heated hydrazine does it, although I don't recommend common folk playing with this.
Indeed, sulfuric acid did not work and I agree hydrazine is a bit much so won't try.
I'll try heating next and cleanup before solder, maybe that will give a cleaner result.
How about paint remover, would that be worth a try?
Will a little patience, “pinching” the wire with some #00 or #000 grade steel wool with one hand while repeatedly pulling it through with the other has been my preferred method.
For magnet wire, a solder pot works well to burn off the coating.
You'll need one anyway for Litz wire.
https://www.amazon.com/Aven-17100-1...ocphy=9018950&hvtargid=pla-568163913822&psc=1
You'll need one anyway for Litz wire.
https://www.amazon.com/Aven-17100-1...ocphy=9018950&hvtargid=pla-568163913822&psc=1
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Blob of hot rosin core solder on large chisel tip iron usually melts/burns off the coating and tins the copper wire in one step.
I used to sand (slow and messy) and lighter (leaves wire brittle) and now use solder blob. Works fine for Litz wire or 18ga magnet wire to make output Thiele circuit inductor.
I used to sand (slow and messy) and lighter (leaves wire brittle) and now use solder blob. Works fine for Litz wire or 18ga magnet wire to make output Thiele circuit inductor.
I heat the enameled wire's end with the soldering iron to soften the enamel, then I can easily scrape it off with my fingernail or a piece of plastic. Then I tin it with solder.
A serious Chemistry contribution there! 🙄
Potassium Hydroxide plus Sodium Nitrate.... seriously dangerous soapy alkaline and reagent chemicals. Sodium Nitrate is one of the three ingredients of gunpowder along with sulphur and carbon. Familiar to me as a young chemist and builder of fireworks! 😀
Wolfie, you missed a trick here:
This is fine braided wire on these exotic capacitors. A knife won't scrape it!
Audyn True Copper Max Capacitors | Hifi Collective
I'd stick to Aspirin. Being wiser these days.
It's potassium nitrate in a stoichiometric 74.6 KNO3 to 13.5 good grade charcoal to 11.9 sulfur, or simply 75:15:10. I've made over 50kg of DIY ball milled black powder in times past 😀
Sadly you're pretty correct. the molten bath of NaNO3 and KOH is extremely dangerous, even molten lava would be gentler compared to it. I wouldn't encourage anyone to use such device if not 300% overcautious while working.
I built it to easily remove the grade 2 enamel from a bunch of wires together. It saves a lot of time when you have to strip hundreds of wires.
Then comes cleaning with dilute 5% HCl due to the copper tarnishing, then there's a final bath with water and alcohol.
If someone should build such device, I strongly advice to make it heavy and preferably mounted on a table, to mainly avoid spillage at all costs.
I use a solder pot (cheap chinese) when doing lots of wires but its a pain to get going when I only want to do one of two so Ive been using a soldering iron for them. Not ideal as it leaves residue so going to try some of the ideas on here.