Decoder wire stripping

[LenS]

This is all wonderful information, as I anticipated from such a sage group of experts. Thank you all for your advice and counsel.

Len S.

[farrellaa]

I bought what looks like the same wire strpper made by Greenlee and it was less than $10 at Sears. It works pretty good too.

Bob

[farrellaa]

I looked at the web page and it only strips from 10 to 22 gage, not the smaller ones (26-30) found on some of the decoders. Did you try it on smaller wires?

Bob

[skagitrailbird]

I also use the Klein 11047.  Available from Amazon for under $12.

Roger Johnson

[woodone]

The Klein 11047 is what I use everyday doing DCC installs.

 

[MOAVBILLY]

LenS

Greetings, I'm a relative newcomer to the world of DCC and have begun to convert several of my Athearn RTR / BB locomotives using Digitrax decoders. Here's my quandry. I'm starting to get the hang of soldering, but I can't strip wire worth  a darn. When I try using an Xacto knife to score and remove the insulation, I usually have 1 or 2 strands of wire remaining. Maybe I'm just a klutz. What I need is a good wire stripper for the decoder wire. I'm guessing it's either 28 or 30 gauge wire. Any suggestions on a good tool or a goof proof technique? I've already tried the Digitrax solderless decoder, but the solder joints on them aren't very reliable. Thanks in advance for any expert advice.

Len S.

Len,

I've tried just about everything on the market to strip very small, less than 20ga wire, and have found that Klien Tools #11047is the best in my opinion. This is not a cheap item but strips wire down to 30ga clean and with out damage. It is capable of doing 22-30ga with one tool. Anything larger I use an automatic stripper. NEVER CONNECT WIRES WITHOUT SOLDERING and finishing with shrink tubing.......

[Hamltnblue]

Thumbnail works for me.

[Phoebe Vet]

I use this one:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3932546#

The way I selected it was by taking the smallest wire I would ever need to strip to a Radio Shack store and asked the clerk to strip it for me.  This is the tool that did it perfectly, so I bought it.

[LenS]

I tried that also. Maybe I need to file my nails sharper!

[rrinker]

 I use my fingernails. Quick and easy.

             --Randy

[richg1998]

I use the same one. Store the link in Favorites. You will refer to it often. Great online store.

Rich

[camrodenrob]

Would not claim to be an expert, but I got a wire stripper for the smaller wire sizes from Micro-Mark.  You still can't be too heavy-handed stripping fine wires, but it works for me.  Certainly better than the X-acto method.

Here's the link to it:

http://www.micromark.com/HARD-TO-FIND-WIRE-STRIPPER-AWG-22-30,6544.html

 

[LenS]

Greetings, I'm a relative newcomer to the world of DCC and have begun to convert several of my Athearn RTR / BB locomotives using Digitrax decoders. Here's my quandry. I'm starting to get the hang of soldering, but I can't strip wire worth  a darn. When I try using an Xacto knife to score and remove the insulation, I usually have 1 or 2 strands of wire remaining. Maybe I'm just a klutz. What I need is a good wire stripper for the decoder wire. I'm guessing it's either 28 or 30 gauge wire. Any suggestions on a good tool or a goof proof technique? I've already tried the Digitrax solderless decoder, but the solder joints on them aren't very reliable. Thanks in advance for any expert advice.

Len S.