But first I'll ask about getting the plastic insulation off of cheap 18 gauge wire.

Replacing dead LEDs in Christmas blowups.

Only 3 or 4 strands of tinned wire inside and they tear off easily. Also tried scoring with a pocket knife but that also cut cheap wire. Ended up burning off the damn plastic off with a lighter.

So anybody got a good stripper technique for cheap ass wire?

You can try a self adjusting wire stripper or get one they use for network cable...

My dad always just used scissors in a quick little circle to score the casing then pull it off. Pretty much what I do too

Tried that too

87IE said:

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You can try a self adjusting wire stripper or get one they use for network cable...

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This!

I use a razor blade to make a light score and pull out off. If you can't do that, maybe try softening with a heat gun after scoring and then pulling.

Do you need to strip it to tin the wire for a specific purpose? If not, since those are very low-voltage wires, maybe skip the headache of those impossible-to-strip plastic wires and use a push-in-type jumper. Either cut and tape the end right below the new joint or jump around whatever break on two ends.

Edit typically called a tap splice

Pinochet said:

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You want to build up to it. Don't take it all off at once. Anticipation is key and will result in more tips.

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And be confident. Be proud of your body. Flaunt what you got.


But in seriousness, I have tried, for those small wires, a fingernail. Just try peeling it off in layers. If the insulation is older/exposed/partially damaged, it really comes off easily without use of tools.

~egon