abigaille Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) Hello, I have some miniature lights that have bare wire that has some sort of coating on it to insulate. So it's not a sheath I can strip off. So if I cut the wire, how do I remove the coating so it can make contact? I've attached some pictures of the light I have. Edited November 15, 2016 by abigaille Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otterine Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 These kits indicate to "burn" off the insulation, but I've never found that easy to do without making the wires brittle. I use a sharp X-Acto and gently scrape away until you get shiny copper. You have to be thorough and scrape all around the wire. It's tedious, but it does work with some effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokomo Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 You could try sanding the ends of the wire. I've had to do that with jewelry wire because it also comes with a coating on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Sanding before you cut it might be easier than trying to sand a floppy end piece. I'm envisioning running the section to be cut back and forth over a rotating Dremel sanding drum and then cutting it when the wire is clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I was wondering if 0000 wet-to-dry sandpaper might be a more satisfactory option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Can you pinch off the plastic with your finger nails? This was the preferred method for the white plastic wires on most mini lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 19 minutes ago, Luanne said: Can you pinch off the plastic with your finger nails? This was the preferred method for the white plastic wires on most mini lights. 15 hours ago, abigaille said: Hello, I have some miniature lights that have bare wire that has some sort of coating on it to insulate. So it's not a sheath I can strip off. So if I cut the wire, how do I remove the coating so it can make contact? I've attached some pictures of the light I have. I think the point of the post is that the covering isn't a plastic you can pinch off & strip; more like a coating that needs to be removed by burning which Brae has done & observed that it makes the wires brittle) or abrasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I misread. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathi17 Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 The place I send to for my lights says to melt them off with a soldering iron. Some of mine have that same type of thin coating, and the soldering iron works for stripping mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Does the heat from the soldering iron not make the wires brittle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathi17 Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 1 hour ago, havanaholly said: Does the heat from the soldering iron not make the wires brittle? So far, I haven't had any problems with either the larger wire on the regular LEDS, or the wires on the nano chip lights, which are about the diameter of a human hair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smjsome Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 That's what I do - so far so go. (Melt w soldering iron) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bad Example Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 The soldering iron idea worked like a charm. Thank you so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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