[Elecraft] stripping insulation

[Don Wilhelm]

For those who own a desoldering iron like the Hakko 808, stripping the 
enamel from heat strippable wire is quick and easy - just like a solder 
pot.  Melt a bit of solder on the tip and push the wire into the tip 
center.  Wait a bit for 'smoke' to appear and then pull the trigger. 
Presto, stripped lead.
Just clean the inside of the tip with the tip cleaning rod after a few 
leads have been stripped.  If you don't do that, the tip will clog.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/12/2020 3:17 PM, Frederick Dwight wrote:
> I have found the solder iron method works for all my Elecraft projects, and for some but not all “enamel” wire from other sources.
> I just use a moderate temperature soldering station.  I think the important clue is to place a glob of solder on the tip,
> place the wire in the glob, and add a bit more solder for the perhaps 10 or 20 seconds it may take.  Another way
> is to use a scrap of fine grit sandpaper in your fingers and gently stroke toward the end of the wire.
> If you need to scrape, or sandpaper the wire and do not get off all the enamel, it is easy to finish the
> job with a solder blob since you should get good heat transfer into the wire.  Make sure you use good
> tin/lead rosin core solder which will tin the wire nicely.          Happy soldering    KL7CW