How to strip pickup wire?

PylonRacer

PylonRacer

New member
What is the best method to strip the insulation from the teeny-tiny 4-conductor pickup wire? I'm assuming a wire stripper tool. What gage does SD use? I've been getting creative with this since my wirestripping tool stops well short of that diameter. Any suggestions for a tool or technique?

Thanks!
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

I think it's 22 stranded AWG; someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Look for small-gauge strippers, the triangular kind that come to a blunt point, and make sure you buy something quality. For the longest time I use a cheapie stripper from Radio Shack. It didn't cut clean, and I'd pull out half or more of the strands when I tried to remove just plastic. I blamed myself and thought I was just inept, until I bought a Craftsman stripper from Sears. It was like night and day: clean cuts, done right the first time.
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

I definitely want the *right* tool. I'm just not that familiar with stripping really small wire. I've been trying to use an exacto knife / my teeth / anything with pretty questionable results.

I'm pretty sure the pup wire is smaller than 22AWG. I just found this at Stewmac. They are selling 4-conductor shielded wire and are saying it is 28 gage. I want to find a wire stripper that will go down that small; or maybe there is another technique than using a wire stripper.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electro...re,_cables/Shielded_Guitar_Circuit_Wires.html
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

go to Home Depot at spend the $15 to $20 on a pair of Kleen wire strippers... I think it's spelt KLEEN.... they are well known high quality electrical tools.... should be in the Electrical section but sometimes they have the expensive tools locked up as well..... make sure you get the model that does fine wire...
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

WhoFan said:
go to Home Depot at spend the $15 to $20 on a pair of Kleen wire strippers... I think it's spelt KLEEN.... they are well known high quality electrical tools.... should be in the Electrical section but sometimes they have the expensive tools locked up as well..... make sure you get the model that does fine wire...
Click to expand...

I think the brand is Klein.
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

Get some good music rolling, anything in the top charts will also do, even if most of it doesn't qualify as good music.

You also got to get her drunk or make sure she's that kind of kinky girl...

I doubt you have a pole around but a broom or a bed's pole can work wonders. If all else fails, chairs are cool. Many a good time I spent with...

Wait a minute... what were we talking about?
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

PylonRacer said:
I definitely want the *right* tool. I'm just not that familiar with stripping really small wire. I've been trying to use an exacto knife / my teeth / anything with pretty questionable results.

I'm pretty sure the pup wire is smaller than 22AWG. I just found this at Stewmac. They are selling 4-conductor shielded wire and are saying it is 28 gage. I want to find a wire stripper that will go down that small; or maybe there is another technique than using a wire stripper.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electro...re,_cables/Shielded_Guitar_Circuit_Wires.html
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I think I use the 22 "stranded" setting for DMZ and Duncan wire. 28 sounds awfully small, but maybe that's StewMac.

Regardless, a small-gauge stripper will have a range. Mine goes from 22 to 32 stranded.
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

Thanks for the info & tips. Klein seems to be the spelling. OK ,off to get some strippers! Sorry LSP, you're not invited HA!

BTW, was I correct about the pup wire gage? Is it 28AWG?
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

teeth.jpeg
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

Having just installed 3 Duncan pups and dealt with this problem even if you could find wire strippers for wire that small pulling on the wires is probably not a good idea. Just take a lighter or match and heat about 1/4 inch of the wire for a 1-2 seconds to soften the insulatioin and you can then pinch it between your index finger and thumbnail and the insulation will slide right off without harming the wire.
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

That is 4-conductor awg #28 plus shield foil plus plain shield wire.

I have difficulties stripping that, too, nasty stuff. Teeth work reasonably well, and hey you look like Hendrix except you lick the wrong side of the guitar :)
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

I have three tools that I consider indespensible:

Two of these: (with two different size "jaws")

strip01.jpg


Those two are perfect for when the wire fits the slots perfectly, which is 99% of the time. Their weak spot is that the wire must fit perfectly to work properly. When it doesn't, I use one of these:

strip02.jpg


This one gets the "oddball" sizes. If you get one of these, its important not to confuse it with others that almost look identical. Like this:

strip03.jpg


The first one has jaws like scissors, that can pass each other. This allows you to control the "bite" by how far you close them. That second pair almost looks the same, but has offset jaws that clamp on each other forming a natural stop point. You actually lose some control with those.

If I could only afford one pair, I'd probably get the middle one.
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

Thanks I just ordered a Klein 11057 stripper (like your middle picture Artie). it ranges from 22-32AWG braided wire.

Nice mug saladin! I was using that approach; but every once and a whileI bite the wire in two! I also get worried about pulling on the wires too much; also the whole spit thing... I guess that's what flux is for!!!

I bought mine here: http://www.crawfordtool.com/klein_3.html $16.59 less shipping
 
Re: How to strip pickup wire?

Klein make good tools.... all the pro electricians and electrical and computer techs around Ontario seem to use some of their stuff
 
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