Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Luceš, Sun Oct 02 2011, 01:38AM

you could try lacquer thinner, I know it reacts with some plastic

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
dude_500, Sun Oct 02 2011, 04:23AM

I've heard sodium hydroxide concentrated to the extent of being a paste works exceptionally well, although I've never tried it and it sounds like an awful procedure

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Shrad, Sun Oct 02 2011, 08:56AM

brazing cleaning paste should work nicely, you'd be amazed what this kind of paste or liquid could remove (some things plumber see around or inside pipes can be really worse than wire lacker, having 2 plumbers in my family I can say )

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Conundrum, Sun Oct 02 2011, 10:40AM

I would be careful with NaOH, it has a tendency to spit and fume if it gets in contact with some metals.
If you decide to try this WEAR GOGGLES ideally a full face mask and gloves.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Sulaiman, Sun Oct 02 2011, 11:06AM

it's easier with the new 'lead-free' solder (mainly tin) with soldering iron at about 400C, than with the old 60:40 lead/tin solder. Hold/clamp the wire about 30mm from the end, make a nice straight cut at the end, unwrap about 1cm of outer insulation, gently twist the wire bunch a little tight, apply the iron to the end of the bunch with a little solder, as the wire heats you apply more solder.
The fumes aren't good for you.
some of the insulation 'caramelises', when cool scrape it off and I like a short length of heatshrink to hide the messy bit.
don't hold the wire in your fingers as a lot of heat is required..
Ideally you would have flux and a solder pot

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Tetris, Sun Oct 02 2011, 03:37PM

a simple candle flame is what I did. Only if you hold it too long, it gets too hot to hold or gets black. I noticed that solder also melts/burns it off. maybe acetone can remove it. if you have nail polish remover in your house, try it... I am not sure though... with steel wool or cotton it may come off...

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Forty, Sun Oct 02 2011, 10:47PM

it depends a lot on the type of insulation.
a molten solder bath works pretty well.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Kiwihvguy, Wed Apr 03 2013, 08:18AM

Hey guys,

I need some help with litz wire once again because I'm using it for my high current primary tank circuit in my SGTC for the high frequencies.
I've tried using a lighter and candle, both highly unsuccessful with the solder only adhering to the parts that aren't soot covered.me

I tried using some acetone but to no avail. I need to make my TC rather soon (in the next few weeks) and more importantly the litz wire connections have to be done within a couple of days.

I might get a solder bath for future use, but for now do you guys have any recommendations for an effective easy method at the moment?

Thanks for your help,
Jozef C

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Sulaiman, Wed Apr 03 2013, 12:36PM

you can splay out the end like a fan and lay it on a hard flat surface,
use the sharp edge of a knife vertically to scrape one side of enamel,
turn the fan over and scrape again,
no need to completely strip the insulation off each strand,
twist the end back into a round shape,
the solder will now 'wet' the copper, have good thermal contact and the rest of the insulation should melt off.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Kiwihvguy, Wed Apr 03 2013, 04:16PM

Thanks Sulaiman, will give this a try tomorrow and I'l let you know ow it goes.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
testtest, Wed Apr 03 2013, 08:27PM

The GC line of electronics products used to have something specifically designed for removing wire enamel. Was available at most electronics stores and suppliers in small bottles. Mine must be almost 20 years old by now but still works fine.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
klugesmith, Thu Apr 04 2013, 01:06AM

I think I have an old bottle of the stuff Rich Normand mentioned. Still worked on magnet wire, the last time I tried it (1 or 2 years ago). Doesn't ordinary methylene chloride-based paint stripper work?

Google and the search key "litz wire stripping" pointed me to (drum roll, please) ... litz_wire.com.
That company has a procedure with videos, etc.
using a 3rd party product called "dip strip".

The stuff contains NaOH, and one is supposed to use it in an electric melting pot.
Melts at about 500° F (260° C), and is ready for dipping at 730°F (388°C).
Sold directly by the maker -- I don't know the minimum order size.

I'm sure that compared to molten solder, molten caustic is harsher on insulation and gentler on fine copper wire.
As with molten solder: keep away from children. Do not touch. Consider the possibilities of unplanned spatter when dressing for the task.

[edit] Here's a video showing the same method done by an amateur, using plain salt and lye together, in a tiny steel pot heated by a propane torch. The insulation on AWG36 wire is gone in a couple seconds, with no agitation.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
2Spoons, Thu Apr 04 2013, 05:51AM

I can confirm ordinary NaOH, as a saturated solution, works for stripping litz. Dip wire in, then heat with a soldering iron. Repeat dip and heat - I find the insulation sizzles off on the second heating and the wire can be tinned. Be quick with tinning if the wires are very thin - copper dissolves surprisingly quickly in molten solder (lead or lead free).

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Kiwihvguy, Fri Apr 05 2013, 11:42AM

Just updating: I bought some drain cleaner powder in a jar and I checked - it definitely has sodium hydroxide in it and the main active ingredient.

I dissolved it into a small amount of water to get a very basic solution. From there I dipped the litz wire in and heated it over a gas burner. It definitely fizzled and the flame turned orange indicating there was a chemical reaction going on.

However, after doing this for a couple of times some whitish-green residue built up on the wire which was annoying to remove and surely the solder did not adhere well to this wire.

Any ideas what's happening and how I get around it?

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
2Spoons, Wed Apr 10 2013, 05:18AM

Too much heat, maybe. I used a soldering iron, not a flame. This also gives the solder a chance to displace the insulation as soon as it starts to break down.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Kiwihvguy, Fri Apr 12 2013, 04:13AM


Was the soldering iron in direct contact with the wire or was a few mm away?

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
2Spoons, Sun Apr 14 2013, 09:59PM

Direct contact, as if you were trying to tin the wire. A small blob of solder helps with thermal transfer.

Re: Removing enamel from litz wire
Kiwihvguy, Mon Apr 15 2013, 03:17AM

Ok thanks for your help