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Registered Member #3271
Joined: Mon Oct 04 2010, 02:29AM
Location: Canada
Posts: 159
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.
Registered Member #2099
Joined: Wed Apr 29 2009, 12:22AM
Location: Los Altos, California
Posts: 1716
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.
Registered Member #2939
Joined: Fri Jun 25 2010, 04:25AM
Location:
Posts: 615
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).
Registered Member #3395
Joined: Thu Nov 04 2010, 08:42AM
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 193
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?
Registered Member #2939
Joined: Fri Jun 25 2010, 04:25AM
Location:
Posts: 615
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.
Registered Member #3395
Joined: Thu Nov 04 2010, 08:42AM
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 193
2Spoons wrote ...
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.
Was the soldering iron in direct contact with the wire or was a few mm away?
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Removing enamel from litz wire
