magnet wire insulation...

[Hal]

how does one go about stripping the laquor insolation off magnet wire ?  I've tried scraping it off, but all I succeed in doing is breaking the wire.  I guess the next 2 steps would be trying to burn it or use acetone, but I just thought I'd ask first...

[R.G.]

I personally like sandpaper. Tear off a strip about 1/4"/2-3mm wide and fold it around the wire. Pull gently with light pressure and a couple of strokes will clean the wire. Sandpaper roughness determined by the thickness/thinness of the wire.

[Brett Clark]

some, not all, types of magnet wire insulation can simply be soldered through

[The Tone God]

It depends on the wire. Some isulation can be soldered through, some need solvant, and some need to be physically removed. If you don't have solvants and can't solder through it I would recommend the physical method.

You can use a pair of pliers that have mildly rough teeth and kind of grind it off with those or do what R.G. suggests. I use either wet/dry sandpaper that is wet with water or cloth backed sandpaper and wrap it around the wire.

Andrew

[niftydog]

I have burnt it off in the past.. but if the wire is thin enough that you break it when you try scraping it, burning it might not be such a great idea.

I've found those box cutter retractable blades with the snap off tips work well.  Sit it on a table and scrape away.  You don't need much pressure.

[Peter Snowberg]

Lacquer thinner.

With larger wire I've often burned it off, but it tends to oxidize things and leave residue. Small wire just melts into a little ball of copper.

Take care,
-Peter