Stripping copper wire

[Ft.ValloniaStreaker]

Has anybody built anything to remove the insulation from copper wire? My idea is two steel wheels that adjust to split the insulation. If anybody has tackled this, show us what you did. Thanks

 

[e30bradley]

are you asking to scrap it? If its heavy gauge like battery wires off a car or bigger, put in a vise and use a razor blade. But if its anything smaller than 12g don't waste your time.. Just scrap it with the insulation.

 

[Ft.ValloniaStreaker]

I've got an old house and a mobile home. I'm thinking 100s of feet.

 

[Roots]

There are machines that do this already. Most scrap yards have them and will do it for either a small discount on the valuation or free in some cases. A few hundred feet really isn't a lot, I wouldn't put the effort into it myself.

 

[89GLH]

My father built a V out of wood scrap and left a notch for a razor blade, and ran it over the length and peeled it apart.

 

[Ft.ValloniaStreaker]

Well Roots i'm sure that your right about that......The reason i posted the question on the fabrication page is simple. My compressor is made from a hot water heater, my work bench from bed rails and have jack stands made from brake drums.....I try to sell a load of scrap at least once a week and am just trying to make a little more $ on my copper, I could burn it but i just hate to. There are some very crafty guys on here, I just thought I'd pick there brains.....

 

[Alchymist]

Romex I cut into 2 foot lengths (approximate, just whack it off with cable cutters). Easy to pull the individual wires out then. I took a couple pieces of 1X6 and screwed them together to make a right angle. one side about 18" long, the other about 12". Sit on the longer side with the short side sticking up in front of you. With a utility knife, cut a small V in the board. Then lay the wire in the v, put the knife blade on top of the wire, and pull toward you. V should be deep enough to leave just the insulation exposed and the top of the wire barely above the wood. With practice, it goes quick.

 

[sberry]

My compressor is made from a hot water heater,

I wouldnt mind seeing this.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

we just use the tools they sell to cut glass and razor blades 2 guys those tools increwase the value exponantially

 

[ChuckZA]

Stripping copper wire is easy. Put it on the ground, pour some petrol over it and light it. Burns off all the insulation.

 

[GarageEnvy]

Things may be different in S. Africa but in my area, the scrap yards won't take it if you burned it. My father in law spends countless hours stripping old wire. He worked for the local school system and old wire and scrap would always end up in his truck. I can't see spending the time, myself but to each his own.

My cop friend would probably tell you to find a meth tweaker. They seem to be the ones who are up all week stealing and stripping copper.

 

[srmofo]

theres lots of machines out there that run on this basic principle.

What are you capable of building and how much time/ $ money are you willing to invest

or weld a razor blade to a piece of plate with a hole in it

 

[Okie Pete]

The scrap yards in Okla will not buy burned copper wire. Thanks to the EPA.
Have you googled wire stripers. I saw one that had a knifed roller simliar to a pipe cutter wheel that ajusted up and down. It pushed the wire down onto a knurled drive wheel that could be powered by a hand held drill. There were some guides on the side that kept the wire centered.
Maybe you could use a old pipecutter , drill a hole in the frame for the wire to go thruogh.