Anyone use teflon wire

[jcr1234]

I have been thinking of using teflon wire in my next build because the insulation is thinner than pvc insulated wire and if you bump it with the iron it wont burn.

Is there anything I need to be concerned about?

[mlp-mx6]

Only that an "automatic" wire stripper won't work on it. If you have a wire stripper that tugs on the PVC insulation and pulls it off, that kind won't work on Teflon insulation. Also watch for nicks in the insulation as you're messing with the wire. Otherwise it is great. I use it and I like it. Got mine from Apex Jr. for a very reasonable price.

[Structo]

I like it a lot too.
I use a sharp pocket knife to strip it.
As mentioned strippers don't work too good because of the slipperiness of the Teflon.

Get some Teflon shielded coax while you're at it too.

[M Fowler]

The automatic stripper works just use it to cut not to pull.

I cut the teflon and then pull the insultation off by hand, works every time. If I try to do everything in one motion as with PVC jacketed wire it gets messed up.

Mark

[Bob-I]

The automatic stripper works just use it to cut not to pull.

I cut the teflon and then pull the insultation off by hand, works every time. If I try to do everything in one motion as with PVC jacketed wire it gets messed up.

Mark

+1

[LOUDthud]

A thermal stripper works best on teflon wire. The best one is:

http://www.teledyneinterconnect.com/pro ... estrip.asp

WARNING: They are not cheap. Keep an eye open for a used one.

I like to solder one end of the wire, lay it neatly and cut to exact length, then strip the second end and solder.

[Phil_S]

I have learned to hold the wire with a smooth jaw needle nose and then cut and pull with the stripper. I find that I am unable to hold the Teflon with my fingers as it is too slippery and my hands tend to be rather dry. You need a decent sharp stripper and a bit of practice to perfect your technique. Often, I find that only top half the insulation gets stripped and I snip the bottom side with a flush cutter. Yes, I know it's bad for the cutter, so someday, I'll have to buy another cutter.

[ampdoc1]

I bought my thermal stripper on Ebay for $30. They turn up pretty regularly.

ampdoc1

[Bob-I]

I don't see the big stink about stripping. I use a cheep Home Depot stripper, cut the teflon with the stripper but pull it off with my fingers just like Mark mentioned. I've never had any difficulty, none.

Teflon works great when you're as sloppy with the soldering iron as I am. I used to burn PVC wire all the time. Not only is it a pain because you're constantly replacing wires, but PVC fumes are really bad to breath, even worse than solder.

[FYL]

Only that an "automatic" wire stripper won't work on it.

Jokari-type auto strippers work very nicely with Teflon.

[iknowjohnny]

i just drag an xacto knife around it and it strips easily. No worries about nicking the wire with heavy gauge stranded. i used 16 gauge stranded on my last amp. I love the stuff. I used 16 because i got a stupid good deal on it.

[Sonny ReVerb]

16 gauge I have a hard enough time getting two 20 gauge wires through one of those 9-pin socket tabs. For the heaters, I usually use 18 gauge for the power amp section and 20 gauge for the preamp. Then I use 20 gauge for everything else - stranded Teflon from Apex.

[Structo]

Only that an "automatic" wire stripper won't work on it.

Jokari-type auto strippers work very nicely with Teflon.

I'll have to check those out.

[Tavda3172]

Hi Guys,
"John's Silver Teflon Wire Shop" on eBay has used Teledyne Stripall's for $85 + shipping. Don't know what they cost new but thought I would pass it along.
Kevin

edit: just looked them up and they cost $283, so that seems like a pretty good deal.

[chopstuck]

I use "Catty Man" cat claw trimmers. They are like a pair of small scissors with U or V shaped edges. I carefully make 3 nics in the jacket and, like said earlier, pull the insulation off with my fingernail. Goes really fast. Do you guys like stranded or solid. After I noticed that all the old tweed Fenders I had been working on had solid core under the yellow cloth, I started using it .
If it's held up for 50+ years of abuse - I'm fine with it.