How to strip coated wires on dollhouse lighting?

[abigaille]

Hello,

 

 I have some miniature lights that have bare wire that has some sort of coating on it to insulate. So it's not a sheath I can strip off.  So if I cut the wire, how do I remove the coating so it can make contact? I've attached some pictures of the light I have. 

Edited November 15, 2016 by abigaille

[otterine]

These kits indicate to "burn" off the insulation, but I've never found that easy to do without making the wires brittle.  I use a sharp X-Acto and gently scrape away until you get shiny copper.  You have to be thorough and scrape all around the wire.  It's tedious, but it does work with some effort.

[kokomo]

You could try sanding the ends of the wire. I've had to do that with jewelry wire because it also comes with a coating on it.

[KathieB]

Sanding before you cut it might be easier than trying to sand a floppy end piece. I'm envisioning running the section to be cut back and forth over a rotating Dremel sanding drum and then cutting it when the wire is clean. 

[havanaholly]

I was wondering if 0000 wet-to-dry sandpaper might be a more satisfactory option?

[Luanne]

Can you pinch off the plastic with your finger nails? This was the preferred method for the white plastic wires on most mini lights. 

[havanaholly]

19 minutes ago, Luanne said:

Can you pinch off the plastic with your finger nails? This was the preferred method for the white plastic wires on most mini lights. 

 

15 hours ago, abigaille said:

Hello,

 

 I have some miniature lights that have bare wire that has some sort of coating on it to insulate. So it's not a sheath I can strip off.  So if I cut the wire, how do I remove the coating so it can make contact? I've attached some pictures of the light I have. 

I think the point of the post is that the covering isn't a plastic you can pinch off & strip; more like a coating that needs to be removed by burning which Brae has done & observed that it makes the wires brittle)  or abrasion.

[Luanne]

I misread. Thank you  

[kathi17]

The place I send to for my lights says to melt them off with a soldering iron. Some of mine have that same type of thin coating, and the soldering iron works for stripping mine.

[havanaholly]

Does the heat from the soldering iron not make the wires brittle?

[kathi17]

1 hour ago, havanaholly said:

Does the heat from the soldering iron not make the wires brittle?

So far, I haven't had any problems with either the larger wire on the regular LEDS, or the wires on the nano chip lights, which are about the diameter of a human hair!

[smjsome]

That's what I do -  so far so go.  (Melt w soldering iron)

[Mr. Bad Example]

The soldering iron idea worked like a charm.  Thank you so much!!