Five Ways to Strip Copper Wire

The processing of copper wire is a really important part of the scrap metal industry, and its high value and ease of processing make it a popular choice for many recyclers. As for the methods of stripping copper wires, from manual to mechanized, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and I will follow your request from "worst" to "best" (here "worst" and "best" are mainly evaluated on the basis of efficiency, safety and environmental friendliness). Below I will introduce five common methods of wire stripping in order of your requirements, from "worst" to "best" (where "worst" and "best" are evaluated on the basis of efficiency, safety and environmental friendliness).

1. Manual stripping

Steps:

Prepare tools: prepare a suitable pair of wire stripping pliers or blades.

Determine the stripping position: according to the length to be stripped, mark the insulation layer with pliers or fingers.

Cutting the insulation layer: Use the wire stripping pliers or blade to gently cut the insulation layer at the marking, taking care not to cut the internal copper wires.

Strip the insulation: Gently strip the insulation along the cut line until the copper wires are exposed.

Advantages: simple and easy, suitable for a small number of copper wires.

Disadvantages: Inefficient, not suitable for handling large quantities of copper wires.

2. Burning method (not recommended)

Step:

Heat the copper wire using a flame or high-temperature equipment to burn or soften the insulation.

Strip the insulation while it is hot.

Disadvantages:

Easily generates harmful gases, which are harmful to the environment and human health.

May damage the surface of the copper wire and reduce its recycling value.

Note: This method is not recommended because it will damage the environment and reduce the quality of the copper wire.

3. Hot air blowing method

Steps:

Use a hot air gun or hair dryer to heat the copper wire to soften the insulation.

While hot, gently strip the insulation with wire strippers or by hand.

Advantages:

Hot air blowing is more environmentally friendly and safer than burning.

Suitable for small to medium amount of copper wire treatment.

4. Mechanical stripping

Tools:

Automatic wire stripping machine or manual wire stripper.

Steps:

Put the copper wire into the wire stripping machine or stripper.

Adjust the machine parameters, such as stripping length and speed.

Start the machine and complete the wire stripping process automatically.

Advantages:

High efficiency, suitable for a large number of copper wires.

Stable quality of wire stripping, not easy to damage the copper wire.

Disadvantages:

Need some investment cost to buy wire stripping machine or wire stripper.

5. Chemical stripping

Steps:

Soak the copper wire with a specific chemical solvent to dissolve or soften the insulation.

Remove the copper wire and rinse it well with water.

Gently strip the remaining insulation with wire strippers or by hand.

Advantages:

Suitable for some special types of insulation, such as plastic insulation that is difficult to strip.

Disadvantages:

Requires the use of specific chemical solvents, which may cause pollution to the environment.

Safety precautions need to be taken during operation to avoid chemical solvents causing harm to the human body.