[timind]

I recently bought a pair of Straightwire Black Silc cables that were much longer than I needed. My intention was to remove the poor condition banana plugs, cut the cable to length and reterminate with spades. I've done this before with good results as crimpimg and soldering is something I'm very familiar with. However, these cables use stranded wire that is coated with a substance that isolates each strand. I scraped the cable with a pocet knife which allowed a continuity check but that didn't remove all of the coating. Also tried heat but this had no noticeable effect. My question is, how can I remove this coating without harming the cable? Anyone done this before.

[StevenACNJ]

I don't know how many strands are located in each cable or what diameter each strand is but generally people use solder pots to remove the enamel type coating. Magnet wire & Cardas litz wire are a few other examples of such coated wire.

I have used a lot of AudioNote 24g solid core silver wire in my DIY projects. It also has this enamel finish on it. I generally use Emmery cloth or higher gauge finishing sand paper to remove the coating. Sand lightly and only enough to remove the coating.

[timind]

Thanks for the info. The strands are very fine. The emery cloth may be the way to go although that's gonna be time consuming. May look into the solder pot but that might no be worth the investment.

[morayjames]

you are dealing with a fluropolymer (teflon type) coating. This is very tough as you have found and is also heat resistant. The best thing that you can do is to physically prep the ends for the new connectors and then take the cable to a local dealer that has a solder pot for terminating this kind of wire. They may be kind enough to do it for free or for a small charge. You could buy a solder pot but it will cost you some.
   Please note that this is the only way to terminate such wire and to attempt other wise will result in a mess that will cost you more in time and grief and not work properly. 

[timind]

That's exactly what Straightwire told me. They want $26.50 per spade to reterminate. I see a solder pot in my future. Very reasonable on ebay. Thanks.

[avahifi]

Best solution, go to Home Depot, get the lengths of 14 gauge speaker wire you want there for about 25 cents per foot, add banana plugs, and relax.

Frank Van Alstine

[Occam]

Frank,

Would you please get off your frigg'n hobbyhorse. No one asked you for a comment on alternatives and values. The thread is about terminating Straightwire LS cable, or Litz wire in general. You have much to offer us here on the Lab forum by virtue of your experience and expertise, but please stay on topic.

If you want to vent, I'll simply move your post and mine to the IntergallacticWasteBin, rather than the Fight Club, as I've no desire to engage.

Thank you,
Paul, speaking as moderator of the Lab Circle

[samplesj]

Solder pot is definately faster, but if it doesn't have TOO many strands you can also just individually solder each wire.

The enameld wire on my pair of S&B TX102s burned and sucked up the solder just fine with just an iron.  It stinks to high heaven, but it does work.  Just hold the iron to the end of the wire with the solder above it and it will melt back and coat the wire.

If its really fine gauge litz with lots and lots of strands then this isn't worthwhile, but 5-10 strands wouldn't be so bad.

If you don't mind buying the pot go for it, but I wanted to possibly throw out a cheaper $ (but more time) option.

[mgalusha]

timind,

If you are in the Denver area you're welcome to drop by and use my solder pot.

mike

[timind]

Thanks to all for the advice. The solder pot is practically a definite after getting prices from various vendors. Mike, I'm in Indianapolis so that won't work but your offer is appreciated.