Removing varnish from copper wires

**wayne1956** · 06-21-2016, 08:38 AM

What is a good, relatively safe chemical to use to remove varnish from wires? I am not looking to try to turn #2 copper into #1, I am trying to make it easier to remove windings from electric motors, the ones with a heavy varnish coating that sticks the individual wires together.

**armygreywolf** · 06-21-2016, 01:10 PM

Of all the chemicals I know of...none are particularly safe, some/most are carcinogenic and more than one you cannot buy cheap enough to matter. The real answer is fire... Except dont "burn" it. Put it in an old sealed container like a ammo can you dont want anymore and toss it in a really hot fire. What will happen is the varnish will pyrolize and the copper wont oxidize much...or anneal.

**wayne1956** · 06-23-2016, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by armygreywolf

Of all the chemicals I know of...none are particularly safe, some/most are carcinogenic and more than one you cannot buy cheap enough to matter. The real answer is fire... Except dont "burn" it. Put it in an old sealed container like a ammo can you dont want anymore and toss it in a really hot fire. What will happen is the varnish will pyrolize and the copper wont oxidize much...or anneal.

I will remember that and try it. I am going to save a few motors and keep an eye out for a sealed metal container. I use a burn barrel time to time in the winter to warm up at when I am working outside. I will put a couple of motors in one and toss it in, and see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion.

**alloy2** · 06-21-2016, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by wayne1956

What is a good, relatively safe chemical to use to remove varnish from wires? I am not looking to try to turn #2 copper into #1, I am trying to make it easier to remove windings from electric motors, the ones with a heavy varnish coating that sticks the individual wires together.

Electric Motor Burn Off Ovens