Any advice on how to SOFTEN the Insulation on wire?

**HipToScrapSquare** · 10-17-2014, 12:34 AM

Hello from Texas... sunshine works just fine. Good to hear the other ideas too, thanks y'all.
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**eesakiwi** · 10-17-2014, 09:02 PM

I'd forgotton about this idea. I have never used it but expect it to be just what you want for hard insulation wite.

A electric planer. The sort for planing wood.

You will have to have one. It isn't something everyone has.
But if you are doing a lot of this wire, or get it often, its the tool to do the job.

A normal hand planer 'may' work with a lot of physical effort.
With the electric planers. Before you plug it in, rotate the blade head. The drive belt shapes itself into its position if it is left like that for a while.
If its left like that and the triggers pulled, it breaks the belt. It happened to mine and some others I know of.

**newattitude** · 10-17-2014, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

You say it's solid, so can you crush it? A hammer might do it, but that sounds exhausting. I've seen people make an apparatus with 2 rollers that crush/split the insulation.

No, if its the same stuff I was working with you'd need a really BIG hammer lol. Its like cutting through PVC.

**harsas** · 10-17-2014, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by eesakiwi

I'd forgotton about this idea. I have never used it but expect it to be just what you want for hard insulation wite.

A electric planer. The sort for planing wood.

You will have to have one. It isn't something everyone has.
But if you are doing a lot of this wire, or get it often, its the tool to do the job.

A normal hand planer 'may' work with a lot of physical effort.
With the electric planers. Before you plug it in, rotate the blade head. The drive belt shapes itself into its position if it is left like that for a while.
If its left like that and the triggers pulled, it breaks the belt. It happened to mine and some others I know of.

This is actually a good idea. if the depth is set correctly, the planer will cut through the plastic without touching the copper. if you have never used one before, be careful though. It can be tricky on a small round surface.

**newattitude** · 10-17-2014, 11:18 PM

I've got a hand planer that was my grampa's. Been hanging onto it for nostalgia's sake, never thought to use it for stripping wire!

**JayBear480** · 10-22-2014, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by hobo finds

In Arizona stripped wire needs to be turned in with a business account! Just wanted to make sure you knew that before you stripped it....

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Do they enforce this in Tuscon? My first trip to the scrap yard I had about 100 pounds of #1/#2 wire and the guy actually said "You know you'd make a lot more money if you took the time to strip this."

Ever since, they take it and give me #1 pricing on it. In their defense they could just say they thought it came from windings in motors or transformers. Although it is plainly obvious.

I'm sure they'd enforce the Cat law though, it's a bit more specific. I live in Mesa and scrap yard is in Tempe.

Oh and BTW, cans are still $1.00/lb, but #1PETE is up to a whopping $0.35/lb. WOOOHOOOO. And the new house I just moved into has a place that takes both about a quarter mile away. I could push all my PETE there in a shopping cart!

**Dr Modesto** · 12-27-2014, 09:41 PM

I had the exact same problem. What I did is what another poster said in his reply. It took the wire and cut it up into 3 or 4 foot lengths; whatever works best for you. I then took a big stock pot of water. Heated it up to boiling point on the stove. Take the wire and fold it into a big loop. Hold the ends and drop the loop into the water for a few seconds. You might want to wear gloves. Depends on how much farm work you've done in your life. Then take it over to your cutting "station." You don't have to hurry like your bending wood or something. It retains the heat for quite a while.
The difference is amazing. In my experience it turned rock hard old plastic into easily cut soft rubbery stuff.
I recommend you do a quick and easy experiment. Just take a short length and pour some boiling water on it. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, well, back to the old drawing board.
Good luck, and good scrapping.