Have you ever found yourself struggling to strip wire by hand, only to end up with a frayed mess that’s difficult to work with? If so, a wire stripping jig might be just what you need! This handy tool can save you time and frustration by quickly and cleanly stripping the insulation off of your wires. And the best part? You can make one yourself with just a few basic materials. In this tutorial, we will show you how to make your own wire stripping jig using simple materials that you can find at your local hardware store.
Materials needed:
- A piece of wood (preferably hardwood) that’s at least 1 inch thick, 3 inches wide, and 12 inches long
- A drill and drill bits (ideally, a 3/8-inch bit and a 1/4-inch bit)
- A saw (a hand saw or circular saw will work)
- Sandpaper (120 grit and 220 grit)
- A ruler or measuring tape
- A pencil
- Two screws (at least 2 inches long)
- A wire stripper (optional)
- A clamp (optional)
Step 1: Cut your wood to size
The first step in making your wire stripping jig is to cut your piece of wood to size. You’ll want a piece that’s at least 1 inch thick, 3 inches wide, and 12 inches long. If you have a saw, you can use that to make your cuts. Otherwise, you can have your local hardware store cut the wood for you.
Step 2: Sand the wood
Once your wood is cut to size, use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges or splinters. Start with a 120-grit sandpaper to remove any major imperfections, then switch to a 220-grit sandpaper for a smoother finish.
Step 3: Drill the holes
Next, you’ll need to drill two holes in your piece of wood. The first hole should be drilled at the center of the piece of wood, about 1 inch from one end. Use a 3/8-inch drill bit for this hole.
The second hole should be drilled about 1 inch from the other end of the piece of wood. This hole should be slightly smaller than the screws you’ll be using to attach the wire stripper, so use a 1/4-inch drill bit.
Step 4: Attach the wire stripper
Now it’s time to attach the wire stripper to your jig. Place the wire stripper over the smaller hole you just drilled, making sure it’s centered. Use the screws to attach the wire stripper to the wood. Make sure the screws are tight, but don’t overtighten them and strip the wood.
Step 5: Test your jig
Before you start using your new wire stripping jig, it’s a good idea to test it out. Place a piece of wire in the wire stripper and clamp the wire in place with a clamp (if you have one). Make sure the wire is securely in place, then rotate the jig clockwise to strip the insulation off the wire. If everything is working correctly, the wire should come out cleanly stripped.
Step 6: Use your jig to strip wires
Now that you’ve tested your jig and know it works correctly, you can start using it to strip wires. Simply place the wire in the wire stripper and rotate the jig clockwise to strip the insulation off. You’ll find that this is a much faster and easier process than trying to strip the wire by hand.
Optional: Add a ruler
If you want to be able to measure the length of wire you’re stripping, you can add a ruler to your jig. Simply use a pencil to mark measurements along one edge of the wood, then use a saw to cut a groove along the edge. You can then fill the groove with paint or marker to make the measurements more visible.
Step 7: Strip the Wire
Use your wire cutters to snip off the end of the wire, leaving about 1/4 inch of exposed wire. Use your wire strippers to strip off the insulation from the wire. The wire should come out cleanly and easily.
Step 8: Repeat
Repeat the process for each wire on the board. You can strip multiple wires at once, as long as they are spaced far enough apart to avoid tangling.
Using a wire stripping jig can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you have a lot of wires to strip. With a little bit of time and effort, you can make your own wire stripping jig using simple materials that you can find at your local hardware store. Try it out and see how much easier wire stripping can be!