Copper Wire!!

[godisnum1]

My dad has a TON of copper wire that came from an old transformer...
The only problem is that is has this clear coat varnish over all of the wires.
Does anyone know of a good method to remove this varnish from the wires so that they're shiny #1 grade wire
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks!

Bran <><

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[Farmercal]

Bran,
Is the wire wound up around something and then coated or is each strand of wire coated? If so a wire brush on a drill could remove the epoxy. If each strand is coated that might be a problem.

Muratic (Hydrochloric) acid might eat the epoxy off of it but I don't know for sure. Also note that muratic acid is highly corrosive liquid and should be handled using protective gloves, face shield and a plastic or rubber apron. Please read up on the subject before attempting to use the stuff as breathing it is even bad for you.

 

[godisnum1]

Hey, thanks for the reply Farmercal!
It's not wound around anything. It actually looked to be run up and down the length of the transformer, maybe in 6 to 8 inch (or more) lengths... but my dad has cut them down to just 6 to 8 inch individual pieces. It's all varnished around the whole wire, except each cut my dad made which clearly shows the bright copper wire.

My first thought was acid, but I know how dangerous the stuff is (thanks for the heads up)
If there's another way to strip the copper of the varnish, please let me know. I would say sandpaper, but I know that would be a LONG process because of how much wire my dad has.

All suggestions are welcome.

Bran <><

 

[2muchstuff]

I would use a 1/4 horse electric motor mounted to the bench with a threaded mandrel on the shaft. Attached to the mandrel is a coarse wire wheel. When the cutting action ceases, reverse the wheel on the mandrel and keep going. With a pair of leather work gloves you should be able to rip thru it in no time.

 

[davest]

I'd cut both ends with a grinder and just yank the wire off the windings. No sense in getting labor intensive cause it ain't gonna pay off. I used to do that in the 70s, and as soon as I get ahold of a few motors, I'm gonna do it again. Once you get a little space in the areas, the wire comes off pretty easy.