Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a thin color-encoded plastic coating from an optical fiber comprises an elongated rail and clamps for fixedly mounting a fiber spaced above and parallel to the rail. A chuck having radially convergible jaws is mounted on the rail for movement therealong, and a lifting mechanism is provided for lifting the chuck towards the clamped fiber for disposing the fiber within the chuck and coaxial therewith. A stripping process comprises converging the jaws into a slightly compressive engagement with the fiber outer surface and sliding the compressively engaged chuck back and forth along the rail one or more times for abrasion removal of the fiber plastic coating.