Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus 1 for removing insulation from wire 5 where the insulation 21 surrounds a wire core 20. This apparatus 1 includes a mounting fixture 3 for holding a spool 4 of wire 5 in a manner that enables the wire to be unwound from the spool. As the wire 5 is continually unwound from the spool 4 it is wound around a conically shaped, rotatable mandrel 7. A manually adjustable knife blade 23 disposed between the mounting fixture 3 and the mandrel 7 engages the wire 5 as the wire is unwound from the spool 4 and wound around the mandrel. The knife blade 23 is positioned essentially at a tangent to the wire core 20 so that it cuts the insulation 21 into sections, one section 43 riding over the blade as the wire 5 is wound around the mandrel 7 and the other section 44 of insulation remaining on the wire core after the wire engages the knife blade.