Abstract: An apparatus for de-braiding a braided shield of a wire. The apparatus comprises a brush assembly having a first bristle wheel mounted on a first axis and a second bristle wheel mounted on a second axis wherein the first bristle wheel and the second bristle wheel are positioned with respect to one another to have their respective bristles brush against a braided shield of a wire placed between the first and second bristle wheels; a wheel drive motor; a first flexible drive shaft connecting the wheel drive motor to the first axis to rotate the first bristle wheel; a second flexible drive shaft connecting the first axis to the second axis to rotate the second bristle wheel; and a drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly moves the brush assembly both axially and rotationally with respect to a wire placed between the first bristle wheel and the second bristle wheel.