sory about the answer abvoe I was a bit out of sorts last night. I use a cigaret lighter to just melt back the tip, thus not exposing too much wire, you allways want to keep those bare spots as small as posible, if you need a larger exposed end for a splice use an exacto knofe tro skin one side then hit it with the lighter to melt back any frays, if you need a cut inline splice its the same princble, slice off piece of wire with exacto, and heat with iron if you cant get the lighter where you need it.