Hi Jeff This is a manual tool and takes a little practice. You need to first start by stripping about .75 to 1 inch of insulation from the end of the wire. There is a built in stripper. Look at the spring steel part in the center of the tool. It has a slit in it that you slide the wire in and then pull the wire from the other side. Now that you have the end, thread the wire from the end, under the small sleeve and along the groove at the side of the shaft. It doesn't have to stay in the groove but make sure it doesn't get kinked or bent badly. Slide the tool and wire over a wire wrap post. Place your index finger at the unwrapper end and twizzle the tool clockwise. This is the tricky part. You need to put enough pressure with your index finger so that there are no opening between wraps but not too much or you'll get overlapped wraps. I also find that the first turn of the tool should have no pressure until the wire has one start wrap. You will also find that you won't be able to twizzle it to completion as one motion. You need to make sure that it doesn't back rotate as you go for another grab with your fingers ( this is where another hand comes in handy ). If you get an opening between wraps, don't think you can just squeeze it down to until it looks OK. This make a loose wrap that will have poor electrical connection. Overlapped wraps should be redone as well. Now, go and practice. You'll get the hang of it soon enough. Dwight