Copper Talk » Open Forum » Archived Messages » 2002 » 10/01/2002 to 10/31/2002 » Srink tubing « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Powermad
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 9:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

At the risk of sounding stupid,what is the best way to do heat shrink??
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Taz
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 11:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What are you heatshrinking?


You can use a blowdrier,torch or anything hot.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Znut
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 12:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A cigarette lighter works fine for those field installations like mobile or at the antenna. Just move the heat around the heat shrink in order not to burn it.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

DeadlyEyes
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 12:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If the thing you are shrink tubing is not too heat sensitive all you have to do is quickly rub the shaft (not the tip) of a soldering iron very quickly back and forth over the tube. Emphasis on the very quickly and using only the heatin shaft not the tip.

They also make special heating guns if you plan to do a lot of this.

PS....You can make your own shrink tubing by cutting a strip of that thick plastic covering that they use on magazines to cover them. Wrap it around the the solder joint/connection and melt the edges to seal the joint using, once again, the heading shaft of a soldering iron moving it very quickly. It is not as pretty as proper shrink but in an emergency it will work.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bigbob
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 8:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gosh heatshrink tubing,that reminds me of the time I used some to plug a fuel leak on my car,man it worked slikker than snot.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Mack
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 9:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I used my soldering iron talking about the side as deadlyeyes said and it worked fine.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Powermad
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 10:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ok Thanks you guys I have been using the side of the soderong tip but i was just wondering if there was a better way!!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

DeadlyEyes
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 10:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Re Mack...

Dont forget my tip about using the plastic wraping on magazines you get in the mail. I have used it several times and it does work as long as you are not using the shrink to bind/bundle wires together.

Later
DE
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

anonymous
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 11:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

since you are posting about your experience with h.s.tubing, bigbob, i take it you didn't use a lighter.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Slim1
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 11:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i use my bic or zippo lighter almost all the time
just don't get too close for too long a period of time! works great for me.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Taz
Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 1:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i use a blowdrier, torch, lighter
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Powermad
Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 8:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Whatever works I guess ,but there has to be a better way!! I never thought about plastic wrap!
Is there a special tool made for this??
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

DeadlyEyes
Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 10:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Re Power...

As Taz referenced, I did see, once, in a parts supply catalog for commercial manufacturers a tool used to shrink tubing. It was basicly a super hand held blow dryer. Kind of like the time they use to strip paint.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bigbob
Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 10:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

100 WATT SOLDERING GUN.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

2600
Posted on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 1:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Deadly Eyes got it right. A hair dryer just isn't supposed to get quite THAT hot. The heat guns sold by Ungar, Weller and Electronics-store name brands run $75 or more. The local hardware store will sell you one meant to strip paint for $30 or less. The temperature is about perfect. No soot or scorching like with a flame. It's just too hard to get the flame close ENOUGH without singe and soot marks.
73
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Powermad
Posted on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 11:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great that is what I am going to do. I will get me one at work today.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Jellybean
Posted on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 6:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I like the Weller pencil style butane soldering units that fit in your shirt pocket(after it cools down of course) lights with a push of the button, great for one hand operations, and you can get the hot air tips, I've got one, made just for shrink tubing. No flame touching it, great for tight spots. Pricey though, but not bad for a nice multitasking unit. I paid $130 for the one I have. Then if you really want to go nuts, you get something like the WRS2000 station that has, the hot air, solder and desolding tool or something similar, great for the bench. If I'm not mistaken, about $800 and up. Hey, it's only money. :)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

HoosierCardinal
Posted on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 9:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

LOL my gawd! all this over something as simple as heat shrink tubing! I say buy the stuff, heat it up and put it on, and dont worry about it!!! LOL ;-)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Powermad
Posted on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 8:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That is what I am asking. What is the best way??? Dont want to put too much heat on small componets!!