What do you use to apply heat shrink to your wiring?

Freelancer · Jul 17, 2003

Basic question, but I'm curious as to what my fellow SuperGun builders use to melt their heat shrink tubing? Myself, I use a standard heat gun and it works pretty well...melts the heat shrink tubing uniformly and snugly around my soldered/spliced wires.

What do you use? I'm always interested in hearing what other resourceful methods others use, and who knows, I may learn something!

SNKFreak · Jul 17, 2003

I've used a lighter, a soldering iron, and a hairdryer. I never had the privilage of trying a heat gun but the lighters worked perfectly.

[ July 17, 2003, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: SNKFreak ]

Lagduf · Jul 18, 2003

Lighters work pretty well.

RiotoftheBlood · Jul 18, 2003

I just use the fatter part of my soldering iron. It's easy to burn insulation on the surrounding wires, though. Maybe I should look into something else...

[ July 18, 2003, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: RiotoftheBlood ]

Amano Jacu · Jul 18, 2003

I've heard a lot about this "heat shrink", but I still don't know what it is exactly. Can anybody give more info or pics, link?

Matt · Jul 18, 2003

I use a cigarette lighter, too. I've tried using things like heat guns, small butane torches, etc, but so far I've found that lighters are still the quickest & handiest way to do it (as long as you're careful, of course).

Matt · Jul 18, 2003

Amano Jacu:
I've heard a lot about this "heat shrink", but I still don't know what it is exactly. Can anybody give more info or pics, link?

Heat shrink tubing is tubing that shrinks when it's heated. Makes sense, no?

MKL · Jul 18, 2003

It's used to insulate soldering terminals to prevent shortings, esp. when the terminals are very close to each other, like in Jamma connectors:

<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCBs/files/pgm.jpg" target="_blank">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCBs/files/pgm.jpg</a>

I used to use lighters but now I prefer a hair dryer, it works way better and you never burns anything.

[ July 18, 2003, 05:33 AM: Message edited by: MKL ]

Amano Jacu · Jul 18, 2003

OK, I think I understand it, it's just that the word "shrink" was not in my limited English vocabulary, now it is. I'm still wondering how to ask for that in Catalan or Spanish in my local electronics shop. So when you apply heat it "shrinks" coating the soldering? Pretty clever.

ttooddddyy · Jul 18, 2003

I use the shaft of a soldering iron usually, but on a special project a heat gun or hair drier is better as it leaves no marks on the heat shrink surface. Just an asthetic thing.
Any heat source will do the job.

MKL · Jul 18, 2003

Amano Jacu:
I'm still wondering how to ask for that in Catalan or Spanish in my local electronics shop.

Tubo termocontraible.

thegreathopper · Jul 18, 2003

I always use a flame thrower this makes the sleeving shrink very fast....

Electroman · Jul 18, 2003

I've done all the above. Each way has their points.

Fuzzzy · Jul 18, 2003

hairdryer hands down. My wife doesnt exactly like me dragging hers off all the time but its worth it ^_^.

What do you use to apply heat shrink to your wiring?

Freelancer

Banned

SNKFreak

Banned

Lagduf

2>X

RiotoftheBlood

Chin's Drinking Partner

Amano Jacu

Charles Barkley

Matt

Kuroko's Training Dummy

Matt

Kuroko's Training Dummy

MKL

Basara's Blade Keeper

Amano Jacu

Charles Barkley

ttooddddyy

PNG FTW,

MKL

Basara's Blade Keeper

thegreathopper

NAM-75 Vet

Electroman

, ,

Fuzzzy

New Challenger