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Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 6:07 pm
by Jerry G
I noticed it mentioned a heat gun would be usefull, but that sounds a little clumsy.
What do you guys use.
Thanks
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:35 pm
by paulster
This:
With the heat shield on you just put it over your cable (in situ), click the igniter and you're done in a few seconds. The heat shield also means you get even coverage without having to rotate the gun.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 8:07 pm
by Jerry G
paulster wrote:This:
With the heat shield on you just put it over your cable (in situ), click the igniter and you're done in a few seconds. The heat shield also means you get even coverage without having to rotate the gun.
Thanks,
Anybody now a good place to shop?
I also have a Weller solder station and would like to buy some new tips.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 8:44 pm
by Winder
Not as elegant, but works good on smaller tubing (i.e. up to about 1/2 inch), inexpensive, lasts a long time:
You can get tips from a variety of places. Altex has pretty good prices on shrink tubing and they carry tips (page 2 here has Weller tips):
http://www.altex.com/Solder-Iron-Tips-C10918.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 8:55 pm
by thousandshirts
I've got the exact same edition CRC math tables book.

Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:42 am
by Big Mike
I have a wagner heat gun.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:53 pm
by Mars Hall
Zippo, click, spark!

Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 10:22 pm
by OnTheFritz
I've got a heat gun I bought from Harbor Freight on sale for 10-15 bucks-ish a few years ago that works great.
2 settings, and it's been very reliable.
May have been cheaper than that, I can't remember, but it was very inexpensive.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:08 am
by Jerry G
Aren't heat guns the size of an average hair dryer?
Sounds like it would be hard to aim without heating up other things.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 11:40 am
by neikeel
I run my soldering iron as close to the tubing up and down - that works without any tools and you can do it in tight spaces without heating everything else too.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 2:35 pm
by mwm523
neikeel wrote:I run my soldering iron as close to the tubing up and down - that works without any tools and you can do it in tight spaces without heating everything else too.
Wow, need a steady hand for that! I'm not sure I'm steady enough.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:34 pm
by neikeel
My professional tool is a scalpel or diathermy spatula close to lots of internal human clockwork - tends to focus the mind and steady the hand

Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:20 pm
by thousandshirts
neikeel wrote:I run my soldering iron as close to the tubing up and down - that works without any tools and you can do it in tight spaces without heating everything else too.
+1 - I've resorted to this tactic a number of times. Not out of laziness -- I'm happy to grab my heat gun -- but as Neikeel says, for tight spaces. Either way, this works great.
Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:16 pm
by mwm523
I'm going to have to try this... If I do well maybe I'll try the scalpel next!

Re: Best tool for heating shrink tubing?
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:04 am
by NitroLiq
I'm with Winder...a lighter works great.