Heat sleeving, how do you shrink yours? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Syntax Error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 05:33:02 pm
content: Heatshrink sleeving is possibly some of the most useful stuff in an EE's parts bin. But how do you shrink your sleeving to size; with a hot air gun, zip lighter, soldering iron, boiling water or even a blow torch? Have you ever used some creative methods to fit heatshrink, or had a few disasters?

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 05:39:30 pm
content: Adjustable hot air gun, set at around 150-160 degC and maximum air flow.If not available, then with the soldering iron, just above the tip so heated air does most of the magic, maybe quickly touching.

author: maginnovision
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 05:40:24 pm
content: Typically I use my gas soldering iron. If I have a lot to do for some reason I use a hot air unit.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 06:14:09 pm
content: milwakee battery heat gunhttps://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Specialty-Tools/Heating-Tools/2688-20for normal tubing, catalytic heater butane torch for teflon (very hot)The old benzomatic torches (they cheaped out now) have a catalytic insert that goes over the pen torch, so you light the torch while holding a spring to distance the platinum grid from the fire, then when its dull red you let go and the device no longer creates flame, just hot air at high efficiency. Now I think you need to buy the premium torch to get that heater from weller or something. if you use a soldering head with the torch, it also runs on catalytic butane heat, rather then being heated by direct flame.The only downside is that it takes a little bit to warm up. This avoids the formation of char and soot on the exterior of heat shrink, which could be a electrical conductor. With a normal flame its too easy to burn it, the catalytic heater basically reduces the maximum temperature and makes it run consistent like a hot air gun.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 06:51:52 pm
content: This thread covered this subject a few weeks ago (even if the title was rather misleading)...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/easiest-way-to-shrink-heat-crimping-tube/I'm still using my modified cast-off curling wand, which works a treat.

author: bson
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 07:37:22 pm
content: I use a hot air gun I got at Fry's Electronics 20+ years ago. It's a handheld unit with a simple stand, has only one temp (well, hot and cool-down where it only runs the fan), but its main usefulness derives from of a little curved metal screen that slips onto the nozzle and directs heat around the cable, rather than blasts only one side. Which greatly reduces the dependency on rotating the cable or gun, either of which is often less than entirely practicable. It's pretty much useless for hot air soldering (way too much air flow) or any other bench use, but for this one thing it's perfect.

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 09:06:27 pm
content: I mostly use a hot air gun but I also use a Blue Flame blowtorch because it's quicker than unravelling the power cable, finding a spare plug, etc. It's also portable. It's got a volume knob and a mixture control. Somewhere between blue and yellow flame does the job.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2020, 09:09:41 pm
content: I started with a candle, moved to an alcohol burner (much less soot on the tubing), then moved to my hot air gun used for rework. No need to turn down the temperature so long as you have a little distance to your target and keep it moving, I don't think I've burned heatshrink once at 320C for a setting, but it will shrink just fine at 100C if you'd like. And the unit I have costs less than $40.The hot air gun is just so fast and easy to start, and it's right there on the desk already. No lighter, no refueling, no setup, it's very convenient.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2020, 12:06:29 pm
content: On the workbench, my Quick hot air station and anywhere else, a small butane torch with the hot air attachment and the curved metal piece.

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2020, 05:12:23 pm
content: Quote from: Syntax Error on November 06, 2020, 05:33:02 pmYes to all of those except hot water ( I don't think hot water is hot enough and frankly who wants water around their connections). I just use whatever is available and safe at the time, even a match can work in a pinch.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2020, 06:40:22 pm
content: I use either a heat gun, or the exhaust port of my butane soldering iron. It's funny actually, I hardly ever use the butane iron for soldering, almost exclusively for shrinking heatshrink. It's quieter than the heat gun and cordless, but harder to evenly shrink larger pieces.

author: The Soulman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2020, 07:41:33 pm
content: A "cheap" Bosch paint stripper, also works great for large pieces.

author: WattsThat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2020, 03:16:07 am
content: For small stuff, a 40 year old Ungar Princess heat gun. For big stuff, the big red Master 1740W industrial heat gun on the lowest heat level.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2020, 03:33:01 am
content: A cheap knockoff hot air station is worth having for this function alone. Less than 5% of what I use it for is soldering, the rest is peeling stickers, repairing plastic, ungluing stuff, drying stuff and so on.

author: retiredfeline
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2020, 03:53:32 am
content: I assume my dragon persona and breathe on them.Hot air rework gun actually.

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2020, 07:51:53 am
content: I use the hot air pen on my Hakko station. Works great and is very precise where the heat goes compared to the mini gas torch I used to use.