Using shrink tubing

[AcornHouse]

Hey, I'm finishing up on my first kit build (Ampmaker PP-18), and I have a question about the care and feeding of shrink tubing in amp building. What's the best way to shrink it in the confines of a chassis with all the various components already in?
I don't have a heat gun or hair dryer, and I ended up using the soldering iron, but found that I had to touch the tip to get it to shrink, leaving some hard to clean residue on the tip.

So, what's your best method?

 

[David S]

I use a long pistol grip butane candle lighter.

 

[dtube]

These Wahl butane heat guns are the handiest thing in the world for heat-shrink in tight places IME.
-D

 

[mxvin]

go get a cheap heat gun and do it right....

 

[DaveKS]

Get a spare chisel tip, find some 1/4 copper tubing, crimp it around tip and make a extension that gets end far enough away from tip so that is not hot enough to melt tubing. Flatten tubing on end and curl end if desired. Adjustable iron is desirable.

 

[Barnzy]

go get a cheap heat gun and do it right....

Exactly...use the right tool for the job and get good results. That goes for everything....
Barnzy

 

[Washburnmemphis]

I usually use the barrel of the soldering iron to melt it. Never had an issue with residue.

 

[stratified]

From the 3M product information page for heat shrink tubing:

"You shrink heat shrink tubing by using hot air guns, torches and ovens, depending on tubing material and tubing size. Please refer to the specific product data sheet for minimum shrink temperature requirements."

 

[Bruce Gerard]

You can get a big ugly orange heat gun at Harbor Freight tools for under 15 bucks. FWIW - if I have to dress a lead with heat shrink (I normally use fiberglass sleeving for electric motor winding) I do the work outside of the amp, then solder the dressed lead into the circuit.

 

[Mattbedrock]

I use a long pistol grip butane candle lighter.

I do as well, but I like the idea of a small heat gun like that Wahl.

 

[AcornHouse]

You can get a big ugly orange heat gun at Harbor Freight tools for under 15 bucks. FWIW - if I have to dress a lead with heat shrink (I normally use fiberglass sleeving for electric motor winding) I do the work outside of the amp, then solder the dressed lead into the circuit.

On the Ampmaker kit, I had to solder the leads to the lugs on the top of the OT, then put the heat shrink tubes, then an insulating cap to protect accidental electrocutions.

 

[Kyle B]

On the topic of shrink tubing...

It's worth mentioning that not all shrink tubing is created equal. When you're doing line voltage wires, you'd be wise to use UL/CE approved tubing. It'll be printed right on the tubing itself. Should it fail and somebody gets hurt, if you've used UL approved tubing you'll be in a much better legal position than if you used generic stuff off E-bay.

Just sayin'....

 

[cap47]

Just picked this up today for $26 at True Value Hardware.

 

[donnyjaguar]

Some of it shrinks under a strong UV light if you have such a thing handy.

 

[doctorx]

http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-watt-dual-temperature-heat-gun-572-1112-96289.html

 

[digiTED]

I recently graduated from winding a bunch of electrical tape on things to proper heat shrink tubing.

I bought a variety of UL tubing in various diameters and gun. I got the tubing in clear so I can see all the neat stuff inside

I find it very easy and quick to use. Here the gun I bought when it was on sale last month (~$25):

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/HG-800/DUAL-TEMP-HEAT-GUN-1300-WATTS/1.html

Seems like a good gun for the money but there seem to be many cheaper options linked in this thread.

 

[mark norwine]

buy....or make your own with an old coffee can & a pair of tinsnips....one of these. It contains the heat where you need it & nowhere else...

 

[TimmyP]

We use the variable power Wagner. $50. When turned off the fan runs until the unit has cooled down.