Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Heat shrink tubing

Ok who ya gotta &*%@ around here to get some large diameter heat shrink tubing? Anyone know of a good source?

Question 2... I've done some experimenting with my butane soldering iron/mini torch, and wondering the best technique on shrinking this stuff, any tips?

3rd, since I did my re-wiring two years ago, I really don't want to un-splice all my wires, so do you think if I find tubing big enough to fit OVER the connectors, it will shrink enough around the wire bundles themselves?

As usual, thanks in advance.

Hey Benny,

How large do you need and how much of a hurry are you?

If you use a torch, you have to fan it over the shrink pretty fast or it will burn it. Keep the torch away a bit and you should not have a problem. Shrinking the large diameter stuff is going to be tricky. The best solution is a heat gun made for this purpose. The one I have even has a nozzle that curls around the work so you heat the entire shrink at the same time.

Most of the shrink now is 4-1 reduction so it should. Did you stagger the connectors?

The connectors that I spliced in aren't the problem, it's the big black rectangular one inside the headlight which is the only place I can begin with a piece of tubing, ya know? So I'm thinking at least a 1.5 inch piece. A buddy of mine is sending me some from his shop, so we'll see how it goes, but the largest I can find at sears and Lowes is about 3/4". Not in a super hurry, the electrical tape is ok for now...

By the way, I picked up a packet of 1/2" rubber grommets. Cut one (made it a C instead of a O) and then carved one of the lips off it, and that is now protecting the hole in the bar to keep the wires from fraying. A little silicone sealant in there should hold it nice!

3M makes a bunch of different heat shrink products as well as a "cold shrink" product that doesn't require a heat gun. It's a very stretchy rubber that they hold open mechanically (picture a slinky with a rubber sleeve around it). You pull a cord that hangs out one end and as the thing spools out the rubber shrinks down behind it.
It's sorta hard to explain but it works pretty much like heat shrink without the "heat".

Keith

Should be able to find a heat gun for cheap at Autozone or a similar cheap auto parts store. I think I paid $16.99 for mine.

I know you don't want to hear this, but I'd take those splices out and just solder the wires together without them. Makes for a much cleaner install, and it'll also be better in the long run. I've been down this road, and I'm glad I redid everything.

I have a heat gun I bought at a crafts store. Small nozzle that directs intense heat to a very specific area. Perfect for HS tubing.

Another good idea for large applications is "Liquid Tape" I use it for multi-wire splices or over connectors that are exposed to wire.

Radio Shack used to have a decent selection, not sure if they still do. If you use the hughest setting, you can "borrow" a hair drier to shrink it.
If you get desparate, you can get spiral wrap at a lot of autoparts shops It isn't as nice, but it looks pretty and will fit almost any size bundle of wires.

Where to find it is my biggest problem right now. Radio shack has it, but only up to about half inch.

As for soldering, I'm much better at it now, but that's a few hours I'm not sure I want to spend at the moment... we'll see.