fini Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 That's right, HEAT shrink. Not "cold river" shrinkage. That has been discussed to death. I'm upgrading/reviving/restoring my Thorens TT, and in typical fini style, I am researching it to death. I'm to the point where even I am sick of my questions. Thankfully, this one's easy. What's the best way to shrink heat shrink, without 1.) burning cables or the house, 2.) exotic heat gun apparatti, and 3.) making it look less than "professional?" These techniques, which y'all will so graciously describe, will be used in the construction of both the line and power cordage. Oh, and please keep it clean. [Y][] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 fini, If you get some low temp heat shrink, you can very likely use a hair dryer. I use a heat gun set on low, and that has always worked well. Are you covering connections/splices or longer lengths? Most heat shrink is rather stiff once it shrinks. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 I use a hair dryer with a diffuser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 I use a BIC lighter[:$] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 Well, I got a variety of sizes of 2:1 heat shrink. A fellow at Radio Shack said he just uses his soldering iron, carefully rubbed all around. It seemed to work very well. The tonearm cords I made look pretty good, with Techflex and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 I use heat gun apparatti (I just wanted to say the word) apparatti, say it with me apparatti! BIC works too with lovely roadie-type scorch marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtkinney Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 The heat gun is the best, but I have used soldering iron tips, matches, lighters and a propane torch in a pinch. If you put enough current through the wire, it will shrink itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 apparatti apparatti apparatti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 I use heat gun apparatti (I just wanted to say the word) apparatti, say it with me apparatti! Ok... Happy Ratty!!! [H][] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 I've had some really bad heat shrink from Radio Shack. I usually get mine from a local electronics supply house here in town (yup, we have one and they are really nice folks). Most of what I get is polyolefin tubing, which works well for what I use it on. I have a bunch of the clear that I got to put on connectors, so I could have labels underneath. I print our my info on a laser printer, use a glue stick to put it on the connector and then put the clear hs over it. Still readable and stays put. It is cheaper than buying a labeler just for wiring and cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundbound Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 I got low on shrink tube once. All I had left was some that was too small in diameter. I cut a piece to the length I needed, slid it unto some fine needle nose pliers, and spread the pliers out stretching the tubing to a larger diameter. Stretch, release, stretch some more, release etc ... until you get it to the size diameter needed. Stretch too much too quickly and it will split. I then placed the stretched tubing over the wire and it shrank back to its normal size shorty after. You don't have a lot of time before it shrinks back to its normal size diameter, so you have to work quickly. Then all I had to do was put just a little bit of hair drier heat to it to get it to shrink some for that good tight fit. Do it all the time now. This can be good for places where you don't want a lot of heat placed. Now hand me my needle nose shrink tube stretcher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I've used lighters and a steam iron (without the steam, of course) and got lumpy results and burned fingers with both methods. Finally, I spotted a heat gun on sale and got it. Much better! A tidy and safe job, plus the gun is handy for other things, like warming a window-frame so draft-stop tape will adhere in cold weather, to name just one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jheis Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Embrace it fini. Just think - a perfectly good excuse to buy another tool. Of course today you could have just left it out in the sun. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 PE has HST on sale in their current flyer. Just buy a bunch so you have every size in every color available. Ok- at least black and red. I use red for my speaker cables to indicate the RIGHT one (or the positive lead) . Also get dual bananas in same color code. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted May 16, 2008 Author Share Posted May 16, 2008 PE has HST on sale in their current flyer. Just buy a bunch so you have every size in every color available. Ok- at least black and red. I use red for my speaker cables to indicate the RIGHT one (or the positive lead) . Also get dual bananas in same color code. Michael, I can't find the sale, searching PE's latest online flyer. Can you provide more info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearfreak Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 I vote for heat gun. Got to get one myself. Not to start rumors... but a bit of lore... I was once told that some of the HST would burn (or actually ignite) more readilly than others. This was attributed loosely to the finish (glossy vs satin). I do not know if that is currently the case, or a specific manufacturer was involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Maybe it was MCM electronics, I get too many catalogs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blvdre Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 I've never experienced flaming heat-shrink in my 20 plus years of using it. Sounds like fun though. BTW I love the fact that an issue like HS can go on for at least a couple of pages. I use a heat gun at work, and a hair dryer at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donkeyshins Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I've used a creme brulee torch for quite a while. No scorching or fires as you can 'tune' the amount of heat from the torch via distance or by turning down the flame. Plus it looks cool. -D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerohm Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 You MIGHT have luck with OTHER methods, but the heat gun is the only way "I KNOW" that "I CAN" get good consistent results. The (marine grade?) shrink wrap that has the inner lining coated with adhesive holds up MUCH better if the connection takes much abuse. Not the cheapest solution, but probably the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.