On Mon, 10 May 2010 17:41:54 +0100, "N_Cook"
wrote:

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote in message
...
I've recently started doing electronic repairs (mostly wiring) and need to
shrink heat shrink tubing. A long time ago I bought a heat gun used for
removing paint and used that. It was 120 volt, so I left it when I moved
here.

I've never had much luck (or is it patience?) shrinking it by holding it
over
a soldering iron tip. Using a flame, like a cigarette or stove lighter
ends up with burnt plastic. :-)

Is there such a thing as a small heat shrink tube shrinker that does not
toast the things around it? The largest thing I need to shrink over is
about 1/2 an inch most of them are small (20awg or less) wires.


Thanks in advance,

Geoff.
--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
New word I coined 12/13/09, "Sub-Wikipedia" adj, describing knowledge or
understanding, as in he has a sub-wikipedia understanding of the
situation.
i.e possessing less facts or information than can be found in the
Wikipedia.


Wrap the tip of (old) soldering iron with some plumber's PTFE tape and then
apply the iron directly to the tubing or use a replacment tip , so adapted.

I just use the clean part of the tip where it has a broad tapper to
the main body. An iron has to be in contact not wafted around in the
vicinity, just rub it up and down the sleeve while rotating the wire
1/2 turn each way. An 11w 1mm tip iron will do nicely on heat shrink
for joints in single core auto wire. 1/2" is going to need something a
bit more powerful, 80w 1/4"?
--
Peter Hill
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Can of worms - what every fisherman wants.
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