I don't have problems shrinking the tubing with a disposable lighter, most
of the time. If the tubing is far enough away from the tubing, it usually
won't leave any soot marks on it, but the soot marks can generally be wiped
away on light colored tubing with lacquer thinner/acetone.

A hot air tool for surface mount solder reflow is an effective method (but
not cheap), especially for multi-pin connectors where the heat can be
directed to a very limited area by the small tip (the reverse of a
desoldering iron, esentially).

For larger tubing, the smooth area of a stainless steel soldering iron works
(slowly) by lightly rubbing the hot barrel around on the tubing.

Other than using shrink tubing, there is a product referred to as Liquid
Tape, which can be applied with a brush or other utensil.

--
WB
..........


"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.