heat shrink...shrink
 

for years i've used open flame to heat shrink, i mean...30 years. here and there i've used my iron but not in a long time.

i am tired of worrying about connectors and wires getting damaged from open flame - what is everyone using to heat their shrink?

i use my trusty ol' Hakko station to solder but don't have a rework heat gun. should i get one of those small Wagner heat guns? they seem safe and easy enough to fire up for small jobs vs. a real heat gun.

Yeah I think the heat gun is one of if not the only other way to do it without burning the heat shrink. I still use the lighter method I just don't let the flame touch the tubing.

Heat gun, low temp works great.

I have one, it's just bulky so I rarely pull it out lol It's easier for me to use the lighter. I just cut the heatshrink off if I singe it :)

Lighter

Jet Flame Torch Lighter

You could always just use liquid electrical tape.

this is how i feel - i do a lot of my work at a desk in the house at night and going to get that thing and fire it up for a few pieces of shrink seems inconvenient vs. something i could keep in my cabinet in my office.

i was thinking something like this would be great, since it surely has to be more robust than the little Chinese hobby heat guns but i've never seen anyone use one for this!

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....1WgGD1LLDL.jpg

If that does the job I would very much like me one too lol

Same with the lighter method for me, I only break out the heat gun when shrinking double walled 3:1 clear tubing.

I use some off brand way, more power than I need types, and its overkill plus to much work to bust out for basic tubing.

I've use a lighter for 15+ years. At least I know the lighter is being concentrated only at the shrink tubing, instead of blowing hot air everywhere. I just use those extended lighters.

I've mostly used my soldering iron. It's a bit slow going with it, though.

welp i ordered one last night so we'll see! i'll report back.

heat guns are ok but they take a long time to cool off. so gotta be careful what you do with it.
why i stick to using a mini butane torch. not on long enough to get real hot. you can also solder with it or leave the soldering tip out and allow the hot air out and no flame.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzoma...0194/100564678

I have used many different brands of this stuff and it's basically like plastidip. In my opinion, it's garbage and doesn't offer near the protection of doing a good shrink wrap job.