Heat Shrink Tubing Recommendations

[theeggmaster]

I'm looking to purchase some heat shrink tubing and a heat gun, but having not used any before, I wonder if there are any recommendations? Is it pretty much buy as cheaply as possible or does the quality matter?

[pcstru]

I'm looking to purchase some heat shrink tubing and a heat gun, but having not used any before, I wonder if there are any recommendations? Is it pretty much buy as cheaply as possible or does the quality matter?

I just buy bog standard stuff from ebay, Rapid etc, I've never had a problem with any. Get the right size for the job or get a variety of sizes (big is handy for encapsulating a lot of wires comming out of a switch (for example)). I don't use a heat gun, I just gently stroke it with the edge of the bit (not the tip) of the soldering iron.

[Steve21]

We used a paint stripper/heat gun thingy, and just remember to put something like wood below it (not onto desk )

 

Found most the stuff is identical, only thing is get a mixed set as mentioned above "or" the more expensive super shrinky stuff as you always seem to think it shrinks more than it does

 

Steve

[Oaktech]

Check your shrink ratios, you often find cheap shrink is 2:1, but gives you more like 1.6:1. More expensive comes in a range of ratios up to about 5:1. I buy all of mine from CPC.

 

Depending on what you want to do with it, consider whether adhesive lined will suit your purposes better or if standard shrink will do.

 

I tend to prefer Raychem if it comes in the size I'm looking for, but most branded tube will do.

[theeggmaster]

I'm first looking to replace the insulation on some Chromebook power cables that were caught in the door when a cabinet was moved. Longer term I'll probably look to bundle AV cables together, so I'll need a range of sizes.

[Andrew_C]

CPC do a few mixed size/colour kits. Good way to have a choice.

[theeggmaster]

Thanks for this. I've ordered a mixed size/colour kit from CPC to see how I get on.