What is your method of choice for getting those little buggers to shrink down? I tried a blow dryer, but it didn't move much. I also cut a little piece off and put it in the microwave and it shrunk down real good, problem is I can't fit a 9' rod in a microwave. So what do all of you guys use to shrink it down?
-Phillip

Phillip: I only had a short 3-4 inch piece and I had to run the blow dryer for at least 10 minutes before it really started to shrink down good.

Leon

You can use a lighter or your alcohol torch. Just keep turning the rod and don't let the flame sit too long in 1 place.

Get a heat gun. Sears and others carry them. Put out 750 degrees of hot air. They work very well for heat shrink. You can also try a propane torch but must be very careful not to melt the medium.

Phillip,
If you are using a small piece of the shrink tubing you can get by with something like a lighter as was suggested. If you have a larger piece, like a whole handle, you will have a lot better luck with something that puts out a lot of heat but over a fairly large area like the heat gun Tim suggested. I think that if you start at one end moving the heat gun and rotating the rod to heat it up as uniformly as you can and as you see it start to shrink down slowly move the heat toward the opposite end you will have better luck.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2005 02:01PM by Emory Harry.

Hi Phillip,

If you'll go to your local hobby shop you can pick up a Hobby Heat Gun for @$20. Doesn't get as hot as the industrial kind but will still be hotter than the blow drier. I bought one because I saw Ken Preston using it on his video. It also works good for softening up the epoxy on guides you want to remove, and bursting bubbles and leveling while on the drier. You need to remember not to hold it too long in one spot or get it too close.

Bill in WV

You can rotate the tubing over a bare light bulb as it will put out sufficient heat to shrink it. I would suggest using dark glasses if you do

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

What Stan Said....I use a rack of old 300wt Movie lights and they work perfect.....Have to wear sunglasses and keep it about 8" from the blank to keep from melting it.

Derek

A 60-80wt floodlight bulb would be just about perfect I think.

I use a Heat Gun, one made by Milwaukee. Though, it is more expensive than what has been suggested here, but I also kep it as a work tool and my wife uses it as a part of here boat-building and custom upholstery work.

I use a burner on top of an electric stove. I just keep turning it, adjusting the distance from it by observing the effect. Multiple layers of heat shrink tubing are my preferred way of building up an arbor for a reel seat.

Mike

Hey Guys,

I have used heat shrink tubing for years on cable connections in the telecommunications industry and use the current type available for rod building which doesn't have the extra weather proofing "goop" in it.

The best thing to shrink it with is the economical heat gun available at craft stores for shrinking plastic. They produce adequate heat for the process we're talking about here without the danger of overheating the tubing & rod too fast.

After positioning the tubing, apply heat to the tubing (heat nozzle @ 2-3" away) at the approximate center of the length of the tubing and start rotating the rod slowly as the tubing starts to shrink. The goal is to shrink the tubing uniformally and allow for air to escape as the tubing shrinks. As the shrinkage progresses, move the nozzle back & forth slowly, shrinking the tubing in both directions until the ends are shrunk. The tubing shrinks in diameter but not lengthwise which was a welcomed surprise to me as the type used in the telecommunications industry shrinks both ways.

If applying the heat shrink and you apply extreme heat for too long, it will scortch the tubing. In that case, stop the heat application & remove the tubing to start over with a new piece. This can happen very fast if using a torch or open flame to apply heat with.

Skip

I pour boiling water over the shrink tube - safe if done with care and a nice even application of sufficient heat as the water runs round and down the tubing

Phillip Willms Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What is your method of choice for getting those
> little buggers to shrink down? I tried a blow
> dryer, but it didn't move much. I also cut a
> little piece off and put it in the microwave and
> it shrunk down real good, problem is I can't fit a
> 9' rod in a microwave. So what do all of you guys
> use to shrink it down?
> -Phillip

So dumb question... What are you using it for? I saw that someone is using it to build arbors for reel seats, but what are some of the other uses?

-- Cheers
-- James

i use the heat shrink material for covering cork grips, from golden witch. adds a nice touch for the occasional rod i deliver to a friend. i have been using a hair dryer and it did take several minutes i think, at least a concerted effort to get it started shrinking and complete, yet not 100% to my satisfaction. i think the electric stove burner is a great idea and i'm whackng myself up the head for not thinking of it sooner. great idea without additional expense of me. i'll have to try it next time.

eric
fresno, ca.

I use it to make grips. Using cord I wrap the grip area in a pattern that I like and whip the ends with thread. Cover the cord wrap with the heat shrink tubing and heat.....Instant, patterened grip.

Derek