Heat Shrink Tube - Heating

[pbrowne]

What do you use for heating heat shrink tube?

This is obviously for model car kits, e.g. pipe connections etc.

Currently using a lighter to do this on metal 1/20 MFH pipes, but I don't like cleaning up the smoke residue/soot on the part or the possibility or melting the tube.

The other issue is what about plastic kits??

I have thought about purchasing a heat gun, but they aren't cheap.

[steinietrabi]

I use a small heat gun.

Something like that...
Mini heat gun

I think I bought it back then on Amazon or Ebay (the usual suspects ).
It wasn't a big deal, and it's also much more controllable than with a lighter.

[Paul_OFarrell]

Hi pbrowne,

Cleaner results without soot can be gained by using a light globe or (in some cases) a hair dryer.

As with anything new, it's alwayd best to test the idea on scrap items first.

Cheers, Paul
Sydney, Oz

[CK]

There are different types of heat shrink tubes.

The more general PVC type heat shrink tubes have shrink temperature around 93 deg C (200 deg F). This can be used over styrene plastics as its deformation temperature is around the same range. Care must be taken not to transfer too much heat from the tubing to the plastic part.

I use solder iron to shrink the tubes a lot of time. It is more controllable than a heat gun and heat is very much local to the contact point. It is better not to use the solder tip to heat the tube as it will ruin the tip and make the tip not usable for actual soldering. I always use the upper part of the solder tip for this work.

[notime4me]

I use a heat gun myself but I have seen someone on a video using an incense stick or heating a nail til it's red hot (held in pliers of course!)

[cbk57]

What about dipping in boiling water? I am contemplating this as I need to heat 6 connections on one plastic part. Was thinking of dipping one side, then the other. However I am also considering just cutting some thin strips of electrical tape and wrapping those six joints. To be specific it is the shifting control unit on the 1/12 ferrari 641.

[Orso]

Be careful with plastic and boiling water. I used boiling water to widen the sides of a car body. I managed to widen it at the rear so that it would fit but the plastic shrunk so the luggage door didn't fit anymore.

[Shiiya]

Be careful with plastic and boiling water. I used boiling water to widen the sides of a car body. I managed to widen it at the rear so that it would fit but the plastic shrunk so the luggage door didn't fit anymore.

I will never boiling plastic into water anymore , I tried it to fix a slight bent and the result was even worse