The open flame will /work/, but a heat gun is safer, easier and reduces the
chance of
scorching to near zero. At my work location we shrink-wrap some large
electro-mechanical
components for overseas shipment, and sure, we could use a blowtorch... but it
would be
stupid when the heat guns do the job safer and more easily.
Gary McCormick
San Jose, CA
"Dziuba, Larry" wrote:
> An open flame works fine. Just don't use it if the cables are already in
> the engine compartment. I use a very cheap bar-b-q starter (oversized Bic
> lighter for $2.00). Just keep it at a safe distance and move it constantly.
> I have never had a problem. Larry.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patrick J. Horne [mailto:horne@cs.utexas.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 9:58 AM
> To: JRDMF@aol.com
> Cc: LauryV@MTA.NET; datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: cable housing
>
> If the hair drier is not fast enough for you, and the cost of
> a "heat gun" is too much for your pocket ($80 or more), go to
> your local hobby shop and ask for a heat shrink gun. Some
> model air planes use heat shrink film for their wing covering.
> I bought a heat gun a couple of years ago for $35. It doesn't
> put out the 700 degree heat that my Master gun dies, but it
> works fine for general shrinking.
>
> Peace,
> Pat
>
> - Support Habitat for Humanity, A "hand up", not a "hand out" -
>
> Pat Horne, Network Manager, Shop Supervisor, Future planner
> CS Dept, University of Texas, Austin, Tx. 78712 USA
> voice (512)471-9730, fax (512)471-8885, horne@cs.utexas.edu
>
> On Tue, 17 Jul 2001 JRDMF@aol.com wrote:
>
> > Heat-Shrink 101
> >
> > The best way to go here, is to use the 3M brand "FP-301" and the size that
> > works best for the cables is .250 in. As far as heat shrink go's this is
> the
> > cheap stuff which is good, because the really good stuff has a sealer in
> it
> > that liquefies when you heat it up. Gooey cables bad, dry or lubricated
> > cables good. Enough said.
> >
> > I buy this stuff from a little electronics store in Westminster Ca.
> called, J
> > and K Electronics. (714-890-4001).
> > It comes in 4 foot sections, and in all sorts of colors. The last time I
> > bought it was 2 months ago, and cost me $3.10 per section.
> >
> > A few tips I can offer here are: DO NOT shrink this stuff with an open
> flame.
> > It will shrink, but it will also discolor and ruin any detail you hope to
> > achieve. What you need to use is a heat gun, or if you don't have access
> to
> > one, a hair dryer on Max heat will work fine. You should also leave it
> long
> > on the ends, and trim it with a razor blade after you shrink it. One more
> > really neat thing about this stuff is that if you choose a light color, or
> a
> > color that shows the dirt, you can clean it with lacquer thinner, or any
> > other solvent and it doesn't hurt it or change the color.
> >
> > Is that too much information, or what?
> > Jon
> > Huntington Beach, Ca
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