Customized heat shrink tubing is beneficial with businesses in the electrical, mechanical, and communication fields. Using the right heat shrink accessories, such as a heat gun, can help ensure the proper placement of the protective coating.
Furthermore, heat shrink can be used as a branding opportunity or as a way to label wires and components. Whether you opt for heat shrink tubing with customized texts and images to promote your business or require custom heat shrink to categorize wiring and to identify hazardous materials, it’s imperative that the text is not compromised during and after the heating of the tubing.
What Is Heat Shrink Tubing and How Does It Work?
Heat shrink tubing is a thermoplastic tube used as a protective layer to surround wires, cables, and other sensitive products. The material is designed to shrink radially once heat is applied. Heat shrink tubing is manufactured by using an extrusion method to create a tube shape with a polymer plastic material. Then, the tube is heated to expand the diameter and set to cool as is.
The diameter of the tubing shrinks back to its original size once heat is applied. The tubing works as an insulator, and it prevents strain and stress on the enclosed product. As a protective layering, the heat shrink tubing shields from moisture, dust, cuts, peeling, denting, and abrasion.
How to Use a Heat Gun or Micro Torch on Heat Shrink Tubing
Custom heat shrink tubing has many functions, mainly to protective delicate and sensitive electrical and mechanical components. Using a heat gun or a micro torch to shrink the tubing takes precise application to avoid damage to the targeted product.
When using any type of heat source, make sure to follow the safety recommendations from the manufacturer. Also take into consideration the project, setting, and working conditions. The heat source should be positioned about one centimetre from the tubing that needs to be shrunk. For best results, move the gun or torch in a back-and-forth motion along the length of the tubing, rotating to ensure the entire tube is heated.
Here are some other tips:
- Don’t overheat the tubing itself.
- Each type of heat shrink tubing has a heat ceiling to follow – make sure to read that.
- Too much heat can damage or destroy not only the customized tubing but also the product it is meant to protect.
- Only use a heating tool for what it was intended to do.
Buy Heat Guns from ShrinkShop
ShrinkShop has the widest selection of reliable heat shrink tubing and related products for all of your electrical, mechanical, and communication needs. In addition to supplying Thermafix Heat Shrinkable Tubing and the adhesive-lined Thermafix Plus Heat Shrinkable Tubing, we offer a TFX2050 Butane Micro Torch and TFX-3000 Two Stage General Purpose Hot Air Gun.
Contact us for a consultation on how our advanced technology of custom cuts and customized printing can enhance your business needs.