Where the heck do you buy "good" heat shrink

[ransil]

unless the splice is going to be in an unprotected, read wet, area i wouldn't use the 'good' heat shrink. I work on circuits in tanks, and we never use the oozing shrink, but then everything we do goes into a sealed box that gets leak tested, zero water ever gets inside...till the marines hose off the box with a fire hose - jerks.

One thing to mention about the solder. Most solder you will ever use is flux-cored solder. The flux is a chemical which acts as a heat transfer helping the solder gun move heat to the solder. Thereby giving more even heat and therefore a better solder joint. This is all well and good, except that the flux is corrosive. If you are splicing in a harness, and you want it to last 30 years, take some extra precaution. Use a brush with some alcohol and clean the splice prior to closing with heat shrink. This is all stuff we were told during our solder certification for a government contractor. I know we beat up our broncos way more than the military beats on their tanks, so every little bit helps.

Sorry for the book, just passing information.

Get solder with an RMA type core ( flux). Do not get RA or any of those no-clean types or the no lead stuff. Do not shop in the plumbing department.
Size does matter .035 is should work for Bronco work, to big you end up with a blob and not enough cleaning from the flux.

 

[45acp]

Why not use an open flame?

I have always used the good ole blue bottle propane torch, flame pointed upward from underneath and the actual flame inches away from the wrap. Its always worked great. ?:?

 

[thegreatjustino]

Well, I have to give a big thanks to Mark at Wildhorses. I stopped in to pick up a couple of parts today and mentioned that I was trying to find the good heat shrink. While he didn't have a direct source for it, he told me to look up electronic supply stores - hobby type places. Found a place locally that carries it after two phone calls. Thanks Mark ----- :-*

 

[67u13]

I buy mine at a local bolt store. Home depot sells some but you have to buy it in a wire splice kit.

 

[grant_71]

Anybody seen the non heat shrink tubing, i will have to see if i can dig up a pic, you cut it to fit, make your splice then pull a little band and it cinches up around the wire, pretty nifty.

Grant

 

[ransil]

Why not use an open flame?

I have always used the good ole blue bottle propane torch, flame pointed upward from underneath and the actual flame inches away from the wrap. Its always worked great. ?:?

If you look at the specs of shrink , it shrinks at 300 degrees f, sometime more is not better, a blue flame is 1800 degrees f.

I made up the numbers feel free to look them up.

 

[45acp]

I see.

I was taught to keep the flame a long ways away from the shrink (5-6" maybe), and hold the bottle underneath and let the heat go upwards. This way you are getting roughly 300 degrees at the heat shrink and not a direct flame- i think the propane torches are 2400 degrees or thereabouts. There is a technique to it and im sure you could quickly boil a bunch of heat shrink learning the process. ;D

Im sure a heat gun would work 100x better but its on my "tools i need but never really think about" list.