Tips on using heat-shrink tubing

What’s the right way to shrink?

The shrinking process should begin in the middle of the tube and be carried out evenly towards both ends of the tube.

This prevents air from becoming trapped and the resulting formation of bubbles.

Is the object to be covered made of metal?

If the object to be covered is made of metal, it should be heated before shrinking, as otherwise the heat will be dissipated and a firm, snug fit cannot be guaranteed.

Allow for longitudinal shrinkage

When cutting the heat-shrink tubing to size, take into account the material’s potential longitudinal shrinkage. Depending on the material and the required shrink ratio, you can expect longitudinal shrinkage of up to 10 per cent.

Choosing the right size of heat-shrink tubing

When choosing the right heat-shrink tubing, the 80:20 rule should ideally be followed. To achieve a good shrink result, the heat-shrink tubing should shrink by at least 20 per cent and no more than 80 per cent of its full shrink capacity.

What shrink temperature should be used?

Not all heat-shrink tubing shrinks at the same temperature. You can find the correct shrink temperature in the data sheets. Process times vary depending on the material, wall thickness and shrink temperature.

Which heat guns are recommended for shrinking?

We recommend the Steinel HG 2320 E hot-air gun for shrinking our heat-shrink tubing. You can also purchase this directly from us. Depending on the material and diameter, various nozzles are available, e.g. reflector nozzles, wide-jet nozzles, etc.

Please get in touch – we’d be happy to advise you!