[FallenAngel]

The heatgun from Canadian Tire for about $15 works like a charm. Doesn't break the bank either and works much better than the hair dryer.

 

[flecom]

i got this for like $15 at my local NTE dealer... i like it cause its portable

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/masmt11.html

works great for heatshrink and when i have to solder large connectors like PL-259's etc

 

[MoonHawk]

I use a butane lighter keeping the flame about 4" away. Fairly easy to not scorch your work if you keep moving.


Scott

 

[ziplock]

I use a bic lighter as well. Cheap, easy, and quick once you get the method down. My wife would kill me if I touched her blow dryers and I don't want to spend money on a heat gun.

~Zip

 

[kklee]

BIC Lighter for me as well. Just keep the flame moving and if it starts smoking, it's over done!

 

[hardnrg]

for visible heatshrink I use a 2000W Revlon hairdryer... for heatshrink that's going to be hidden I might use a lighter if I'm feeling lazy

 

[Eagleboy]

Commercial heatgun here... I think it gets too hot for some heatshrinks though (scorched some white HS here and there). I tend to blow the circuit in my room with it, so sometimes I just use a lighter which works quite fine.

 

[Ech0]

I use a heatgun on low setting. I actually melted some techflex the first time I used the heatgun on high setting. Prior to that I used an "Aim N Flame". Both worked fine although the heatgun is more convenient.

 

[threepointone]

hairdryer--the one i have in particular has this air-focusing attachment which works much better than the huge nozzle hairdryers usually have. How focused the air is really determines how well it works on heatshrink.

 

[Plarzy]

I use a bic as well, for home audio stuff as well as some heat shrink useage at work. They're the cheapest and easiest. If you hold the heatshrink to the side of the flame instead of above it, you can avoid the scorching. Just get it close enough to apply the heat from the flame, you don't want to set it on fire!

 

[thebob]

Just an idea but could you iron it?

As long as you could roll the cable it might work.

 

[MANZOORAHMED611]

I have an electric stove and use it to shrink the heat shrink and hold the cable a few inches above the stove with pliers to avoid burning my fingers. Takes a few seconds and I get excellent results.

 

[slowpogo]

I use my stove as well, though it has gas burners. I use the low setting, where the flames are small, blue and stable, and move the cable around about an inch above them. Doesn't burn anything but shrinks quickly and uniformly. It's a much better method than using a lighter.

 

[Fitz]

I chug a whole lot of hotsauce real quick, then breathe on the heatshrink. Sometimes I also use a 1500W heatgun when I run out of hotsauce.

 

[MASantos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz /img/forum/go_quote.gif I chug a whole lot of hotsauce real quick, then breathe on the heatshrink. Sometimes I also use a 1500W heatgun when I run out of hotsauce.

ROTFL!!!

I use a 10€ heatgun myself, much better than a lighter or a hairdrier.