Creative Uses for Heat Shrink Tubing

Creative Uses for Heat Shrink Tubing:

Heat Shrink Tubing is one of those versatile items that can be used in many different ways. Once you get familiar with how it works, you’ll likely find it is an indispensable addition to your tool box along with duct tape and wire ties. We asked our customers and scoured the internet and compiled a list of some handy ways to utilize heat shrink tubing.

1. Add a grippy surface to tools. A piece of heat shrink tubing on box wrenches, crescent wrenches, channel locks, etc., can add grip texture and cushion. This is especially useful if the factory grip material has worn away. Use colored tubing to make your tools easy to spot amongst your co-workers.
2. Add insulation to tools. Heat shrink on the shafts of screwdrivers provides electrical insulation and reduces the likelihood of causing a short.
3. Prevent fraying of rope or cable. If you need to cut stranded rope or cable, add a section of heat shrink over the spot to be cut. Now when you cut the rope/cable, the ends won’t fray out. Small pieces can also be used to replace those little plastic ends on shoelaces – which are called ‘aglets’ BTW. Here is a guy who gets way into his shoelaces: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/agletheatshrink.htm
4. Color coding. Use different colors to make the various size wrenches easy to spot. This is especially effective on hex wrenches. Place different colors over the heads of keys to make your car key stand out from the rest.
5. Labeling. Clear heat shrink can make it easy to label odd shaped and textured items. Make a label with some tape or a label maker, then heat shrink it to the item with clear tubing.
6. Stop rattles. Shrink tubing over sections of chain or other jangly items to prevent annoying rattles.
7. Prevent tangles. Shrink together multiple wires to keep them from tangling. This works really well on headphone wires.
8. Random repairs. Heat shrink tubing makes an effective temporary repair. For instance you can place heat shrink over the temple of glasses when you lose the screw.
9. Stop leaks. Shrink tubing over a leaky pipe or hose to create a temporary repair. Adhesive lined heat shrink tubing works best for this application.

Got a cool use for heat shrink not listed here? Post up and share!