Gamma Electronics Blog
How to Use Heat Shrink Tape
Heat shrinkable tape is a fantastic tool that makes it easier than ever to protect something, like wires or a wire harness, with heat shrink tubing.
Heat shrink tape gets around the limitations of heat shrink tubing, which typically would need to have wires or a wire harness run through the tubing before the tubing is shrunk down. If you have wires, a hose, a wire harness, etc. that has already been installed, it would be difficult and in some cases impossible to get heat shrink tubing around or over it. In these situations, heat shrink tape can easily wrap around what you are trying to protect, and then be shrunk down.
Below we’ve listed step-by-step instructions on how to install our heat shrinkable tape, in addition to a video which also goes through the process in a little more than 2 minutes.
Watch Our Install Video
FIX-105 Heat Shrinkable Tape
Our FIX-105 Tape is a heat shrinkable tape that is available in different widths, lengths, and colors, in addition to having a heavy wall option.
1 – Wear Gloves
When using any type of heat shrink tubing product you should always wear gloves to protect yourself from the heat coming off of either a heat gun, or in some cases, a blow-torch.
2 – Cut the Heat Shrink Tape
Unroll the tape and cut to your desired length using an everyday pair of scissors.
3 – Heat One End of the Tape Until it Curls
Use a heat gun to heat one end of the heat shrink tape until that end curls. This makes it easy for the curled end to be applied to whatever you are wrapping the tape around.
If you prefer, you can also use a zip tie to hold the tape end in place. You simply want to make sure that the tape will hold its position during the heat shrinking process.
Note: Gamma FIX-105 tape needs to be heated to a temperature of about 200° F in order to shrink, for this reason we do not recommend using a hair dryer, as hair or blow dryers, at their best, only tend to heat up to about 140° F.
4 – Apply Curled End of Tape
Take the heated/curled end of the heat shrinkable tape and apply it to what you desire to wrap the tape over. The heated end should stick, making the next step easier.
5 – Wrap the Tape with Each Wrap Overlapping Itself
Wrap the tape around the cables/wires, (or whatever it is you are wanting to protect), making sure to overlap the heat shrink tape over itself so that once it shrinks, it adheres to itself.
6 – Place a Zip Tie Over the End of the Heat Shrink Tape
Wrap the tape around the cables/wires, (or whatever it is you are wanting to protect), making sure to overlap the heat shrink tape over itself so that once it shrinks, it adheres to itself.
7 – Use a Heat Gun to Shrink the Heat Shrinkable Tape
Use a heat gun to shrink the heat shrinkable tape. Make sure to move the heat around the heat shrink tape, heating it as evenly as possible.
8 – Remove the Cable Tie
Once the heat shrink tape has shrunk down small enough or it is completely shrunk down and in place, move the zip tie off of the tape, and completely remove it by cutting it with a pair of scissors. Make sure you still have gloves on given that the heat shrink tape will be hot if you happen to touch it, and the zip tie will likely be hot as well.
9 – Installation is Complete
Let the tape cool and installation is complete.
Purchase Heat Shrinkable Tape
Our FIX-105 Tape is a heat shrinkable tape that is available in different widths, lengths, and colors, in addition to having a heavy wall option.
