[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Easy removal of Heat Shrink Tubing

[Grant Saviers]

Roger's heat shrink removal explanation shows one peril of adhesive heat 
shrink, that is the adhesive is not really adhered to the connector 
body.  Andrew specifies preheating of Heliax connector bodies prior to 
slipping on the adhesive shrink and then shrinking the tubing.  Of 
course the larger the connector, the more it is a heat sink that doesn't 
get hot enough thru the wall of the tubing for the adhesive to tightly 
bond to the metal.

IMO, unless the adhesive is adhered to the connector the joint will be 
tight, but not totally watertight.  However, there still is some 
protection and an excellent strain relief.  I think the cable jacket 
fairly easily gets hot enough to have the adhesive stick to it.

Grant KZ1W

On 12/21/2015 12:08 PM, Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:
>
> If the connection is cool or cold, this approach works better than 
> warm or hot.
> Room temp works well, but may leave more residue.
>
> There is a bit of a learning curve.  Some pick it up right away while 
> others, not so much.
> Using a sharp knife, or box cutter with the blade extended just enough 
> to cut through the heat shrink.
> Make a single cut  lengthwise from one end to the other of the heat 
> shrink. A second cut on the other side works well, but it's another 
> chance to cut into the coax jacket.  The cut does not need to go all 
> the way through the heat shrink
>
> Using a pair of pliers, channel locks / slip joint pliers grab the 
> heat shrink at or close to the cut with the other jaw of the pliers 
> about one third of the way around the coax and pinch the heat shrink.  
> If you go too far it will pinch the coax. That should pull a section 
> away from the coax jacket Repeat on each side of the cut along the 
> length of the seat shrink.
>
> Doing takes less time than explaining.
>
> If the connection is cool, the heat shrink adhesive "usually" breaks 
> away from the connector, leaving the connector relatively clean.
>  http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/connectors.htm  The splice 
> shown in the bottom right side photo shows a N-Type connector splice 
> after the flooded (adhesive lined) heat shrink has been removed. Some 
> residual glue is visible on the coax jacket but the connectors are 
> relatively clean
>