As the subject says, what alternative uses have you found for heatshrink tubing, apart from the obvious one of insulating electrical connections?

Today, I noticed the electrical tape wrapped around my wheelbrace socket (to protect my alloys) was getting a bit tatty, so 5 mins later, I had produced this:




Much better than tape, I hope you’ll agree? That got me looking around, and the next “victim” was the handle of my 3Te trolley jack, always lacking grip to turn the valve, and now much better to use in this freezing cold weather.

Do you have any more handy uses for this versatile stuff?  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

I carry a number of lengths of extra large sizes of both adhesive and non-adhesive lined which are suitable for roadside repairs to boost pipes, coolant pipes and the like.

Also used to create grippy cushioned tool handles by wrapping the tool in thin closed cell foam then shrinking tube over the top.

Use to tidy up the ends of cords and ropes and on shoelaces when the aglets break up or fall off.

Use different coloured bands to identify tools like screwdrivers at a glance (like red for Phillips, green Pozidrive).

I've also done the same with the sockets I use for wheel nuts/bolts.

Loads of good things to do with heatshrink! 2012 (L322) 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE, RSE, Fuji White over Arabica.
Previous V8s: BMW 645Ci, P38 4.6, P38 4.0, Merc CL500
Previous others: Honda x1, Volvo x7, Rover x6, BMW x6, Ford x1, Mercedes x2, Skoda x3, VW x2, Renault x2, Citroen x1, Mazda x3, Nissan x1, Audi x3, Kia x1, Fiat x4, Subaru x3, Austin x2, Triumph x2, Jeep x2, Hyundai x2, Lexus x1, Mitsubishi x1, Saab x2... and some others I've forgotten!

Some really good ones there Dan, keep them coming, folks!

What started me off was I had some leftovers from making ruggedised waterproof looms for electric bikes. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

A few years back I was on a motorcycle ride with a few mates. Suddenly, one of the bikes had the front tyre rapidly deflate. We couldn’t see anything in the tyre to explain it.

Then one of us noticed that the valve stem looked awry. Something had hit the stem and almost severed it. We were a long way from the nearest town so we were contemplating one of us riding to the next big town to organise a pickup.

Whilst doing this, a technician from the telephone company pulled up to see if he could help. We explained the problem and he came up with a solution. He got some heatshrink (the type with glue inside), slipped it over the valve stem and shrunk it on. The molten glue kept it all together and sealed it.

We inflated the tyre and made it into town, Ron B. VK2OTC
2003 L322 V8 Auto
2007 Yamaha XJR1300
Previous: 1983, 1986 RRC; 1995, 1996 P38A; 1995 Disco1; 1984 V8 County 110; Series IIA

The best use for heatshrink on an L322 would be to go round all the electrical plugs and sockets and cover the exposed wires between the loom and connector i.e something JLR should have done at the factory but likley it saved a few £ in production costs so they didn't..... 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Gremlin500 wrote:

Some really good ones there Dan, keep them coming, folks!

What started me off was I had some leftovers from making ruggedised waterproof looms for electric bikes.

Dan dare I say you are even more OCD than me, if that’s possible and obviously our heatshrink expert!

I take it you DIDN’T actually heat-shrink it over said finger?

Hmmmm, let’s not ponder too long on other possible medical uses, and no pictures, please  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

Oh yeah, I did heatshrink it over the finger. Just used the heat from the exhaust to allow it to nip into place!

It's actually a pretty good insulator. And an excellent wound dressing.

I do go through a *lot* of heatshrink. 2012 (L322) 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE, RSE, Fuji White over Arabica.
Previous V8s: BMW 645Ci, P38 4.6, P38 4.0, Merc CL500
Previous others: Honda x1, Volvo x7, Rover x6, BMW x6, Ford x1, Mercedes x2, Skoda x3, VW x2, Renault x2, Citroen x1, Mazda x3, Nissan x1, Audi x3, Kia x1, Fiat x4, Subaru x3, Austin x2, Triumph x2, Jeep x2, Hyundai x2, Lexus x1, Mitsubishi x1, Saab x2... and some others I've forgotten!

Just noticed I called you “Dan dare” above, and now it seems appropriate!

I use a little modelling-type hot air gun, and the tip temperature is 200C!
-I’ll not be waving that at any of my body parts, no matter how well-insulating!

It must be true, you couldn’t make that up  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

Oh aye, I still have the scar.

Honestly the worst thing was it was about this time of year and it was bloody cold riding over Hartside top back to near Durham with a finger missing from my glove.

My own stupid fault. I noticed a weep from the fuel cock on the bike where the end of the hose had split. Trying to cut the rock hard cold pipe to shorten it to a good apot the Stanley slipped and I caught my left little finger near the tip. 2012 (L322) 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE, RSE, Fuji White over Arabica.
Previous V8s: BMW 645Ci, P38 4.6, P38 4.0, Merc CL500
Previous others: Honda x1, Volvo x7, Rover x6, BMW x6, Ford x1, Mercedes x2, Skoda x3, VW x2, Renault x2, Citroen x1, Mazda x3, Nissan x1, Audi x3, Kia x1, Fiat x4, Subaru x3, Austin x2, Triumph x2, Jeep x2, Hyundai x2, Lexus x1, Mitsubishi x1, Saab x2... and some others I've forgotten!

Just wondering, can you buy it in big enough diameter to cut a sleeve to put over the troublesome throttle body (4.4 tdV8 ) to get an air tight seal , which could easily be cut off if ever it needed to be removed ??
Mike. G reg 2.5VM Vogue Portofino red 1991- 1999
V reg 2.5td P38 Rioja red 1999- 2006
53 reg td6 Vogue Oslo blue 2006- 2015
11 reg 4.4 TdV8 Vogue SE. Baltic blue 2015- date.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56162...tty+affair

Just for all us “heatshrink junkies” out there:

https://www.hypex.co.uk/Techflex-Sleeving-...olyolefin/

 “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

Baltic Blue wrote:

Just wondering, can you buy it in big enough diameter to cut a sleeve to put over the troublesome throttle body (4.4 tdV8 ) to get an air tight seal , which could easily be cut off if ever it needed to be removed ??
Mike.

This is why this forum is so brilliant, I’ve now got so much heatshrink I’m looking for things to shrink it too - apparently our cutlery doesn’t need additional grippage according to the other half, despite the variety of colours I’ve offered

Quote:

This is why this forum is so brilliant, I’ve now got so much heatshrink I’m looking for things to shrink it too - apparently our cutlery doesn’t need additional grippage according to the other half, despite the variety of colours I’ve offered