heat shrink

[robhil]

Hi all,

Been alot of talk on facebook on using heatshrink instead of wraps in a oven.

Anyone on here use it, and is it any good?

TIA

Rob

[UK Printed Mugs]

We used it before we stopped using an oven (for enamel). Have lots somewhere if interest in good price.

[socialgiraffe]

Been using it for a few years now quite a bit on unusual shapes and stuff where I do not have the silicone wraps.

Also used it on prints where I have printed under the handle and also ON the handle

Brilliant stuff

[robhil]

what sort of heat gun did you use?

Could you recommend one.

[socialgiraffe]

what sort of heat gun did you use?

Could you recommend one.

I just grabbed a cheap one from B&Q, cheapest I could find that was there on the shelf. It doesn't have to be anything special. I tend to operate the gun as if I was spraying something, moving left to right in sweeping motions gradually warming the heat shrink up. Go too hot and the stuff will melt.

Tips for heat shrink are:
Firstly, make sure you get the best size for whatever you are covering. This makes shrinking a lot easier.
Get yourself a load of different sizes and practice, there is a knack to doing it which just requires a bit of practice.
Make sure your oven is not too hot otherwise your heatshrink will melt and go "flappy"
DO NOT leave the heatshrink to cool, remove it from your item as soon as it comes out of the oven

Personally I have only ever used it in a bulk printing scenario once. This was for breakfast bowls where there was a continuous print around the entire bowl (without any break), it worked very well but was a bit labour intensive for my liking. I have used it hundreds of times for very bespoke items which is where I think it comes into its own, for example printing under and on the handle of mugs, or full coverage top to bottom and all the way round coffee travel mugs etc. etc.

[robhil]

Thanks for the replies, OH is badgering me about what to I want for christmas, might add a heat gun to the list.