Small Diameter Shrink Tubing?

[tehachapifan]

Looking for some small diameter heat shrink tubing that would work well with wire sizes that come on many wired decoders (like ESU). All I ever seem to find is too large in diameter and won't shrink quite enough over that size wire. Want to start using this for solder joints as my previous go-to of using liquid tape is just not quite working as well as I'd hoped.

Thanks!

[peteski]

The smallest diameter and thinnest wall HS tubing I found is https://componentsupplycompany.com/product-pages/ptfe-shrink-tubing-2-1-lw.php . Pricey in small sizes but it will do the job.  That company also sells lots of useful items (like hypodermic tubing).

[tehachapifan]

Thanks!

[Steveruger45]

Here is some 0.8mm pre shrink size and with a shrink ratio of 2:1 on EBay which should work as ESU decoder wire is 0.5mm OD.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/192269790069

[MK]

Also check Digi-Key.  I've gotten small shrink tubing (1/16" before shrinking)  from them and they had a lot of sizes available.  At the time I wasn't looking for the ultra small ones.

[wazzou]

Curious, with this small diameter tubing, is it enough to just get a hot soldering iron tip within close proximity to do the deed?

[peteski]

Curious, with this small diameter tubing, is it enough to just get a hot soldering iron tip within close proximity to do the deed?

Yes, but it is best to use larger (like a chisel) tip. Small long conical tip will not give out much heat at the pointy end.

[woodone]

I have been using 3/32 (some time referred to has #3 ) for years/ I just got some .008 shrink.
There is very little difference . If you work at it you can slip the .008 into the 3/32 shrink (note the word work) so it is smaller.
One thing that will help you is to roll joint with your fingers just after you remove the heat.
Also- plan your cuts- I splice then hook to components , this lets you roll the shrink and make the joint smaller.