Shrink-wrapped hilts...Mats?

[Taugon Siraut]

Hello all. I am a returning fan of sabers and have been gone for sometime (I think the last "new" thing I remember seeing was the first soundboard from TCSS). I was lurking in the gallery a couple days ago and saw that sabersmiths have taken to shrinkwrapping hilts for grip. I was wondering what is being used and what is the cost. I have a saber I have been working on for around three years and really want to finish it. Thanks for your time and your info!!! Happy building!!

[X]

I used non-adhesive lined heatshrink from frys electronics it was about 5 bucks for the a 4-5ft length.

[Taugon Siraut]

So you just slide it on then use a heat gun or blow-dryer?

[Lord Maul]

Yes. When I use heatshrink as grip I actually put it in the oven. That way it shrinks perfectly even.

[Taugon Siraut]

what size shrink-wrap do you use?

[Azmaria Dei]

and what do you do about text on your shrink wrap?

[Lord Maul]

I got 2" diameter heatshrink.

What text on the shrink wrap? The white labeling letters? I just used some thinner and they came right off.

[Jedi-Loreen]

Shrink wrap is different than heat shrink. ;)

[Azmaria Dei]

Shrink wrap is different than heat shrink. ;)

sorry, i was half asleep. i meant heat shrink. i must still be asleep because i can't remember what shrink wrap is...

LM, those are the letters i mean. thanks! ^_^

[Lord Maul]

Shrink wrap is different than heat shrink. ;)

LOL, you and your technicalities. Yes, heatshrink, not shrink wrap (what is used to wrap pallets)

[Jedi-Loreen]

My comment was to the original poster, Az. I didn't even notice that you also typed that. :p

There is a type of clear shrink wrap that shrinks using heat. I've used the kind that comes in bags, to put gift baskets into. You close it up and use a hair dryer on it to shrink it around the item.

[Taugon Siraut]

I was half asleep as well when I typed it up :-/. You think I might be able to find the heat-shrink at a bigger hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot?

[Grackle]

I was half asleep as well when I typed it up :-/. You think I might be able to find the heat-shrink at a bigger hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot?

Those places generally don't sell diddly squat for electronics. You'll have to go someplace like a Fry's or Norvac or other electronics supplier to get heatshrink. Or just buy it online. Mouser sells it online in their wiring supplies section.

[cardcollector]

I like to use 1.5" sized heatshrink... Works well over those polywashers you use for sinktube. You can use a lighter- but it is a pain to get it perfect. Use a heatgun, or better yet an oven.

[Ronan]

I like to use 1.5" sized heatshrink... Works well over those polywashers you use for sinktube. You can use a lighter- but it is a pain to get it perfect. Use a heatgun, or better yet an oven.

Wanna share the settings for the oven?

I would think low/medium heat for a couple minutes?

[cardcollector]

I just put the hilt in the oven and watched till it stopped shrinking at 350 degrees... It wasnt very long at all. I bought my heatshrink at a local electronics store so I can't give you the exact type.

[Lord Maul]

I looked up the shrink temp for my heatshrink. I forget what it was, it was a few months ago. If you read the packaging it'll tell you at what temp it begins to shrink. Set the oven for that and enjoy

[eastern57]

I have used 3" and 4". Recommend using a heat gun (vice hair dryer). I haven't tried the oven.

http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=640&CFID=45146424&CFTOKEN=15920794

It says 2:1, but it shrinks further, it just makes the "padding" thicker.

3" heat-shrink tubing around 1.25" tube:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn260/eastern57/Sonata/th_DSC06304.jpg (http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn260/eastern57/Sonata/?action=view&current=DSC06304.jpg)http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn260/eastern57/Lightsaber%20Rapier/th_DSC07030.jpg (http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn260/eastern57/Lightsaber%20Rapier/?action=view&current=DSC07030.jpg)

4" heat-shrink tubing around 1.375" tube:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn260/eastern57/Anakin%20custom/th_DSC07073.jpg (http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn260/eastern57/Anakin%20custom/?action=view&current=DSC07073.jpg)


To get those perfectly squared ends: Stick it in the freezer for an hour+, and use a pipe cutter to cut the rubber only. I try to cut until it pokes through, then I finish with an x-acto knife. If you make a boo-boo or wrinkle it, you can touch it up with a little bit of heat, but not too much.

;)

[dgdve]

... @ E... Why is this the first time I'm seeing the "rapier saber"?.... beastly undertones make that seem like a serious dueler

[Azmaria Dei]

... @ E... Why is this the first time I'm seeing the "rapier saber"?.... beastly undertones make that seem like a serious dueler

he posted it in the gallery a while back... did you not see it?

[RoqueSaber]

Quick question on this subject: can you slide sinktube over a hilt with heatshrink on it, or is the heatshrink too thick?

[Lord Maul]

Too thick if you are wanting to put heatshrink over a MHS hilt. If you were to machine the hilt section down then it'd be a possibility.

[eastern57]

... @ E... Why is this the first time I'm seeing the "rapier saber"?.... beastly undertones make that seem like a serious dueler

[HAL-9000] I'm afraid I can't tell you why you did not see it, Dave. I am only capable of posting something, Dave; observation is for you to accomplish, Dave. I believe that you will enjoy it, Dave. Please click here, Dave. (http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com/showthread.php?11751-Lightsaber-rapier-by-eastern57) [/HAL-9000]

:D :D :D :D :D

[Taugon Siraut]

I can only find a 1.35" OD tube so far. Would this work over a MHS hilt or is it too small?

[Rafalema]

Standard MHS OD is 1.45"

[Taugon Siraut]

Thanks... I had a feeling. I was just trying to avoid paying twice the amount I would have paid in store to ship it...*contemplates*

[Taugon Siraut]

I found a 1.5" tube that seems to fit, and I was wondering if there was a trick to lining it up. The tube says that it shrinks to 80% of it's full size, so I was wondering if I needed to leave some overhang to ensure even coverage or something of that sort. Any ideas? OH, it is 6" long and for a main hilt body. Thanks for your help!!!

[Jedi-Loreen]

It will shrink a little lengthwise, too, so cut it a little long and you can trim up the ends with an X-acto knife after you shrink it.

[Jedi_Knight_Zekk]

Those places generally don't sell diddly squat for electronics. You'll have to go someplace like a Fry's or Norvac or other electronics supplier to get heatshrink. Or just buy it online. Mouser sells it online in their wiring supplies section.
Or, you can go to Tim and the store sells it. You just have to find the right measurements of the heat-shrink

[Jedi-Loreen]

Um, Zekk, Tim doesn't sell 1.5" heat shrink, or any that will fit over an MHS or sink tube hilt.

Pay attention to what the thread's actually about.

[Jedi_Knight_Zekk]

Um, Zekk, Tim doesn't sell 1.5" heat shrink, or any that will fit over an MHS or sink tube hilt.

OH, my apologies. Well I knew he didn't sell any to fit over a saber, I knew that much but I thought he sold bigger heat shrink

[Jedi-Loreen]

Then look in the Store yourself, before telling someone else to look in the Store for something, to make sure it's actually there. ;)

[Azmaria Dei]

yep, no larger heatshrink in the store! here's all the heatshrink Tim carries, as well as wire.

http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Wire-Heatshrink-C20.aspx