Several industries have become dependent on the reliable application of heat shrinking tubing. Its ability to conform to the specification of a device's internal wiring is a boon to ensuring the continuous safe use of electronic devices everywhere. Computer laboratories, home theater systems, and outdoor wiring wouldn't be the same without these deceptively simple-looking pieces of rubber.

1. The Overlooked Elements of
Heat Shrink Tubing
Engineering Supplies
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2. Several industries have become dependent on the reliable application of heat shrinking tubing. Its ability to
conform to the specification of a device's internal wiring is a boon to ensuring the continuous safe use of
electronic devices everywhere. Computer laboratories, home theater systems, and outdoor wiring wouldn't be
the same without these deceptively simple-looking pieces of rubber.
Building Your Own Electronics
Most people encounter heat shrinking tubing only
after they've been applied to the wires; it's very
uncommon for ordinary people to need the tubes
in their original state. The popularity of building
personal electronics, such as gaming PCs and
consoles, however, is creating a demand for the
unheated tubes that the industry hasn't seen
before.
The only problem with this demand is that people
encountering heat shrinking tubing for the first
time have no idea how to heat them properly and
safely. The most common method is to use crude
instruments such as lighters and handheld
torches. These aren't just unsafe, they compromise
the quality of the tubing as it shrinks in a non-
uniform manner. In order for a tube to become
effective, it needs to receive heat evenly
throughout.

3. Knowing Wire Ratio
Uniform heating is quite difficult to achieve without the right equipment, but it is possible with the proper
attention. But, it's not the only aspect of heat shrink tubing that people should pay attention to; the ratio of the
tubing, and whether it's the most appropriate type for the job, is an often overlooked element of the process. The
most common ratios include 2:1, 4:1, 5:1, and 6:1.
When the tubing is manufactured, they're stretched to the wide form that they appear in when they arrive at
electronic stores. The heating simply allows them to shrink to their "original diameters"; the ratio is the only
indicator of how small or big that diameter really is. If the builder misinterprets the shrink ratio of the wire, they
can potentially end up with a loose fitting tube, or an easily broken tight fit.
It's always best not to trust household appliances or conventional wisdom whenever heat and electronics are used
in the same context. Ensure the safety of everything and everyone in the area before even attempting to begin to
heat shrink tubes onto wires.

4. SOURCES:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24432590
http://www.engineeringsupplies.com.au/subCategory.asp?id=5164
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/working-with-wire/wire-thickness