Shrinkflex® Heatshrink End Caps

Heat shrink tubing is capable of sealing the entire surface of a cable or wire, but can’t be closed off at the end (should that be necessary). That’s where heat shrink end caps come into play: they’re shaped to fit over the ends of wires & cables. These end caps are adhesive lined, so that when one is fitted over the end of a wire, it forms a bond with the heat shrink tubing that it’s overlapping. The seal is completed when heat is applied: the adhesive melts and becomes fully activated, and the end cap material shrinks to a snug and exact fit around the cable’s end.

STEP ONE: Ensure that your cable or wire is clean and free of debris to ensure proper adhesion.

STEP TWO: Choose the correct end cap diameter for your application, taking in account the shrink ratio to ensure a tight fit.

STEP THREE: Place the end cap over the wire end and position it to your satisfaction. If you are using this product in conjunction with standard heatshrink tubing be sure to overlap the end cap & heatshrink tubing to ensure a weather tight seal.

STEP FOUR: Begin heating the end cap from the closed end and work your way toward the open end to prevent any shifting. Be sure to continuously move the heat gun evenly across the end cap to ensure consistent shrinking all the way around.

STEP FIVE: Continue applying heat until the adhesive lining begins to seep out of the open end. Once this occurs and your end cap is fit tightly you can stop applying heat.

STEP SIX: Allow the end cap to cool fully before handling.

The shrink ratio is the approximate maximum amount that heatshrink tubing will shrink relative to the unshrunk diameter. For example, a piece of 3/4" heatshrink tubing with a 3:1 shrink ratio will shrink down to a maximum diameter of approximately 1/4" when fully shrunk. All heatshrink tubing on our site is specified in it's UNSHRUNK diameter, so consider the shrink ratio and the unshrunk diameter when ordering heatshrink tubing. Heatshrink tubing with a larger shrink ratio will be more forgiving when fitting the tubing over plugs or connectors, but will have a bit thicker wall thickness and slightly less flexibility when shrunk then a lower ratio product.