Being the only UK manufacturer of heat shrink sleeving enables us to offer you a product range of heat shrink tubing with a huge choice of specification, materials, colours, sizes and shrink ratios. Our wide range of products includes polyolefin halogen free, adhesive lined, high temperature & DR25 radiation sleeving, as well as a selection of heat guns.
Heat shrink tubing is a polymer sleeve that shrinks tightly around wires or cables when heated, providing insulation and protection. It comes in different shrink ratios (typically 2:1 or 3:1), sizes, and colours, so you can select the perfect fit for your cable.
Wide Range of Sizes & Colours: We stock tubing from very small diameters (1.2mm) up to large repair sleeves (230mm). Colours include black, blue, brown, red, grey, yellow, white and clear for easy colour-coding of cables.
Adhesive-Lined (Dual-Wall) Sleeving: Contains an inner glue layer that melts to form a waterproof seal. Ideal for outdoor or moisture-prone splices.
High-Temperature Sleeving: Formulated to withstand extreme heat (up to ~150°C). Use it for engines, motors or lighting cabling.
DR25 Radiation-Resistant Sleeving: A special polyolefin designed for nuclear, aerospace and medical use, resisting radiation and chemicals.
Heat Shrink Kits & Splices: Kits bundle multiple sizes and tools (heat gun, gloves) for electrician convenience.
Breakout Boots & End Caps: Silicone or polyolefin boots to seal cable connector breakouts and terminations.
Heat Shrink Repair Sleeves: Wrap-around sleeves (like 75mm Railed Repair Sleeve) for in-place cable repair without cutting power. These have a sliding stainless steel rail and heat-activated adhesive for a permanent fix.
Heat Guns & Crimping Tools: We offer professional heat guns (electric and gas) and compression tools for professional installation of heat shrink products.
Common Applications of Heat Shrink Sleeving:
Insulation & Protection: Seals cables against water, dust, and chemicals. Often used to insulate splices in wires for automotive, marine, and electronic equipment.
Cable Repair: Quickly re-jackets damaged insulation or joins cables. Our Wraparound Repair Sleeves can be installed on live lines without cutting power.
Strain Relief: Supports bending points (e.g. at cable ends or connectors) to prevent breakage.
Labelling & Colour-Coding: Use coloured tubing for phase or function identification.
Mechanical Protection: Adds abrasion and impact resistance to wire bundles.
Because these tubes shrink tightly and often include adhesive, they create permanent, reliable seals. Cablecraft’s quality control (all UK-made) ensures consistency so you get the protection expected on critical wiring.
Quick Guide on How to Choose & Use Heat Shrink Tubing:
To select the right tubing: measure the cable’s diameter before shrink (Expanded ID) and after shrink (Recovered ID). For instance, 3:1 tubing will shrink to one-third its original inner diameter. Cut the tubing to length, slide it over the cable or splice, then apply heat. We recommend using a heat gun for even heating. Some products (like our Railed Repair Sleeves) have a colour-change paint to indicate the correct shrink temperature. Install steps:
Slide tubing over the prepared cable/splice.
Apply heat evenly (hot air gun or oven) until tubing fully hugs the cable.
If adhesive-lined, wait for inner glue to flow and seal.
Check that no gaps remain and that the sleeve’s wall thickness meets specs.
Proper installation yields a seamless, waterproof, reinforced cable.
