How to Expand Heat Shrink Tubing

Select the right tool for the size of the heat shrink tubing you want to expand. Most smaller tubing is easy to stretch with needle-nose pliers. If possible, find a pair with extended ends to accommodate longer sections of tubing.

To stretch larger tubing, use a combination of two pliers to expand the tubing as shown in this illustration. Extremely small tubing calls for tweezers with needlepoint tips, such as LTD's Tweezerman models.Expand Heat Shrink Tubing Step 2Bullet1 Version 2.jpg

Insert the tweezers or pliers into the tubing as far as possible. Make sure the tool used is completely closed.

Pull the pliers apart slowly to open up the ends. If using tweezers, use a jeweler's screwdriver to help pry the tweezers apart.

Stretch the tubing only a little at a time to avoid tearing or puncturing it.

Close the tweezers or pliers and rotate the tubing slightly.

Repeat steps 2 through 5 until you have rotated the tubing enough to return to your starting point.

Flip the tubing to so that the other end of it fits over the tweezers or pliers, and repeat the above steps.

The tubing is now ready for use.