Sealing shrink wrap?

[MonkeyFaces]

I have a crafts project due (I needed an elective easy enough to give the sufficient college credits to graduate) and I have no idea how to properly seal shrink wrap. Since a sealer is way too expensive just for a single occasion application, what's the best way to emulate how a sealer works?

 

[Canai]

what kind of shrink wrap? Isn't it usually done with heat?

 

[Rubycon]

A hot knife and heat gun will work. The tricky part is cutting off the end with the hot knife. A piece of nichrome wire connected across the terminals (carefully!) of a SLA battery will work too.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

What's the technique to sealing open edges with a hot knife? I already tried tape and glue, but the hair dryer I used was melting the adhesive off of both.

 

[RaiderJ]

I read the title as STEALING shrink wrap 😀

I used a hair dryer and double sided tape for sealing.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

I tried that too, but like I said, the hair dryer melts the adhesive.

 

[Howard]

I have a sealer if you're willing to pass it over.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

Thanks for the offer, but it's due soon and I can't bother to wait for shipping. How does the sealer work? Does it melt the plastic together?

 

[Howard]

Yes, a heated wire is applied on top of two layers of film, which then melt together. A Teflon-coated/impregnated tape, usually fiberglass-reinforced, goes underneath the wire and plastic.

 

[alfa147x]

why do you want to steal shrink wrap

😉

 

[MonkeyFaces]

I've had no luck sealing it with the heat of a soldering iron since it burns holes right through the plastic. Does anyone know if Michaels, kinkos, or home depot have shrink wrapping services or seal plastic? If yes, will their hardware accommodate a basket about as large 4 xbox consoles stacked vertically?

 

[zanejohnson]

use a lighter....