Great info, need to do this on 2 batteries and stop using tape on em. Didn't think a hair dryer could manage. Now I know.
That was the reason I made this tutorial. It is easy and cheap to make a good repair, instead of doing a unsafe repair.
I did play a bit around with the hair dryer, coving part of the air intake with a hand, did increase the temperature and made it faster to shrink the heat shrink, but be careful with doing it, it can damage the hair dryer.
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My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries (More than 1000): https://lygte-info.dk/
I’ve heatshrinked well over 1000 cells, I’m quite good at it now.
I couple additional tips. Heatshrink the positive end of the cell first by rotating the cell 360 degrees in your hand. Then go to the bottom of the cell.
Secondly, heatshrink along the crease from end to end. Use a low enough temperature or point the heatgun at a distance so it shrinks slowly. This prevents a wavy effect.
After this is done, give the entire cell a quick pass over by the heatgun to shrink the rest.
I've heatshrinked well over 1000 cells, I'm quite good at it now. I couple additional tips. Heatshrink the positive end of the cell first by rotating the cell 360 degrees in your hand. Then go to the bottom of the cell. Secondly, heatshrink along the crease from end to end. Use a low enough temperature or point the heatgun at a distance so it shrinks slowly. This prevents a wavy effect. After this is done, give the entire cell a quick pass over by the heatgun to shrink the rest.
how on earth did you manage to heat shrink a 1000 cells ? Do you work in a cell manufacturing factory???
I’ve heatshrinked well over 1000 cells, I’m quite good at it now. I couple additional tips. Heatshrink the positive end of the cell first by rotating the cell 360 degrees in your hand. Then go to the bottom of the cell. Secondly, heatshrink along the crease from end to end. Use a low enough temperature or point the heatgun at a distance so it shrinks slowly. This prevents a wavy effect. After this is done, give the entire cell a quick pass over by the heatgun to shrink the rest.
how on earth did you manage to heat shrink a 1000 cells ? you work in a cell manufacturing factory???
I was wondering the very same thing, unless he owns and wraps every Redilast???
Or maybe has a severe addiction
:bigsmile:
I’ve heatshrinked well over 1000 cells, I’m quite good at it now. I couple additional tips. Heatshrink the positive end of the cell first by rotating the cell 360 degrees in your hand. Then go to the bottom of the cell. Secondly, heatshrink along the crease from end to end. Use a low enough temperature or point the heatgun at a distance so it shrinks slowly. This prevents a wavy effect. After this is done, give the entire cell a quick pass over by the heatgun to shrink the rest.
how on earth did you manage to heat shrink a 1000 cells ? Do you work in a cell manufacturing factory???
That Ninja Guy wrote:
Shaquille wrote:
EDCPlus wrote:
I’ve heatshrinked well over 1000 cells, I’m quite good at it now. I couple additional tips. Heatshrink the positive end of the cell first by rotating the cell 360 degrees in your hand. Then go to the bottom of the cell. Secondly, heatshrink along the crease from end to end. Use a low enough temperature or point the heatgun at a distance so it shrinks slowly. This prevents a wavy effect. After this is done, give the entire cell a quick pass over by the heatgun to shrink the rest.
how on earth did you manage to heat shrink a 1000 cells ? you work in a cell manufacturing factory???
I was wondering the very same thing, unless he owns and wraps every Redilast???
Or maybe has a severe addiction
:bigsmile:
When I first started Redilast, I would do a good part of the heatshrink work myself. Now days I just do it occasionally… Quality control.
—————
On a side not if you plan to do heatshrinking make sure your heatgun has a low mode. And avoid harbor freight heatguns. I had 2 fail on me in a 2 month period. And not to mention when you first get them, they smell smoke and smell bad… My wagner brand one for $17 from home depot is holding up great and is used several times a week.
i wrapped a few old eneloops . I used a cigarette lighter so results werent as preety but are ok . i guess you need a good consistent heat like a neat blower with an udustable heat output to do it really well .
Every time I see this thread pop up and see the photos, I think HJK should be wrapping all of our Christmas presents! Such a neat and exact job on wrapping those cells!
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My PayPal address: oldlumens (insert the @ sign here) gmail.com
FYI the tubing with adhesive is called 'double-wall polyolefin'. It's more expensive, so if you see tubing that doesn't specifically say it's double-wall, it will be single-wall which is what you want for batts. Double-wall is awesome for most stuff but too thick for a battery.
Depends on the tailcap design. If there's no way for the exposed shell to touch any part of the tailcap or tube it won't hurt anything. If it does touch, it will just bypass the switch and turn the light on.
Depends on the tailcap design. If there’s no way for the exposed shell to touch any part of the tailcap or tube it won’t hurt anything. If it does touch, it will just bypass the switch and turn the light on.
Yep, I was thinking on the same lines. I just inserted it on a Convoy M1 and rattled it in my hand just to see if it would turn on. So far so good. I think I’ll be OK.
Would a 23mm tubing be able to wrap a AAA sized battery? I’m thinking of getting the 23mm instead of 17mm from fasttech so that I can wrap both AA and AAA sized batteries.
My experience with shrinking 16340 with the 18650 shrinktube was Not so Perfect on the top of the cell there was a edge.
But I have not tried shrinking AAA with AA shrink tube.
Edit: just tried it it with a scrap piece and a AAA primary, it shrinked enough but I got a edge on top but this is maybe because I used a blowtorch instead of a hot air blower.
They look much cleaner, even using the 'right' size tubing, if you heat the top or bottom and then press it against something flat while it's still hot.
I just wanted to say thank you for the tutorial HKJ! I re-wrapped about a dozen of my 18650’s. The green ones were from a laptop pull and the black ones are CGR18650CH’s that are a year or two old and the wrappers were getting worn around the edges. I bought 2m of black, red, and green shrink wrap from FT. I also used a hair dryer to shrink the wraps. Worked pretty good, but I had to hold my hand over the back to get it a little hotter like you suggested. I have a heat gun also, but didn’t feel like walking out to the garage to get it.
I started out with the green laptop pulls and made some of the wrappers too long. When I got the the CGR’s, I had the length down pretty good and they all came out looking good.
I agree.
Super job!
My flashlight collection
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/10711#comment-183257
http
Thanks. An excellent write up.
How bright is bright enough...
Runtime VS Lumens...
Fine tutorial
Nice tutorial and thanks for all the extra info on supply and sizing. Really helpfull.
Three Tanna leaves to give him life, nine to give him movement. But what if he eats the whole bag?
Scott
Thanks for posting this tutorial. Very Nice!
My PayPal address: oldlumens (insert the @ sign here) gmail.com
My YouTube Flashlight Video Channel
The BLF Modding Links Thread
Great info, need to do this on 2 batteries and stop using tape on em. Didn’t think a hair dryer could manage. Now I know. Thanks
-Sean
That was the reason I made this tutorial. It is easy and cheap to make a good repair, instead of doing a unsafe repair.
I did play a bit around with the hair dryer, coving part of the air intake with a hand, did increase the temperature and made it faster to shrink the heat shrink, but be careful with doing it, it can damage the hair dryer.
My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries (More than 1000): https://lygte-info.dk/
Does anyone have another source for different collars ? And I have some 18650 and I need button tops where can I buy them
excellent ! thanks Hkj
I’ve heatshrinked well over 1000 cells, I’m quite good at it now.
I couple additional tips. Heatshrink the positive end of the cell first by rotating the cell 360 degrees in your hand. Then go to the bottom of the cell.
Secondly, heatshrink along the crease from end to end. Use a low enough temperature or point the heatgun at a distance so it shrinks slowly. This prevents a wavy effect.
After this is done, give the entire cell a quick pass over by the heatgun to shrink the rest.
www.edcplus.com
how on earth did you manage to heat shrink a 1000 cells ? Do you work in a cell manufacturing factory???
I was wondering the very same thing, unless he owns and wraps every Redilast???
Or maybe has a severe addiction
:bigsmile:
When I first started Redilast, I would do a good part of the heatshrink work myself. Now days I just do it occasionally… Quality control.
—————
On a side not if you plan to do heatshrinking make sure your heatgun has a low mode. And avoid harbor freight heatguns. I had 2 fail on me in a 2 month period. And not to mention when you first get them, they smell smoke and smell bad… My wagner brand one for $17 from home depot is holding up great and is used several times a week.
www.edcplus.com
Cool beans.
Do you use tape or something to hold them together? Cuz I don’t see how they stick together?
Don wrote:
It sounds like the XM LEDs won’t really be suitable for flashlight use. Pity…
My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries (More than 1000): https://lygte-info.dk/
I chuckled at the middle part.
P60dropins.com (just a redirect for now)
Excellent instructions! Worked like a charm after a few attempts to get the measurements/placement just right. Thanks!
My name is indy, and I've been a flashaholic since 2004.
Every time I see this thread pop up and see the photos, I think HJK should be wrapping all of our Christmas presents! Such a neat and exact job on wrapping those cells!
My PayPal address: oldlumens (insert the @ sign here) gmail.com
My YouTube Flashlight Video Channel
The BLF Modding Links Thread
FYI the tubing with adhesive is called 'double-wall polyolefin'. It's more expensive, so if you see tubing that doesn't specifically say it's double-wall, it will be single-wall which is what you want for batts. Double-wall is awesome for most stuff but too thick for a battery.
Does this battery needs rewrapping?
These are laptop pulls and came out like that. I have four of these and I want to use them in a single cell flashlight.
Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent.
Depends on the tailcap design. If there's no way for the exposed shell to touch any part of the tailcap or tube it won't hurt anything. If it does touch, it will just bypass the switch and turn the light on.
Yep, I was thinking on the same lines. I just inserted it on a Convoy M1 and rattled it in my hand just to see if it would turn on. So far so good. I think I’ll be OK.
Thanks
Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent.
On cells like that, I usually just wrap the exposed part with Kapton tape… just to be sure it won’t accidentally turn on.
Awesome! Now I can fix two of my 18650’s that I been affraid to use. Thanks for posting!
Would a 23mm tubing be able to wrap a AAA sized battery? I’m thinking of getting the 23mm instead of 17mm from fasttech so that I can wrap both AA and AAA sized batteries.
My experience with shrinking 16340 with the 18650 shrinktube was Not so Perfect on the top of the cell there was a edge.
But I have not tried shrinking AAA with AA shrink tube.
Edit: just tried it it with a scrap piece and a AAA primary, it shrinked enough but I got a edge on top but this is maybe because I used a blowtorch instead of a hot air blower.
They look much cleaner, even using the 'right' size tubing, if you heat the top or bottom and then press it against something flat while it's still hot.
I just wanted to say thank you for the tutorial HKJ! I re-wrapped about a dozen of my 18650’s. The green ones were from a laptop pull and the black ones are CGR18650CH’s that are a year or two old and the wrappers were getting worn around the edges. I bought 2m of black, red, and green shrink wrap from FT. I also used a hair dryer to shrink the wraps. Worked pretty good, but I had to hold my hand over the back to get it a little hotter like you suggested. I have a heat gun also, but didn’t feel like walking out to the garage to get it.
I started out with the green laptop pulls and made some of the wrappers too long. When I got the the CGR’s, I had the length down pretty good and they all came out looking good.
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