Is there a tool that does this...

[sunnybob]

I obviously have never watched you make one, but i still think a hair dryer is as good as a tool as anything else.
A small blob of adhesive and a hair dryer will do what you want.

yes, I know, these get put in peoples mouths, but there has to be a non toxic adhesive, after all doctors use superglue to seal skin wounds

 

[MrTeroo]

How about a mini iron?

https://www.singerdirect.co.uk/prod...=20446748676&gclid=CK70nbKRiNUCFQ88GwodeHkFEw

 

[degeneration]

I obviously have never watched you make one, but i still think a hair dryer is as good as a tool as anything else.
A small blob of adhesive and a hair dryer will do what you want.

yes, I know, these get put in peoples mouths, but there has to be a non toxic adhesive, after all doctors use superglue to seal skin wounds

Unfortunately, no it still wouldn't do what I'm after. Other reasons why include: a hairdryer and adhesive wouldn't be able to clamp the ends of the tubing together effectively; even with a clamp, that combo would result in the "flap" part that is sealed being too thick and rigid. As it is used orally, that isn't good as it could be an irritant or painful to the user's palette. The heat gun and pliers method I currently use allows the layers of heat shrink to be fused together while at the same time squashing it and spreading it out into a thinner layer. As a result when I'm done the "flap" part is quite thin and flexible, which means that it will move with, or shape to the user's palette, or at worst it won't be as irritating.

So basically I need something that is able to clamp in order to squash the layers together, but also something that can get very hot, so that the layers fuse together and become more malleable and open to being squashed and re-shaped.

How about a mini iron?

https://www.singerdirect.co.uk/prod...=20446748676&gclid=CK70nbKRiNUCFQ88GwodeHkFEw

That looks interesting, and something I'll look into more. Maybe not able to provide the clamping force, but I'll find out more about it. Thanks!

 

[MrTeroo]

Have you looked at portable heat sealers?

http://www.sealersales.com/portabledirectheatsealers

 

[MikeK]

Call Conceptus and find out what they use:

http://www.conceptusinc.com/tongueswitch.htm

 

[degeneration]

Call Conceptus and find out what they use:

http://www.conceptusinc.com/tongueswitch.htm

I can't do that! I'm a competitor of theirs in the market, so doubt they'd be willing to help me out!
Also, they don't use heat shrink around their tongue switches. Theirs are made and formed differently than mine.

 

[degeneration]

Have you looked at portable heat sealers?

http://www.sealersales.com/portabledirectheatsealers

Kind of. I'd looked into them in the past, but think I figured for the volume I was doing back then it wasn't worth it, and I wasn't 100% sure about the clamping strength. I also remember thinking they were too big - 6' is the smallest I recall seeing, when I only need about 2cm max. Think it is something that I should look into again though. Thanks for the reminding prompt!

 

[pcb1962]

Seems clear that there's no off-the-shelf tool to do exactly what you want, I would make up a tool using a suitable pair of flat nose pliers, a couple of ceramic heating elements and some high temperature epoxy putty.

 

[okeydokey]

I hope this isn't as daft as its sounds, have you though of an electric sandwich or waffle toaster? Your item might fit in and the top half pressed shut for a few seconds to seal? Let me know - cheers

 

[degeneration]

Seems clear that there's no off-the-shelf tool to do exactly what you want, I would make up a tool using a suitable pair of flat nose pliers, a couple of ceramic heating elements and some high temperature epoxy putty.

That's an idea. May resort to this in the end if I a) can't find a pre-made suitable solution b) figure the effort/reward ratio tops my current situation. Will definitely give it some thought. Thanks.

 

[degeneration]

I hope this isn't as daft as its sounds, have you though of an electric sandwich or waffle toaster? Your item might fit in and the top half pressed shut for a few seconds to seal? Let me know - cheers

Not a daft idea and may work, but it'll be too bulky a solution if it did. A more portable hand held tool would be significantly better!