Re: Help with homemade shrinkwrap crimp....

triadiemus@xxxxxxxxx wrote: 
I'm in a bind and I need a crimp for sealing shrink wrap.  I thought it
might be a fun little project and it should be easy, but I am very new
to electronics.  I think what I need is nichrome wire, but I don't know
what type.  Does anyone know if the nichrome wires are "live"?  in
otherwords do I need to encase the wire or can it be exposed?  It
shouldn't need to get hot enough to start a fire, only melt and seal
the shrinkwrap.  So, here's my plan:  electrical outlet to one end of
wire to a dimmer (to control heat) and back to the outlet.  Will this
work?

If your objective is to electrocute yourself, you're on the right track.
Get yourself a transformer and run lower voltage isolated from the line.
Reread the above line until you believe it...

Shrink wrap doesn't seal well.  It tends to...well...shrink.
I've never had success trying to seal shrinkwrap.  And I have
a commercial plastic sealer.  Sealable plastic wrap works well,
but it's not shrinkwrap.

IF you only need a few, you can do some interesting things with
a variac and a pencil soldering iron. With some practice, you can swipe
it across the area to be sealed.
Another way is a flat hotplate on a vairac. Use a "knife edge" of the right width to mash the plastic down briefly onto the hotplate.
You can buy food bag sealers fairly cheaply...almost free at thrift stores.



--
Wanted, Serial cable for Dell Axim X5 PDA.
Return address is VALID but some sites block emails
with links.  Delete this sig when replying.
FS 500MHz Tek DSOscilloscope TDS540 Make Offer
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
MAKE THE OBVIOUS CHANGES TO THE LINK
ht<removethis>tp://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

.