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Old 17-05-2010, 07:58 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
'Mike'[_4_] 'Mike'[_4_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,959
Default Heat-shrink tubing as wrapping for grafts?


"'Mike'" wrote in message
...

"Michael Bell" wrote in message
. uk...
Soon I am going to do some grafting of green (this year's growth) to
green material, about 3 mm in diameter. I did not succeed in this last
year, but then I am not very clever with my fingers. One of the things
I found difficult was to bind the two pieces together. So this year I
am thinking of experimenting with heat-shrink tubing and I wonder if
there is any experience of this out there or any thoughts.

Heat-shrink tubing is widely used in the electrical industries as a
neater alternative to insulating tape. You can buy it in Maplin's or
on line. It is available in a range of sizes, and a size suitable for
my purpose is available. The idea is that you cut off a length of
heat-shrink tubing and slide it over the stem (or wire), then you join
the stem (or wire) and then slide the heat-shrink tubing back over the
join and use a heater to shrink the tubing onto the stem (or wire).
Various types of heater are available. I hope that will achieve two
things, it will hold the joined stems firmly together and it will stop
moisture loss. Obviously the stem mustn't be heated too much, but it
is the tubing around it which I am trying to shrink, and the heating
should be only for a few seconds.

So, has anybody got any experience or comments on this?

Michael Bell

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Having used Heat Shrink Tubing a lot in both the Marine Electrical and
Electronic fields, I would say that the plant would suffer from the heat.
I know the heat is only applied for a short while, but the inside of the
tube gets very hot.

Another down side, is the rigidity of it and getting it off after the
graft has taken :-((

Mike



Just after posting that, it came to me that you would be better using
Hellerman Sleeves. No heat, rubber, various sizes. If you decide to use
them, don't buy a Hellerman Sleeving Tool, I have some left over from my
factory days and would be more than pleased to send you a pair, complete
with a set of prongs of different sizes :-))

Mike


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Today, is the tomorrow, you were worrying about, yesterday.
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