Carbon fiber air cylinder protection

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MikeVV

MikeVV

Member
Jan 10, 2019
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SoCal, United States
Just for general information -

I know this has been lightly covered in the past, but with no real outcome or place to get said material (that I found !).

I bought some clear shrink tube from W W Grainer. One of the industrial outlets.

I bought some 2-1/2" dia. material, since most cylinders are under that. The material is JUST...too small. Well, apparently, according to the manufacturer, 2-1/2" I.D. IS 2-1/2' I.D.. So, it's apparently shrunk a little in shipping and or storage.

I got some 3", clear from a different manufacturer. This clear is VERY clear. So reading the info (retest time) on the cylinder/bottle, is plainly visible. This materials shrink rate is 50%. So 3" material, will shrink to 1-1/2" dia. I tried it on a 2" diameter round, and it shrunk nicely. No wrinkles, still VERY clear. And it's a nicely thick .07" after shrink, so there is some reasonable protection.

Page - https://www.grainger.com/search/electrical/wire-cable-management/heat-shrink-cold-shrink-tubing/all-purpose-heat-shrink-tubing?tv_optin=true&searchQuery=clear+shrink+tube&searchBar=true

P/N - 4WNH5 This is 5' in length. Longer length's available. This is the material that I bought. Other material brands may not be similar.

My guns cylinders are now protected from minor bumps, scratches, and MOST of all, most all sharp item damage.

Mike
 
No, I did not release any air. My guns were around 150 to 175 bar during this.

And no, I did not remove the cylinder(s).

One thing I forgot to mention. When you start the heating, start at the front, all the way around, to shrink the material evenly around the front to help make sure that the "shrinking" is as even as possible. Then warm the whole cylinder as evenly as possible, ending at the rear, and again, as evenly as possible.

And yeah, only heat the material to its shrink point. Once it's done shrinking, nice and tight around the cylinder, that's it, it won't go any further.



2L8 I looked for other comments on the same subject in the "search" section. I musta missed your post.

Mike
 
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Rod wrap and silicone grease is my poison of choice. Without the grease, impossible to get on. With the grease, it's on in under 30 seconds. 

IMG_20210924_172233_994.1632831911.jpg

 
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