Olsa Heat Shrink Tubing for Hand Tools

[Gangly]

Certain hand tools of mine (ratchet wrenches) can get darn slippery when coated in oil/grease/etc., I guess because of the chrome coating on them. Slippery tools drive me nuts, and I'm ready to throw them through the wall when I bust a knuckle as a result. I came across what might be a possible solution, and relatively cheap if it actually works, in the form of Olsa heat shrink tubing specifically for tools. Has anybody every tried this, or something similar? I'm not a big fan of plasti-dip or tape, so if anybody has a better idea please let me know.

 

[bonneyman]

I grab 2 foot tubes of different diameters/colors of the heat shrink tubing that my local electronics store has on clearance. Might be $4-5 a tube? I don't wrench every day anymore but tools I've put this tubing on seem to be holding up fine.

 

[four.cycle]

They used to make these things called "knurled handles" - you might want to check it out:

 

[Gangly]

They used to make these things called "knurled handles" - you might want to check it out:

Knurled handles are great, they are on several of my smaller ratchets, but I don't have any knurled handles on my larger 1/2"+ drive ratchets. Also, I've spent too much over the years acquiring nicer large ratchets that perform their function according to my expectations, and I would prefer a $5 upgrade as opposed to replacing them. Its not as bad when I'm bare handed, but if I have latex gloves on, they get slippery as snot.

 

[zendriver]

Why wouldn’t heat shrink tubing be slick?

They do make stuff like plasti dip for that purpose

 

[pcrov]

I use regular heat shrink on some things. It helps but isn't made to be grippy. I wrap some handles in cotton twine and secure the end with a whipping knot.



Pretty comfortable, bit of grip, but I'm also not getting them soaked in oil. You can use paracord if you want it thicker.

Another option may be hockey tape.

 

[Gangly]

I was thinking of wrapping the handle with twine, approximately one loop every half inch of handle, then going over it with the shrink wrap.

 

[Skyman]

If I were to try this as a solution to the stated problem, I think I'd go for some thicker-walled tubing, and scuff it up gently with sandpaper after shrinking it in place, in order to roughen the surface a bit. Easy enough to remove later if it proves unsatisfactory, provided that you don't use adhesive-lined tubing.

 

[Steve_P]

Why wouldn’t heat shrink tubing be slick?

They do make stuff like plasti dip for that purpose

Plasti-dip is pretty fragile stuff, especially considering how it's marketed; it's nowhere near as durable as the real stuff that the toolmakers use.

The Olsa stuff is described as specifically designed to not be slippery like typical heat shrink, so it seems like it could have promise. The only issue I see with it is the way they bundle an assortment of different sizes all in one kit- they should also sell batches of each color and diameter.

 

[pcrov]

I was thinking of wrapping the handle with twine, approximately one loop every half inch of handle, then going over it with the shrink wrap.

That's kinda how they tape hockey sticks. Do a couple wraps around one end to start it, pull out a length of tape and give it a quick spin to turn it into a cord, coarse wrap around with the cord, then cover it with tape.

Maybe some of the northern members here can chime in with how it holds up to oil and grime. Pretty sure that stuff comes free in the mail with samples of Tide up there.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Don't dip your good tools in that plastic ****. I made that mistake. Still picking the stuff off tools 50 years later.
Trust me on this one - you don't want to go there.

 

[ecotec]

I have had shrink tube on my 1/4” roto ratchet for around three years.

The roto ratchet is the one ratchet that you do not want in bare metal. The roto ratchet is much better with a soft grip.

 

[scooby074]

Kinda neat, but I wish that they had more cushion. Also packs of one size would be much better than assortments.

 

[KnurledNut]

Certain hand tools of mine (ratchet wrenches) can get darn slippery when coated in oil/grease/etc., I guess because of the chrome coating on them. Slippery tools drive me nuts, and I'm ready to throw them through the wall when I bust a knuckle as a result. I came across what might be a possible solution, and relatively cheap if it actually works, in the form of Olsa heat shrink tubing specifically for tools. Has anybody every tried this, or something similar? I'm not a big fan of plasti-dip or tape, so if anybody has a better idea please let me know.

Care to share what brand and model ratchets?
It might help with suggestions.
Some of us have used screwdriver handles.
Check out this thread:
Show off your "Custom Handled Ratchet"

 

[WildBill]

I've been wanting to try this Re-Grip product on my ratchets but haven't yet. It solvent proof and good to 300F. Slides over the handle then you pull out a plastic liner and the grip material shrinks down to lock on. You can buy them all over the place. I guess I don't know if it would be slippery when covered in oil though, I would assume they would have designed it not to be but who knows.

 

[RTM]

I've been wanting to try this Re-Grip product on my ratchets but haven't yet. It solvent proof and good to 300F. Slides over the handle then you pull out a plastic liner and the grip material shrinks down to lock on. You can buy them all over the place. I guess I don't know if it would be slippery when covered in oil though, I would assume they would have designed it not to be but who knows.

I did Some loppers with this stuff. No complaints, but my hands usually aren’t greasy.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

You can buy that heat shrink in numerous patterns under a million different Chinese names on Amazon. It's commonly used on fishing rods (primarily saltwater).

 

[dutchgray]

I've been wanting to try this Re-Grip product on my ratchets but haven't yet. It solvent proof and good to 300F. Slides over the handle then you pull out a plastic liner and the grip material shrinks down to lock on. You can buy them all over the place. I guess I don't know if it would be slippery when covered in oil though, I would assume they would have designed it not to be but who knows.

Or you can buy it as 3M Cold Shrink, usually used to cover underground electrical connections before they get potted in epoxy.
I buy it on eBay from people who are selling random leftover packs of it for not very much cost.

 

[F-22]

Plasti-dip is pretty fragile stuff, especially considering how it's marketed; it's nowhere near as durable as the real stuff that the toolmakers use.

Whenever I used plasti dip in the past, I ended up being disappointed. It isn't particularly forgiving in prep work and it usually comes off a bit too easy. If a small bit comes off, it seems to be hard to fix it without just pulling it all off.

 

[Skyman]

I was one-and-done with Plasti-dip, too. I was not impressed with the product.

 

[rust in the eye]

I've re-wrapped pliers handles using self fusing rubber splicing tape. A short piece of shrink tube at the finish end will insure it doesn't unwrap.

 

[Olsa Tools]

Our stuff is pretty grippy. There's a pattern on them for extra grip and they're not glossy/slippery like normal heat shrink. Before offering it to the public, we've also soaked them in gasoline and diesel fuel for 24 hours and they held up just fine after cleaning it with brake cleaner.

We also promise a 90-day quality guarantee—if you're not happy with your handles for literally any reason, just get in touch with us and we'll replace it for free (shipping included) or send a refund.

 

[shoggoth80]

Had a coworker heat shrink his ratchet handle. Helped him it seemed. Until he got upgraded to comfort grips. I recently rebuilt the ratchet he had heat shrinked I keep it in the tool drawers to use as needed, or to issue out if anyone busts something. Old SK. Very smooth, but few frills.

 

[liliysdad]

Whenever I used plasti dip in the past, I ended up being disappointed. It isn't particularly forgiving in prep work and it usually comes off a bit too easy. If a small bit comes off, it seems to be hard to fix it without just pulling it all off.

I was one-and-done with Plasti-dip, too. I was not impressed with the product.

I’ve not used Plasti-Dip much for tool handles, but I did recoat the windshield loops and windshield tie down on my CJ5 with the black.

Three years of use and UV exposure and it’s holding up just fine.

 

[MFJL]

Our stuff is pretty grippy. There's a pattern on them for extra grip and they're not glossy/slippery like normal heat shrink. Before offering it to the public, we've also soaked them in gasoline and diesel fuel for 24 hours and they held up just fine after cleaning it with brake cleaner.

We also promise a 90-day quality guarantee—if you're not happy with your handles for literally any reason, just get in touch with us and we'll replace it for free (shipping included) or send a refund.

Why don’t you sell models with a closed end?
Like a heat shrink end cap, just make it longer?

 

[Codyboy]

I've been wanting to try this Re-Grip product on my ratchets but haven't yet. It solvent proof and good to 300F. Slides over the handle then you pull out a plastic liner and the grip material shrinks down to lock on. You can buy them all over the place. I guess I don't know if it would be slippery when covered in oil though, I would assume they would have designed it not to be but who knows.

I realize this is an old thread...
Regrip?
The last 20 years I've been using high voltage cold shrink on my tools.
Works just like that regrip and probably where they got the idea.

Or even ribbed, if you're into that sort of thing!

I will say, I had no idea how much those things cost. I always had some on the truck , by the handfuls.

 

[Olsa Tools]

Why don’t you sell models with a closed end?
Like a heat shrink end cap, just make it longer?

Good idea! I'll pass this on to our product guy.