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Video: How to use heat shrink tubing
Another solution, especially when you forget to put on the tubing BEFORE you solder the wires (Dho!) is to use liquid electrical tape available at Home Depot and other stores
I use a weller soldering gun 100-140watt. Take a # 12 copper wire, form a coil 1/2" in dia. about 1-1 1/2", then connect both ends as you would a normal soldering tip. When you turn on the gun the tubing senses the heat & shrinks
I still like the Bravo One Charlie (BIC lighter) method. Just be sure to use the blue part of the flame to avoid scorching.
Hair dryers work just fine on lower heat settings, leave the blower on with the heat off for faster cooling and safty.
Nice process which I have used. I appreciate the subscriber tip on using a liquid electrical tape when forgetting to add the heat tape before soldering long sections of wire. I will get some of that product.
Now, any ideas on repairing dynamic brake cable insulation on a full size GP-7?
Another source is the MicroMark miniture heat gun, #84433. This is also a bit safer since it lays down and it is a lot smaller than a regular heat gun.
A handheld hair dryer or a modest ( mid-range heat ) hand tool used in the plastics/ packaging field will serve very well, you may even attache a small metal funnel to precisely direct the heated air flow.
Put the heat shrink tubing over one section of wire, away from where you’ll be soldering before joining the wires, because you will usually not be able to slip it over other parts afterward. The most commonly available tubing shrinks about by half, so use a diameter less than twice that of the wire you will be covering. You can find other colors (including clear) from electronics suppliers like http://www.allelectronics.com.
i use a micro-mark heat gun #84433 around my layout safer &EASIER TO USE WHEN GRANDKIDS WANT TO PLAY TRAINS WITH GRANDPA. i have 4 and one younger 3 years old. i am sure future model railroaders.