Heat Shrink Tape Vs. Electrical Tape

[burchas]

I recently noticed the trend of using heat shrink tape to seal the paddle joints instead of
the time tested popular electrical tape. Anyone using this?

What are the advantages/disadvantages over electrical tape? Any product recommendations?

[PonoBill]

Sometimes, when I'm not being too lazy--tape is easier and doesn't require forethought. Any properly sized heat shrink will work. It's nice to use something close to the final diameter so the tape doesn't get too thick.

[Badger]

I'll bet self fusing silicone tape would work well.

[blueplanetsurf]

We use heat shrink at our shop for glued handles because electric tape wound around the joint tends to twist the handle a bit while the epoxy cures resulting in a crooked handle- very annoying.
If you wait for the glue to fully cure before applying tape, that can work, or you can just do without covering the joint if it's clean and sealed but we find that heat shrink (and blue painters tape to hold the handle in place) works best to ensure a solid, compeltely sealed joint.   It's important to hang the paddle upside down for curing to keep the epoxy where it's supposed to be and not running down inside the shaft. 
The only exception are our Kai Zen paddles which have oval ferrules that can't twist and are glued with hot glue, on those paddles I prefer electrical tape as it's easy to use and has a lower profile.

[nalu-sup]

On my downwind paddle I used silicone tape around the joint between the shaft and the blade. It worked great, providing good protection against any paddle slams in that area, plus I used bright orange to make the paddle easy to see when either lost in the water or waving for attention from a distance.

[Remickulous]

I am a licensed electrician and an electrical engineer who works in petrochemical refining, and I use Scotch 33+ tape exclusively because it stretches uniformly, has superior adhesion, and is relatively inexpensive.

I use several layers on the edge of my blades, and overlapping layers on the blade/shaft joint. The trick with any electrical tape is that you must stretch it as you apply it to allow it to adhere properly. I don't use it on the base of my handle because it starts to come off with friction, and I like using enough epoxy to make sure the joint is sealed

[burchas]

I am a licensed electrician and an electrical engineer who works in petrochemical refining, and I use Scotch 33+ tape exclusively because it stretches uniformly, has superior adhesion, and is relatively inexpensive.

I use several layers on the edge of my blades, and overlapping layers on the blade/shaft joint. The trick with any electrical tape is that you must stretch it as you apply it to allow it to adhere properly. I don't use it on the base of my handle because it starts to come off with friction, and I like using enough epoxy to make sure the joint is sealed

The Scotch is my go to as well and I use it the same way, sometime on both ends and on the blade edges (depends on the paddle), but it does take water over time, not a biggie but it looks like the
heat shrink tape is a cleaner solution that won't take water. Also looks simple enough to do at the same time while attaching paddle parts.

We use heat shrink at our shop for glued handles because electric tape wound around the joint tends to twist the handle a bit while the epoxy cures resulting in a crooked handle- very annoying.
If you wait for the glue to fully cure before applying tape, that can work, or you can just do without covering the joint if it's clean and sealed but we find that heat shrink (and blue painters tape to hold the handle in place) works best to ensure a solid, compeltely sealed joint.   It's important to hang the paddle upside down for curing to keep the epoxy where it's supposed to be and not running down inside the shaft. 
The only exception are our Kai Zen paddles which have oval ferrules that can't twist and are glued with hot glue, on those paddles I prefer electrical tape as it's easy to use and has a lower profile.

Thanks Robert, that's what I was looking to hear. What's your go to product and do you carry it on your on-line? please send a link for ordering.

[blueplanetsurf]

Hi Burchas,
We buy pre-cut shrink tape in bulk and include it with paddles we sell but currently don't have it on our website.  I'll ask Kevin to add it to the website when he has time and will share it here soon.
Aloha, Robert

[Beasho]

We use heat shrink at our shop for glued handles because electric tape wound around the joint tends to twist the handle a bit while the epoxy cures resulting in a crooked handle- very annoying.

I thought most companies were moving to hot glue connections.  Epoxy joints seem so last century.  Like surfing a beach break when a point break is next door. 

Robert - You even had a video about the benefits of merely Taping the joints, I think it was Quickblade with their angled ferrule system. 

Otherwise I'm with Pono.  Simple electrical tape avoids the need for heat guns, keeps it simple . . . . KISS.

[SUP Sports ®]

We use a mixture of heat shrink and self fusing, electrical insulating and sealing rubber mastic tape, to seal the joints on our paddles...the blades are epoxied and the handle joints are hot glued...

http://supsports.com/sup-paddles

[burchas]

We use a mixture of heat shrink and self fusing, electrical insulating and sealing rubber mastic tape, to seal the joints on our paddles...the blades are epoxied and the handle joints are hot glued...

http://supsports.com/sup-paddles

Thx wardog. I'm playing a lot with paddles configuration these days so the Mastic tape looks
like a good temp solution, when I figure out my best settings I'll go with the heat shrink
for longer term.

Hi Burchas,
We buy pre-cut shrink tape in bulk and include it with paddles we sell but currently don't have it on our website.  I'll ask Kevin to add it to the website when he has time and will share it here soon.
Aloha, Robert

Thx Robert! That would be awesome. I'll keep an eye for that.

[blueplanetsurf]

Hi Burchas,
Sorry it took a while to put the heat shrink tape up on our website, but here it is:
https://blueplanetsurf.com/products/shrink-wrap-2pcs/

[burchas]

Thx Robert! Just put in the order.

[blueplanetsurf]

Thank you Burchas!