I just weaved a pair of shoelaces, and I now have to put some kind of aglets on each ends.I tried the plastic shrink tubing, and I don't really like it.These shoelaces won't be able to be worn with regular sneakers, only shoes with big holes if I use these shrink tubes.Any other suggestions would be appreciated.Thanks in advance.
I've only done this once, and it was many years ago. I cut a piece of clear packing tape to size, and wrapped it tightly around the ends. It worked well for a little boy's shoes.
I dip the ends in candle wax for a quick solution or in super glue for a more permanent tip.
Depending on the material used I heat synthetics to the melting point and roll them between my fingers to consolidate the fibers and round up the ends. On natural fibers I have dipped the ends into polyurethane that has been thinned to a watery consistency with mineral spirits and roll into a little piece of plastic wrap; the result is very similar to an aglet. A more expensive way but one that has excellent results is to get the type of heat-shrink tubing that contains an adhesive that liquifies at temperature. These types of heatshrink tubing are available from electronics suppliers and are used for NEMA class 3 environmental enclosures. The tubing comes in very small diameters and is permanent once shrunk.
Best regards, Charles
Hey Charles, how do you heat the tubing for this product? Would a hair dryer do or does it need a match?
A match will work but may scorch the outside and coats the tubingg with smoke. I have never tried a hair dryer, on high it may have enough heat, it is certainly worth a try. I actually have a heat gun from Home Depot used for stripping paint as well as shrinking tubing. The other way that I have done it in the field, the last time I had to rewire my well pump, was to use a propane hand torch, it too will scorch but it doesn't produce smoke so there is no discoloration from the smoke but it will scorch if held too long. I suspect that a butane lighter (cigarette, BBQ etc) may give you less heat (less prone to scorch) and it does not smoke. A creme brulee torch works great :)
Best regards, Charles
