I carry a lot of keys and visually identifying them is a necessity for me. I have bought some little sleeves, but they do not always fit good and do not last long. I thought there must be a better way, so I came up with this. I do a lot of my own mechanical and electrical work, so I have several sizes of "Heat Shrink Tubing" (basically used to insulate electrical wires in low voltage DC wiring).

Let's get started............

Step 1: SUPPLIES & TOOLS

SUPPLIES

Buy some"Heat Shrink Tubing" according to the size of the key, I used shrink tubing 5/8" wide when flattened completely to put on keys that are 7/8" wide,meaning I had to stretch the tubing 1/2" (allowing 1/8" x 2 for the thickness of the key)

Wider keys would require wider shrink tube. It's available at most automotive supply stores & electrical supply stores.

TOOLS

1 pair of scissors for cutting and expanding the shrink tubing.

A heat source.........I heated it over the kitchen gas range burner. You could use a propane torch, but it requires very little heat, so a hair drier would also work.

Okay, you got all that? Let's start cutting...........

Step 2: CUT THE "HEAT SHRINK TUBING"

CLICK ON THE ABOVE THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE

Here are 3 pieces of 5/8" wide when mashed flat. (not 5/8" diameter)

2nd photo is to show width on rule.

Cut the bands about 3/8" wide See 3rd photo

Step 3: HEAT / STRETCH & INSTALL

CLICK ON THE ABOVE THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE

In this step, we don't heat it to shrink it, we heat it to EXPAND it.

Insert end of scissors.

hold over heat source.......careful........not too hot.

Gently spread the blades of scissors, stretching the tube. Again........be careful and stretch with a very small amount of pressure while you are heating it. You will begin to feel it stretch.

Dip scissor blades and tube into cool water while holding pressure spreading the tube.

Now it should be cool and it should slip onto the key. It will be a little loose if you have succeeded. Apply a little heat to shrink it tightly onto key. At this point, you are finished unless you want to put a small drip of super glue under the sides. It should last for 2 years or more.

Be sure to vote in contest at the top right.

Any comments welcome. Thanks

Step 4: MORE EXPERIMENTATION

I had never tried it before this, but I tried heating and stretching using a hair drier instead of heat from gas cook stove and it worked even better. There is less heat, therefore it is easier to control the heat while stretching the tubing. I could have made the black a little narrower, like 3/8" but I was rushed for time. I hope you try it. Be sure to vote on my effort in the upper right of this page. Thanks.