Getting the sleeve onto the object
Just slide the sleeving onto the accessible end of the object. Now use the „caterpillar“ technique to slide the sleeving as far as you want onto the object.
„Caterpillar“ technique: Hold the front of the sleeving in place on the object, push more sleeving from the back towards the front, release the front of the sleeving – it now slides forward. Now repeat the process again and again.
As soon as the sleeve approaches the end position on the object (wherever you want it to end), slide your fingers (with pressure!) from the beginning of the object towards the end of the sleeving. This so called „lengthwise stretch“ makes the sleeve fit like a glove on the object.
This lengthwise stretch is also very important for the next step and many others as well!
Marking the final length and cut it
Now you will mark the position on the sleeving where you want to cut, so you have the perfect length on your object.
You can mark the sleeving with a marker pen or by cutting a strand (or a few strands) of the weave with a small diagonal cutting plier, nail scissor or similar.
Once marked, you move the sleeving (reverse caterpillar movement) until the marked position is off of the object again, so the sleeving isn’t expanded anymore on the cut position. Now cut and melt the cut as you have learned it.
Now move the sleeving fully onto the object again, bring it into final position and stretch lengthwise. If the sleeving holds into position, you are basically done.
If the sleeving doesn’t hold the lengthwise stretched position by itself, we logically have to fix it in this position. There are many ways to do so, depending on the shape or construction of the object in the area of the sleeve ends. For now, you could just fix it with a cable tie if needed.
Congratulations!
You once again learned a lot. Now let’s continue to the different fixing methods, which also brings us to the transition towards your own creativity, ideas and solutions.