Expandable Braided Sleeving

Q: What does "expandable braided sleeving" actually mean?
It's a tube woven from fine PET (polyester) monofilament rather than moulded as a solid tube. The weave lets it stretch open when you push it over a bundle, then relax back down around whatever's inside. That way one size covers a working range of bundle diameters instead of needing an exact match.

Q: What size do I need, 7-17mm or 8-20mm?
Measure the outer diameter of the bundle you're covering. 7-17mm suits a single hose or a handful of light-gauge wires; 8-20mm suits a fuller loom or a larger hose. If your bundle sits near the top of a range, size up rather than stretching the sleeving to its limit.

Q: How is it sold, and how much do I order?
Sold per metre. Order the length you need for the run, cut to size. There's no fixed roll length or minimum order.

Q: Do I need any special tools to fit it?
No. Cut it to length with scissors or a hot knife, then slide it over the bundle. There's no crimping, taping or heat-shrinking step needed to hold it in place.

Q: Will the cut ends fray?
Cutting PET monofilament braid with scissors can leave loose filament ends over time, especially somewhere it gets handled or vibrates. A hot knife, or a brief pass with a heat source, fuses the cut end and stops it unravelling. Worth doing on any end that won't be tucked away or clamped down.

Q: Can I use it on hoses as well as wiring?
Yes. It's a mechanical wrap rather than an electrical product, so it works the same way over coolant, air or fuel-line hose as it does over a wiring bundle. Keep it away from direct exhaust or turbo contact. That needs dedicated high-temperature sleeving, not this general-purpose PET wrap.

Q: Does it provide electrical insulation on its own?
No. It bundles and adds abrasion protection to wiring that's already insulated. It isn't rated as primary insulation and shouldn't be used as a substitute for correctly rated cable.

Q: Can I remove and reuse it if I rewire something later?
Yes. It's a slide-on wrap, not bonded or heat-shrunk in place, so you can pull it back off the bundle and reposition or reuse it if the wiring changes.

Q: What's the difference between this and split loom tube or conduit?
Braided sleeving is a soft, stretchy weave that grips down around a bundle, good for tidying an existing loom or wrapping a hose where a hard tube won't flex easily. Split loom tube and non-split conduit are rigid corrugated tubes with a fixed bore; they hold their shape better and, for non-split conduit, seal against water and dust, but you need the right bore size rather than a stretch-to-fit range. Pick braided sleeving where flexibility and a forgiving size range matter more than a hard shell.

Q: What if my wiring runs close to exhaust or engine heat?
This sleeving isn't the pick for high-heat areas. For runs near exhaust manifolds, turbos or other hot engine-bay surfaces, use fiberglass sleeving instead. It's built for sustained heat exposure that this general-purpose PET wrap isn't rated for.