17 and on each end of manifold 27 hoses 37 are connected between vacuum pump 39 and ports 35 the technician turns on pump 39 to reduce the pressure in passage central portion 21 and applies power to heater element 41 as the glass material of tube 19 softens the lower pressure in passage central portion 21 causes tube 19 to collapse around in full 360 degree contact with optical fibers 13 when cooled tube 19 becomes rigid again but in its collapsed configuration so that it firmly grips and supports optical fibers 13 the collapsing due to heat and vacuum removes any clearances between the inner diameter of passage central portion 21 and optical fibers 13 the passage end portions 23 do not collapse around buffer 15 in this example the amount of heat is not sufficient to soften melt or fuse the optical fibers 13 after cooling the technician removes clamps 47 and manifold 27 the technician may place a conventional sealant 57 around buffer coating 15 where it protrudes from tube 19 the technician slides each boot 59 down from each fiber optical cable 11 over the joint between each fiber optic cable 11 and tube 19 the technician applies heat to boot 59 in a conventional manner to cause it to shrink around the joint the method is quicker and easier to perform than the high tolerance mechanical splicing of the prior art the method does not require the high temperatures required to fuse fiber optic ends together the equipment to.