acurite thermometer

does anyone ever cut the probes length down? i think it is way too long

Well they're made that long so the probe can stretch far enough to go outside. I just left mine the way they came. (with the twisty tie still on) Just bury the excess under the substrate. Unless you use newspaper.... then I don't know what to do there.

I dont see why not just just use some of the heat shrink to insulate the joint.

It would be worth a try.