A Heat Gun is an amazingly useful piece of equipment, whether you just do the odd job around the house or are a serious do-it-yourselfer or involved in working with ECBs and other electronic equipment. The fact that there is no open flame and they are cheaper than propane torches makes them preferable for household use. A propane torch would win if there were no electricity supply.
Just look at the following list of uses:
1. Paint stripping. A heat gun is by far the quickest and easiest way of removing old paint from surfaces. You are much less likely to char painted wood with a heat gun. No need to use toxic strippers when your handy heat gun is near!
2. Removing old tiles. A heat gun with a wide nozzle makes it easy to heat tiles and melt the glue. You can also use them to speed paint drying (at a low setting or just the cool air setting, if available)
3. Bending plastic PVC piping for plumbing jobs. Here it gives you much better control over the job.
4. Fixing Xbox 360 game console Red Ring of Death (RROD) and problems with PlaystationIIIs. Here it helps to have control over the heat setting, although some reviewers are happy with the very cheapest models for this purpose. Should you need it for this purpose, there are YouTube videos and other instructions available.
5. You can use them to shrink plastic protective tubing into place around electrical connections.
6. Join plastic tubing and plastic sheeting and apply window tinting (together with a smoothing tool). Also for molding heat-moldable items such as certain skates and rollerblades
7. Soften adhesives, especially those applied with glue guns.
8. Remove solder from electrical connections for repair or resoldering.
9. Waxing snowboards and surfboards – a bit of heat makes these jobs easier.
10. Arts and crafts such as candle-making and embossing.
11. Thawing frozen pipes. You can apply an even heat to the pipes.
12. Any other job requiring the controlled application of heat.
Should you be unsure on how to tackle any of these jobs, then do a Google search – the internet is your friend.
So you need a heat gun for a job that you need to do. Which one should you buy?
A bottom-of-the-range machine may come with several attachments and be perfectly adequate for most of the jobs you need to do. People use these guns (in the $20 -$25 price range) for doing surprisingly complex tasks like working with electronics. Prices range all the way up to $140+ For this you get a more powerful gun with infinitely variable heat controls and different speeds, as well as more accurate indication of temperatures. Strangely, the top of the range models do not usually include attachments. Those would need to be purchased separately and are a definite necessity. True professional equipment would cost more.
If you are just going to do the occasional job of pint stripping or something equally simple, the inexpensive models would probably be ok. Here you could look at a Wagner or a Pitbull. But I would be cautious about using the cheap heat guns for electronics unless you’re an expert. The rest of us would probably be better off with precise control over the heat settings to avoid damaging the equipment. Also if you are tackling a large job, a more powerful machine would be a good idea. Something like the Bosch or Milwaukee (the good Milwaukees have a 5-year warranty). The higher the rating and wattage, the more powerful it would be.
Users have been disappointed with their heat guns across the range, from least to most expensive, although many more are very pleased with their purchases. It seems that there are duds produced, even by the best manufacturers. If you get a dud, I would advise that you take it up with the supplier and manufacturer immediately. It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness! Most complaints related to people having purchased equipment which was inadequate for their particular needs, being unable to provide enough heat or run continuously or not having sufficient control over the heat settings.
You do need to do your homework – after all, isn’t that half the pleasure in making a purchase? Just be sure you’re getting a heat gun that will meet your needs, now and in the future. Depending on the depth of your pocket, it might be as well to buy a better machine than you think you need. It is no fun to try and do a job with equipment which is inadequate. Having decided on which machines you prefer, do your due diligence and do Google searches on the machines for any problems others have experienced. This will also tell you if the manufacturer backs his machine with confidence. Any equipment can give problems – the real concern is that you can get efficient repair or replacement without having an extended fight for your rights.
Once you have decided and your purchase arrives, may you have many happy hours using your heat gun with no problems.