When it comes to DIY around the house you need a variety of tools to suit many purposes. A heat gun it on the list of essentials. Surprisingly, you will find many uses for your heat gun and will often find yourself reaching for it when a DIY situation arises.
What is a heat gun?
A heat gun is a handheld device used to emit streams of hot air. Most heat guns are electric and pass a stream of air over a heated element, heating the air to temperatures between 100°C and 550°C. The air is then expelled by a fan through the front of the heat gun and focused using a nozzle or specially shaped attachment
What is the best heat gun?
The best heat gun is the DEWALT Heat Gun (D26960K). The LCD display allows you to adjust the temperature in 50 degree increments as well as built-in overload protection to shut down the heating element to prevent burn up. It also has a built-in hang ring, a cord protector, built-in kickstand to prevent tip-over.
This machine runs like a charm and with the varied heat settings you can change from the LCD screen it makes this a joy to use. When you get the kit you will see it comes in a great kit box which has all the attachments you will ever need. A variety of nozzles to suit most materials. a selection of scrapers. all in one neat box.
For the price is has to be one of the most versatile and safe tools for your money with all the thoughtfully added safety features, like the heat cut off to prevent burnout, the kickstand to prevent the gun falling over, cord protectors to extend the lifespan of the product and lightweight to boot coming in at 2.3 lbs making it easy on your arms.
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What are heat guns good for?
Common usage of heat guns is domestic. Typical uses for a heat gun include:
Stripping wallpaper
Stripping paint from wooden surfaces
Shrinking plastics and shrinkwrap
Thawing pipes
In the kitchen:
Searing meat
Melting chocolate and/or sugar
They are also be used to speed up drying but care is needed when working with potentially flammable materials.
Is a heat gun dangerous?
No, heat guns are not dangerous provided you follow the safety guidelines and wear the appropriate safety equipment. However, despite all precautions, risks are still present as heat guns can reach temperatures in excess of 500°C. This heat if applied incorrectly could cause personal injury and/or fires.
If you take the time to read the operators manual that comes with your heat gun and make sure you follow the guidelines then a heat gun is safe. Make sure that you are also aware of the materials you are working with and adjust your working style accordingly. You may find yourself burning paper or wood or even cracking glass. If in doubt check with the manufacturer.
How long can you run a heat gun?
The length of time a heat gun can be run continuously is dependent on the manufacturer’s specifications and safety guidelines. These must be followed without deviation or an accident or injury may be more likely to occur. For example, model DW340K can be run continuously for 15 minutes before needing a cool down period.
What can I use instead of a heat gun?
- If you don’t have a heat gun you can use:
- A hairdryer
- A clothes iron
- A lightbulb
- A soldering iron
- A butane torch
- A lighter
- Matches
Some of these alternatives involve naked flames so extra caution should be taken when attempting to use them as a heat gun substitute. Also, they may be less effective than the correct tool.
In Conclusion
While a heat gun is a great time saving tool for the money, it comes with a set of safety requirements you need to follow if you are to avoid injury and/or damage to your property. Also if you are trying to save a few pennies and use other items instead of shelling out for a heat gun then be aware some of these items come with extra risk so extra precautions are needed.
Thank you for reading
