That’s the same one that burnt down my friends business a couple years ago! Do NOT leave these plugged in!!So here's what I have. The Harbor Freight $7 one. Years old.
Used to have a different one that was better; I forget the brand.
Do these ****?
I use it a lot to solder heat shrink ****/crimp connectors, and for one, it's not nice having a straight nozzle, without tips. You have to worry about unintended heating of the surrounding area.
The phrase "you get what you pay for" comes to mind; I don't imagine it can be that good for $7.
I will need to use mine more to do a vinyl wrap.
The Milwaukee cordless is appealing for standing it upright and mobility, but also no, because of the short life they have. Heat guns use lots of power; it would go through batteries fast.
How about a corded Milwaukee? Is that the best, or even worth the higher cost?
I know Milwaukee is well-regarded for automotive tools, and heat guns are used in the automotive world
but they are also used in other sectors; meaning you guys may know about a better brand for them.
Kind of like soldering irons. Does Milwaukee make one? Yes. The M12. I have it. It heated up fast which was convenient, but the tip is also very big which made it hard to do precise work. I feel like with my old cheap random soldering iron, that was slow and didn't get THAT hot, I had better control
TL;DR: What's a good heat gun?
best heat gun?
- Thread starter Spike00513
- Start date
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I have the HF Drillmaster as well as both corded and cordless Milwaukees. The cordless is useless. As far as performance between the other two, I can't tell a difference.
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Heat shrink for electrical wiring? All I've ever used is a bic lighter. Seriously.
Have wired nearly a dozen recording studios plus a handful of live venues... miles upon miles of heat shrink always with a standard lighter. Nothing else is precise enough.
Gun for heavyweight work? Few months ago I nabbed a die hard corded from Advance... was $20 or $25? Seems fine. It's the hi lo off 3 way switch type... Heat gun gets hot news at 11.
Have wired nearly a dozen recording studios plus a handful of live venues... miles upon miles of heat shrink always with a standard lighter. Nothing else is precise enough.
Gun for heavyweight work? Few months ago I nabbed a die hard corded from Advance... was $20 or $25? Seems fine. It's the hi lo off 3 way switch type... Heat gun gets hot news at 11.
For heat shrink in electronics this is perfect. The narrow nose get's into really tight spots and the wrap around tip deflects heat to the back side of the heat shrink tubing that may not otherwise be accessible.
This one use to be Unger but it looks like Weller took it over.
Those big hunky general purpose heat guns are not well suited for heat shrink use in electronics where space is limited. Use the right tool for the job.
This one use to be Unger but it looks like Weller took it over.
Those big hunky general purpose heat guns are not well suited for heat shrink use in electronics where space is limited. Use the right tool for the job.
bwringer
Well-known member
For heat shrink in electronics this is perfect. The narrow nose get's into really tight spots and the wrap around tip deflects heat to the back side of the heat shrink tubing that may not otherwise be accessible.
This one use to be Unger but it looks like Weller took it over.
Those big hunky general purpose heat guns are not well suited for heat shrink use in electronics where space is limited. Use the right tool for the job.
Nice! I did not know this existed.
I have a smaller heat gun in a "wand" style for heat shrinking in tight spaces on motorcycles, but it is lacking in output; it takes so long to get anything done that everything around the wires I'm heating up gets cooked. Aggravating.
Xcursion88
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2013
- Messages
- 785
You need something like this....
Many brands offer a butane soldering torch.
This is what I use for all heat shrinking needs.
It's as quick as a lighter and much more precise and safer than a lighter.
You won't use the bottom accessory
For heat shrink and other small things, I have the Ungar #6966C which is now the Weller mentioned above by @Davefr. This one is at least 35 years old or more, still working fine.
And for the bigger jobs, I have a Milwaukee MHT3300 that is around 25 years old and still working fine as well.
I'm surprised the touch pad on the Milwaukee has never given me a problem...
As you can see they are both well used so I guess I have nothing to complain about.
And for the bigger jobs, I have a Milwaukee MHT3300 that is around 25 years old and still working fine as well.
I'm surprised the touch pad on the Milwaukee has never given me a problem...
As you can see they are both well used so I guess I have nothing to complain about.
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