"The" heat gun

[bushmechanic]

Pretty simple question, in the end. What's "The" heat gun? What's the one that lots of people have, and lots of people want; the heat gun by which many would say most others should be judged?

An example jigsaw would be that Bosch. An example reciprocating saw would be a Sawzall. An example drill would be DeWalt/Makita/Mil... Whatever, you get the idea.

We're not getting into Metabo or Festool territory; just the high end of performance and quality that actually matters, but a traditional design.

It has to be available to consumers, and attainable at a stretch for the average professional. Under $250 is technically the bracket. I don't want to go higher.

Obviously it would be better lower, but if "the" heat gun costs $250, so be it.

This is not for any common heat gun use. It's for an entirely irrelevant project. I just need something new, and it has to fit that description.

Edit: Not a benchtop, though, and not a "snail" centrifugal fan solution.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I've got a Master heat gun. It's trouble free.

 

[bushmechanic]

I've got a Master heat gun. It's trouble free.

Damn, I forgot to mention it shouldn't have that kind of centrifugal fan solution.

It's got to be a regular pistol-grip, one tube solution.

I might look at one of those for myself, though. I like that kind better, personally.

 

[Rinspeed]

The guys at the shop use them all the time and I only buy Milwaukee mostly because they hold up very well. I'm sure there are better guns though.

 

[cvairwerks]

Raychem HT-900....But it's not a pistol style.

 

[CGarage]

Steinel and Leister if you need accurate temperature control.
Bosch 1942 for large work areas (flooring work etc).
I own all of the above and you need to select the Heat Gun for the application.

 

[TonyJ]

I’ve had a Makita one now for many years. Never once a problem. 2 fan speeds and 5 temperature settings

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Damn, I forgot to mention it shouldn't have that kind of centrifugal fan solution.

It's got to be a regular pistol-grip, one tube solution.

I might look at one of those for myself, though. I like that kind better, personally.

Ahhh, I didn't get the "snail" thing, so I ignored it.

I do like the Master heat gun's old fashioned look, it's like one of those things that Curly Howard might have abused in 1940.

 

[jonshonda]

Funny thread. Wants the best, but then excludes the high end stuff.

 

[Jagmandave]

I think like most tools it depends on the use.....the HF one I bought 20 years ago still works perfectly and does exactly what it's supposed to - blow hot air on things. 2 speed fan, 1800 watts IIRC.....

If I were working in some sort of industrial setting where my income depended on it I would spring for something more expensive, but for the $20 I spent I've had a lot of trouble free use out of mine. I wouldn't say I use it everyday, but it does get used frequently.....

My point isn't to tout HF as much as to point out that there is no one tool that's THE one to buy.....every job has different requirements.

 

[dnschmidt]

Steinel

 

[jonesg]

i remember a plumbers gas fired blowlamp.

 

[bushmechanic]

Funny thread. Wants the best, but then excludes the high end stuff.

No, I don't need the best. Read it again.

 

[bushmechanic]

I've heard Steinel a lot on GJ. Sounds like a good one to look in to.

I'm checking into the other suggestions, as well.

 

[bushmechanic]

Ahhh, I didn't get the "snail" thing, so I ignored it.

I do like the Master heat gun's old fashioned look, it's like one of those things that Curly Howard might have abused in 1940.

Yeah, I didn't know if people would actually know the fan types, so I just said "snail" and edited it later.

I personally dig those, but it's not going to work for what I need to do, which would make absolutely no sense here, and is largely pointless.

 

[bushmechanic]

I think like most tools it depends on the use.....the HF one I bought 20 years ago still works perfectly and does exactly what it's supposed to - blow hot air on things. 2 speed fan, 1800 watts IIRC.....

If I were working in some sort of industrial setting where my income depended on it I would spring for something more expensive, but for the $20 I spent I've had a lot of trouble free use out of mine. I wouldn't say I use it everyday, but it does get used frequently.....

My point isn't to tout HF as much as to point out that there is no one tool that's THE one to buy.....every job has different requirements.

I won't be using it for any manner of work. It's an example for something else.

That's kind of why I want the Cadillac rather than the Rolls. It has to hit the same price point or similar, but be considered a very good choice, high quality, and not just some re-brand.

Every heat gun I've personally had I found on the side of the road. Another one just popped the other day, actually. They break a lot, but then again I just plain keep finding the damned things.

 

[powertrip]

Steinel or Master pro heat. These are used at my work by hundreds of employees several times daily.

 

[neophyte]

I have a Milwaukee that was likely made by Steinel.
It has separate controls for the air flow, and temperature, and yhe temperature is digital.
Steinel still makes a similar model, but I don’t know that it’s “the best”. It’s just a good heat gun that has better controls than a lot of heat guns on the market.

Steinel and Leister both make “Industrial” heat guns that cost a few times the price of the Milwaukee, which I presume are made for continuous high heat use, that may be better built.

Master Appliance makes a heat gun that also has digital controls, and which also has a “surface” heat sensor, so instead of reading the heat temp at the gun, it reads the heat temp on the surface being worked, so the user doesn't do something like damage the surface coating when removing decals from a painted surface.
It also can “lock out” changes to ghe settings to prevent a user accidentally raising the heat setting and screwing things up.
At $400-$460 it’s more expensive than an average decent heat gun by 3 or 4x the amount, but still less expensive than some of the Industrial Leister models.
https://www.masterappliance.com/proheat-1600-1615-stc-heat-gun/

Currently, this is what I lust after, although no clue on build quality/longevity.

 

[will335i]

I have a corded and cordless dewalt. The cordless eats batteries but it handy in tight spots.

I don't think you are going to see big difference between the HF and the big brands and everything in between. Now if your concern is accuracy temperature then this is a different conversation otherwise there's not going to be a defacto tool in this category when a simple lighter can get the job done for a lot of people.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Steinal is nice. Only complaint is their parts pricing, I have one that needs a few buttons replaced due to use/abuse and it will cost more in parts to repair than to buy a nice used replacement.

 

[bushmechanic]

What about this Steinel? Seems like their "standard" heat gun.

https://www.amazon.com/Steinel-2020-Silver-Kit-LCD-Display/dp/B06XDCYRQ5/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=steinel%2Bheat%2Bgun&qid=1603296843&refinements=p_89%3ASteinel%2Cp_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&s=hi&sr=1-2&th=1

Pricing doesn't really make sense compared with some of the other kits, but whatever. I'm not complaining.

 

[vavet]

I don't use it often but I have one I bought at HF about 14 years ago for less than $10. For heating up a sticker to help it peel off or melting heat-shrink tubing, it works fine.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I used a Master heat gun for years. The only thing I didn't like about it was the short power cord. Any extension I used would get hot eventually at the plug from use. I finally started changing the 6 foot cord for a 16 foot 12/14 gauge cord and never had to use an extension again. I had several things that came with 6"-9" cords that the first thing I did was replace the cord. I am sure others have had the same problem. I got high quality power tool cords made with rubber and fine strand flexible copper to replace the original PVC cords.

 

[zendriver]

"The" heat gun

I guess I’d have to ask other than maybe a thicker plastic body and a slightly sturdier switch, what’s the major difference between the $200 and the $20 models?

It’s basically a glorified hair blow dryer


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bushmechanic]

Re: "The" heat gun

I guess I’d have to ask other than maybe a thicker plastic body and a slightly sturdier switch, what’s the major difference between the $200 and the $20 models?

It’s basically a glorified hair blow dryer


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Doesn't really matter for this, as I'm using it for another unrelated purpose. The reason for me to get something in a higher price bracket is brand expectation and desirability. Nothing more than that, in the end.

I'd suspect it's in a better housing, tighter temperature controls, better bearings, noise levels, serviceability, COO, and things of that nature. If it's not, it should be.

That's what I'd personally expect for the premium; but the question is, would anyone even care? Probably not, unless they're using it for electronic repair or something else that's sensitive to heat levels.

Even the ones I've had sucked; probably $20 units, but they did what I needed them to do.

 

[neophyte]

Re: "The" heat gun

I guess I’d have to ask other than maybe a thicker plastic body and a slightly sturdier switch, what’s the major difference between the $200 and the $20 models?

It’s basically a glorified hair blow dryer


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Major differences.
Accessory selection and parts availability.
McMaster-Carr has a wide selection of tips available for brands like Steinel, Master Appliance, Leister, etc. with a cross reference to which tips fit which guns.
There are also accessories like stands available, and wire shields to keep hands or other objects away from the hot tips of the guns.

Otherwise, ceramic coated heating elements for long life.
More precise or variable heating regulation.
Multiple blowing speeds.
Indicators to tell if the tip is still hot.
The Master Appliance ProHeat I mentioned above has a gauge for measuring surface temp rather than tip or heating element temp.

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

We're not getting into Metabo or Festool territory; just the high end of performance and quality that actually matters, but a traditional design.

Why not Metabo? Their upper end digital heat gun is $135, which seems pretty reasonable to me, and in the same price range of most name brand digitally controlled heat guns.

I bought one of the digital Metabo heat guns a few months ago since it was a good deal on Amazon warehouse, but I haven't had a project since then that needed a heat gun. It seems like a nice unit though. Doesn't come with a case or any tips which is kind of a bummer.

 

[no704]

Friend had the HF one in his shop. Trigger shorted and burnt the shop down. Unplug those heat guns boys!

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

The Master we have at work is one of the most rugged and sturdy when sitting on the bench. I have a Steinel at home that's pretty good.
I used to have a small Weller that was perfect for wire splices, especially in tight areas.

 

[bushmechanic]

Why not Metabo? Their upper end digital heat gun is $135, which seems pretty reasonable to me, and in the same price range of most name brand digitally controlled heat guns.

I bought one of the digital Metabo heat guns a few months ago since it was a good deal on Amazon warehouse, but I haven't had a project since then that needed a heat gun. It seems like a nice unit though. Doesn't come with a case or any tips which is kind of a bummer.

I was just referencing pricing in general. Typically they're very high.

 

[zendriver]

Re: "The" heat gun

Major differences.
Accessory selection and parts availability.
McMaster-Carr has a wide selection of tips available for brands like Steinel, Master Appliance, Leister, etc. with a cross reference to which tips fit which guns.
There are also accessories like stands available, and wire shields to keep hands or other objects away from the hot tips of the guns.

Otherwise, ceramic coated heating elements for long life.
More precise or variable heating regulation.
Multiple blowing speeds.
Indicators to tell if the tip is still hot.
The Master Appliance ProHeat I mentioned above has a gauge for measuring surface temp rather than tip or heating element temp.

Fair enough, but it begs an answer for the age old product purchase question "what are you going to use it for?"

I only use a heat gun maybe one or twice a year, so paying $100-200+ for one just seems silly, not obsessed with "having the Best". My $13 "WEN"( from 10 year ago) has a case and a bunch bunch of attachments. Gets the job done fine but does feel cheap.

Using one more often or even in a production environment, could certainly warrant a more industrial level model.

 

[neophyte]

Re: "The" heat gun

Fair enough, but it begs an answer for the age old product purchase question "what are you going to use it for?"

I only use a heat gun maybe one or twice a year, so paying $100-200+ for one just seems silly, not obsessed with "having the Best". My $13 "WEN"( from 10 year ago) has a case and a bunch bunch of attachments. Gets the job done fine but does feel cheap.

Using one more often or even in a production environment, could certainly warrant a more industrial level model.

Decent power tool cords can cost $20.
If you can purchase a heat gun for $13 bucks that works multiple times, and comes with the needed accessories, I see no reason not to buy one, or even several, if you work with crappy coworkers who might permanently “borrow” the heat gun, or in an area were tools might get stolen.
The added somewhat precise heat regulation of a $150+/- heat gun is useful if you may have yo do unexpected jobs, that require more precise work.
If you need to remove a sticker from a painted area, a heat gun can make quick work of the job, but if you accidentally burn or melt the paint, you wind up with a really expensive repair rather than a quick task.

Just using the heat gun to inflate something when the heating element us turned off is something that might come up. A decent digital thermostat in the heat gun can tell you whether the gun is cool if you were just using it for something else.
Ikea for instance used to carry inflatable furniture, but for some reason discontinued it.
The reason was that people were using heat gins and hair dryers to inflate the furniture, and using them with the heating element on, And the valves on the furniture would melt making the furniture useless.
This isn’t something that comes up every day, but the extra cost of the more expensive gun can avoid having to buy a separate pump, or having to buy a replacement sofa or pool float, which might cost as much as the more expensive heat gun.

 

[JBH]

"The" heat gun

What about this Steinel? Seems like their "standard" heat gun.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDCYRQ5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Pricing doesn't really make sense compared with some of the other kits, but whatever. I'm not complaining.

I think that’s the one I have, but in a plastic case.

It just works, at least for heat shrink and the like.

I guess I’d have to ask other than maybe a thicker plastic body and a slightly sturdier switch, what’s the major difference between the $200 and the $20 models?

It’s basically a glorified hair blow dryer

Good hair dryers are expensive too.

 

[bushmechanic]

Hell, I use a hair dryer for stickers, adhesive, softening polymers, re-coiling cords for old keyboards, and heat shrink...

It doesn't take much to do stuff like that.

Cheap heat guns are fine for most of what the average person will use them for, and even overkill many times. I imagine the sort of person who needs anything more has a very, very short list from which to choose, and that they all cost more than $250.

 

[username2]

I'm in the Steinel + a Salvation Army hair dryer club, but I don't think there's much black magic to running 'lectricity through a wire with some resistance.

My uneducated guess is that the high end guns are rated for a higher duty cycle rather than producing some sort of high quality heat.

 

[bushmechanic]

I wasn't planning on it, but it wouldn't be much of a stretch to determine what the difference actually is (or isn't) in this process.

I was only going to have someone use it as an example in another test, but if it looks interesting enough and there's time, I'll have him push it farther and compare some guns.

Personally, I don't expect much of a difference aside from precision and certifications; and even then only if you get way higher than this.

 

[Under_Pressure]

I bought a Hakko HJ5000 a few years ago when I wanted something "better" for doing some electronics projects (otherwise my "garage" heat gun was an old Craftsman I had inherited). I have mostly used it for opening up glued electronics and, more than anything, pulling shafts from golf clubs. No complaints- I guess price-wise they are not high-end, but they are a company whose specialty seems to be "hot things" (heat guns, soldering/desoldering, etc.). And remarkably for the price point, as I recall it was not made in China but somewhere in Europe- granted, probably eastern Europe, but still...

 

[Negen]

Those master heat guns seem over priced.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bushmechanic]

Those master heat guns seem over priced.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

That's why you don't look things up on your phone.

The unit in question justifies it's price.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Funny thread. Wants the best, but then excludes the high end stuff.

I agree with your observation. He probably meant “best for the money”?
Just buy a $40 **** tool and see it is does the job. Go from there.