"The" heat gun

[bushmechanic]

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.

Try again. It's not complicated.

 

[Eric Essen]

Hakko HJ5000 is made in Romania.

I've sold more than 200 over the past couple of years with no customer complaints or returns (via ifixit.com). $39.99 600/950 F dual heat settings.

Of course in the same time period sold more than 2,000 $19.99 harbor freight style China made heat guns, with about 40 returns/refunds (mix of product and shipping issues) because most consumers only care about price these days.

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...

 

[Under_Pressure]

Hakko HJ5000 is made in Romania.

I've sold more than 200 over the past couple of years with no customer complaints or returns (via ifixit.com). $39.99 600/950 F dual heat settings.

Of course in the same time period sold more than 2,000 $19.99 harbor freight style China made heat guns, with about 40 returns/refunds (mix of product and shipping issues) because most consumers only care about price these days.

Ha, I bought mine from ifixit, so count me as one of those 200 satisfied customers.

 

[Monte]

made in Romania.

sounds like Steinel... ?

 

[Steve_P]

Re: "The" heat gun

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

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

Good hair dryers are expensive too.

True. My now ex GF bought a $150 hair dryer a few yrs ago. I was shocked because I didn't think there was such a thing, and she didn't make a lot of $. I said something like, "you spent $150 on a hair dryer??? " She said the really good ones are $300. She has long hair and was tired of buying a new $30 one every few months.

Back to heat guns, I have a 20 yr old HF which does the job the few times a year I use it. If I needed one now I'd certainly buy something much better.

 

[neophyte]

Hakko HJ5000 is made in Romania.

I've sold more than 200 over the past couple of years with no customer complaints or returns (via ifixit.com). $39.99 600/950 F dual heat settings.

Of course in the same time period sold more than 2,000 $19.99 harbor freight style China made heat guns, with about 40 returns/refunds (mix of product and shipping issues) because most consumers only care about price these days.

Ha, I bought mine from ifixit, so count me as one of those 200 satisfied customers.

sounds like Steinel... ?

Yeah,
The Hakko HJ5000 seems like it might be a rebranded Steinel.
The handle even looks similar to my older Milwaukee Swiss/Czech(labelling is uncertain) made heat gun, that is almost definitely a rebranded Steinel.
The Hakko just looks like an ultra simplified version without a bunch of the extra features found on the higher end models.

 

[Monte]

This is 100% from Steinel too

Bosch + Metabo most likely too, as well as the new Makitas (Made in Romania) Makita has a assembly plant in Romania but since the older heat guns were also supplied by a contracor (Weldy) i guess the new ones are too.... ?

 

[Kev442]

And here I am praying my 1980's cman makes it through another project when I grab it every few years. It has the electrical tape keeping the trigger on permantly feature.

 

[Monte]

Made in Romania too...

 

[FuzzyTiger]

$10 Princess Auto Power Fist special. Comes with a special olfactory indicator to tell you when it's on so you don't need to look. Also emits a nice steady stream of smoke so you know exactly where the heat is going. And finally even when it fails, it'll catch fire and provide that last bit of heat to get the job done.