Best Heat Guns
Heat guns are DIY appliances that are mainly used for stripping paint on wood or timber. They look much like a hairdryer and are work by directing the heated air onto the surface from which you wish to strip the paint. This causes the paint to soften so a stripping knife can easily remove it. Types of heat guns include corded and cordless guns, to give ease of use in different situations.
In the past, paraffin and bottled glass blowlamps were used to strip paint off of timber. Technology has evolved leaps and bounds since then. Technology has been developed to prevent fires that may be caused by an open flame from using blowlamps. Even if electricity is no available where you are working heat guns can still be used.
There are various temperature settings on many heat guns, as well as changeable airflow settings. This allows you to control up to soften the paint less harshly at just the right temperature. Because of this, there’s less risk to damage the timber or the metal surface you working on. Some basic heat guns only have one heat setting, whereas more complicated versions will have more options, or even a fully variable adjustment setting. You can also reduce or increase the heat of a heat gun, by holding the gun at varying distances, to adjust the heat concentration on the surface.
Heat Gun Advantages
The advantages of using a heat gun include the versatility and ease of use. It can be used for an assortment of tasks, including soldering, activating adhesives, and shrink wrapping – not just stripping paint! Adaptability is another big advantage. You can change or adjust it’s settings, so it can heat up or dry out different surfaces, including defrosting frozen pipes.
As well as stripping off paint, you can also use these appliances for drying paint or damp wood, welding plastics, and softening adhesives to name a few. You can also purchase special nozzles to attach to the end of your heat gun, for using for these specific uses. For example, you can use a reducer nozzle for when you need to concentrate heat onto an area.
When using a heat gun, you have to be aware of your safety, and the safety of the people around you. Good points to remember are not to use the gun near flammable objects, don’t use for stripping lead paints, never look down the nozzle while it is on, and never insert anything into it.
Below, you’ll find reviews of the top heat guns heat guns available on the market. The price points vary but each heat gun has its unique qualities.
7 Best Heat Guns
Porter Cable Heat Gun – PC1500HG
Porter Cable is a quality power tools brand that began in 1906. They have been sharing their expertise with the public for over on hundred years. The brand creates affordable, easy to handle tools, and helpful products.
This Porter-Cable heat gun makes stripping paint easy! It’s variable temperature control dial means that I can choose what type of project I want to carry out without having to buy a specialized tool. On top of this, I can choose what level of air flow I need as it has a fantastic dual fan speed selector included. Even though it’s fairly lightweight anyway, they include a support stand, for hands-free work. You could definitely use this for removing paint that is starting to flake off the hallway, as you have the different temperature options, meaning you can adjust it for the flakier areas.
Top Features
- Lightweight and affordable
- Variable temperature and airflow settings
- Free support stand for hands-free working
Limitations
- 6 foot cord can get in the way of working sometimes
- No attachments included for specialized tasks
- No case included for travel or safety
Wagner Furno 500 Heat Gun
Wagner is one of the largest United States manufacturer for tools that help finish surfaces and building supplies products. They also create higher-end products for professionals and industry manufacturers.
The Wagner Furno 500 heat gun is a great product for it’s price. It heats up quickly, is sturdy, and can be used or a variety of applications. It’s two different temperature settings mean that the product can be adjusted for different types of work. Even though the cord connects into the bottom of the gun, it does lock in, so you can feel safe in the knowledge that it won’t fall out or cut out the power to the tool. On the other hand, the fan is under powered, and on occasion does not have enough air flow to distribute the heat evenly across surfaces. Other than that, this is a great product which serves it’s purpose, and is very affordable!
Top Features
- Cool down mode included, as well as two fan settings
- Ergonomic and lightweight design
- Side bars to prevent the nozzle from touching surfaces whilst working
Limitations
- Only two temperature options available
- Fan doesn’t have enough air flow through it
- Switch can be difficult to operate, and can sometimes stick
Tacklife Heat Gun – HGP70AC
Tacklife markets themselves as ‘The future of tools’. Their aim is to create products that allow their customers to live more convenient, secure lives. What’s even more commendable is that they have a special team of professional product monitors who ensure that every single product is well-made and of high quality.
This heat gun is very heavy duty, meaning it is durable and strong. If you are looking for a product to tackle those tasks that need an extra oomph, this should be your tool of choice! What’s great about this product is that there are four different nozzle attachments included with the gun, even one for lighting the BBQ! Safety is key with this product, as there is a design included to prevent overheating, essential when working with hot tools like these. There are three different temperature settings – 122°F, 752°F, and 1022°F, meaning you can use it for a wider task range. However, because it is so heavy duty, it guzzles a lot of electricity, so prepare for this fact when using.
Top Features
- Has overheat protection design to prevent it from cutting out
- Includes four nozzle attachments for increased versatility
- Three different temperature modes and cooling mode to combat if gets too hot
Limitations
- Original cord can be considered short if you like to use heat guns with longer cords
- Does feel slightly cheaper than other models
- Can only adjust temperature and not air flow
Wagner HT400 Heat Gun
Again, Wagner is considered a world-leading manufacturer of power and finishing tools. They also provide products for industry professionals and more.
This product is much more compact than a lot of other heat guns on the market, so can be used for travelling with, or for just giving you more space in your toolbox! However, there is only one temperature setting, which is 650°F, which is not warm enough for some projects. Because of this, it is more suited for art applications, such as embossing, and shrink wrapping. Even though it is compact, it does have a retractable stand that you can use in between working, and for when you need the tool to cool down after use. It’s size also means that it can get into hard to reach places.
Top Features
- Great for smaller projects and hobbyists
- Compact and great for travel
- Has retractable stand for use of use
Limitations
- Only one temperature setting of 650°F
- Can only be used for certain tasks, such as embossing, as it is not hot enough
- More expensive than other heat guns of this type
DeWalt is a brand known and trusted by professionals. It is higher quality, and with a higher price tag. Their products are tough and are built to withstand the harshest conditions.
Coming in at $122.99, this is a heavy duty product, with a heavy duty price tag. It’s worth it though, as it packs in a wealth of add ins, such as an LCD display, in order to adjust the temperature (which can be done so within 50 degree increments). Again, this is another product with built in overload protection, so you can be assured that it won’t overheat, no matter how long you are operating with it. On top of that, it has a cord protector, kickstand for support, and a hang ring included for easy storage. It’s adjustable heat means that you can do a variety of tasks with ease, and the knowledge that it will do the job well.
Top Features
- LCD Display for easy temperature changes
- Built in overload protection
- Professionally built for professional people
Limitations
- No cool down feature included, considering it can get very hot
- Temperature is only displayed in Fahrenheit
- No presets for temperature, so will reset to lowest possible temperature once switched off
SEEKONE Heat Gun
SEEKONE pride themselves on their tagline ‘quality first, reputation first’, providing high quality of a variety of products.
This nifty little heat gun can go from 120°F to 1200°F, and possesses an overload protector to prevent it from cutting out or overheating. On top of this, it also comes with four nozzle attachments, including a reflector nozzle to disperse heat evenly over the chosen surface. Plus, it has an ergonomic design, which prevents repetitive strain injuries if you hold it for long periods of time. It has an air flow control switch on the side to help you choose the speed of the hot air. However, users will likely be put off by the fact that the insulation inside is asbestos, a known risk to health.
Top Features
- Gets to the chosen temperature quickly
- Variable air flow and temperature
- Ergonomic design
Limitations
- Cord provided is to short to be used without an extension
- Asbestos is used as an insulator
- Airflow is weaker than other heat guns
Tacklif Heat Gun – HGP73AC
Another Tacklife product, whose ethos is ‘The future of tools’. They pride themselves on creating ease for customer lives by creating products which take the work out of hard tasks.
This is a more advanced Tacklife heat gun than the last one, and is slightly more expensive. It gives the option of having either three modes of temperature, or a fully variable range. As well as overheating protection, it also has the added bonus of a cooling mode, for after you’re done using it. It comes with four nozzle attachments included, extending it’s utility, and it’s strong power means it is a long lasting product. It’s switch design and ergonomic shape, means that accidentally switching the temperature is not an issue.
Top Features
- Able to switch between three modes or fully variable temperature
- Four nozzle attachments are included
- Controls are smartly designed so as to decrease chance of accidentally changing it
Limitations
- No case provided to keep it secure or for travel purposes
- Could be considered bulky for it’s intended use
- Airflow from the device could be improved
ProTect Heat Gun Kit in Carry Case
This product is made by a company called Cartman, a company that operates on Amazon.This heat gun is marketed as a general purpose gun for stripping paint and loosening floor tiles. It has two temperature settings (750°F and 1000°F), and comes with four nozzle attachments and additional tools for tasks such as paint stripping. However, there is a warning that on its initial use, there may be a slight smoke that is emitted from the device, which is said to just be steam from initial heat isolation of the internal mica. However, there is no cool down option, and considering the note about the initial smoke, can make consumers skeptical of its safety.
Top Features
- Very affordable
- Comes with additional tools for heavy duty jobs
- Comes with a carry case for easy transportation
Limitations
- Smoke warning when you first use it
- Only two temperature settings available
- No cool down option available
So there you go, there’s plenty of options to suit every budget and need, even if you only require the heat gun for your artistic endeavors! Be sure always to check reviews when purchasing, and read the safety information.
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