Those who have never used it probably will not be able to imagine what it is: the hot air blower, also known as a heat gun or hot air gun, is a tool similar to a hairdryer, but with a decidedly higher power. Even if you’ve never considered it before, the heat gun can be handy.
The hot air blower is used for different types of activities but is particularly appreciated for removing old paints or any other kind of adhesive without using hand tools. The hot air blower will make these jobs extremely easy and quick and will be able to remove even those old adhesives they don’t want to peel off.
Right here are the best heat guns that are present below.
Heat Guns Buying Guide
Although it is an instrument with a mechanism and relatively simple use, it is good not to take things for granted and to investigate a little to understand what the main features and applications of this tool are. To help you purchase the model that best suits your needs, we have tried to answer the most frequently asked questions of those who are preparing to buy one of these machines.
What Is the Hot Air Blower and How Does It Work?
A hot air blower is a tool that looks like a hairdryer but in an enhanced version. These two items are quite similar in design, but the hot air gun generates much more heat and therefore reaches much higher temperatures. It is mainly used for working with Paint, although it is not limited to this activity.
Here is how it can be briefly described: inside a heat gun, there are two elements: a heating element and a fan. When a heat gun is put into action, the fan starts spinning.
Thus this tool generates a volume of the air mass, which is then directed to a heating element. After that, the air is combined with the heat emitted and comes out of the nozzle as hot air. When we adjust the temperature of the gun, we are changing the temperature of the heating element.
For Which Do-It-Yourself Jobs Can a Heat Gun Be Used?
Although many people still believe that this tool is particular and not very versatile, a heat gun can help us in many situations. It is not only used to remove Paint, but it is possible to use it in various activities and simple projects. Its main uses are as follows:
- Repair Pipes or Metal: you can use a heat gun to shape and weld the elements in the desired way (with the related accessories).
- Soften: some substances can be challenging to remove. For example, candle wax or super glue that hardens quickly. With this tool, you can soften these substances and then transfer them more easily.
- Bend Copper or Pvc Pipes: with the right temperature, you can even bend pipes that would otherwise require a lot of time and energy.
- Remove Bumper Stickers and Stickers: if you are tired or if you are now ashamed of those old stickers on your refrigerator or vehicle, you can remove them very easily and quickly with this tool. If you did the same thing with your hands, it would take you all day.
- Remove the Paint: of course, you can scrape or use paint solvent, but it will still take days to remove it. With a hot air gun or hot air gun doing this will take a few minutes. You can also remove old pieces of wallpaper.
What Are the Pros and Cons of A Heat Gun?
By analyzing the features that these tools offer, few disadvantages can be identified. Among these, the fact of having to pay attention because, like many other tools, even the heat gun can cause injuries in the event of irresponsible use.
In the following table, we mention both the pros and cons:
Advantages
- They do not cause flames.
- They generate heat quickly.
- They cool quickly.
- They are equipped with security mechanisms.
- Versatile.
- They save you time.
Disadvantages
- Accidents are more likely to occur if they are not used safely.
- They require more maintenance.
- More expensive.
Maximum Temperature
Gone are the days when the hot air blowers were used only to remove Paint. Back then, there was no need to worry so much about the temperature threshold. However, much more critical items are now being produced.
Probably, any heat gun will be able to remove the Paint, but if you want to do something more about it, you will have to pay more attention to this feature. For example, if you plan to melt the plastic or dry the wood, you may need a higher maximum temperature than it is necessary to remove the Paint.
Fortunately, many manufacturers have already launched items that meet these needs. Many hot air blowers can reach temperatures of around six hundred degrees celsius.
Temperature Settings
This feature is linked to the maximum temperature: to optimize the use of the heat gun, and it will be convenient to have a system to regulate the temperature.
The number of possible adjustments will change from model to model; in some cases, there will be many selectable settings; in others, they will only be a couple. In general, however, these are temperatures between fifty and six hundred degrees.
Buying a hot air gun with this feature may require a higher expense, so if you have a limited budget, you will have to consider the need to have this feature available carefully.
The intended use is the most critical factor. If a healthful temperature regulation capacity is required to obtain good results in the work you will carry out, you will necessarily have to look for a model that allows you to set the temperature.
Lcd Screen
Not many models of heat gun equipped with an LCD screen. It is, in fact, a premium feature that is found only in high-end products. If you want your hot air gun to have an integrated LCD screen, you will have to be willing to pay a higher price.
At the same time, however, this feature can be essential. It is not just an aesthetic attribute, and the LCD screen greatly facilitates the operations to set the temperature according to the heat needed at a given time. This level of precision will not be necessary for everyone, but it will undoubtedly allow us to optimize the use of the heat gun.
Security Mechanisms
Most hot air blowers are equipped with one or more integrated safety and protection mechanisms to prevent accidents and to prevent damage to the tool. Usually, this is a rapid cooling system and protection against current overloads, which causes the machine to stop and prevent short circuits due to malfunction or high temperatures.
