Heat Guns?

[Richard]

I might have a need for a heat gun. I've never needed one on the past enough to warrant buying one so I don't have one. I've got some Milwaukee batteries so could buy a Milwaukee cordless. If I recall it's roughly $150.

Looked at Harbor Freight (a place I abhor buying tools from in general) and can probably save $100 by buying one of theirs.

Being made in china (my presumption) I'm not going to expect it to last too long however, never say never kind of thing.

Better to buy something (Milwaukee that might also be made in china) where I've already got the batteries, or a plug in version from HF?

I guess I could have asked in the "HF tools that don't suck" thread..... so, anyone know if these suck?

 

[scootr]

I've had a few, handhelds and bench types, all corded.
How are you going to use yours and for what?
I think it's going to drain a battery pretty quickly...heat guns consume a good amount of amperage.

 

[George2615]

I have 2 corded HF heat guns. They are at least 12 years old now and work just fine. I have never seen a battery operated heat gun. I never heard of one till your post. I can't imaging they would last too long as heating elements draw a lot of power.
I use mine on heat shrink tubing, thawing out frozen pipes, heat shrink electrical fittings etc.

 

[Richard]

More questions...

Got to thinking how much heat does each one put out.

Milwaukee = 914 BTU
14 amp hercules = 1700 watts

Great, I've got an apples/oranges situation.... look for conversion and it says 1 BTU = .293 watts

So, 914 * .293 = 267 watts?

(this is from an HVAC site)

is that correct math for finding out how they compare?

Milwaukee is battery, Hercules is corded.

 

[DarkBlack]

Ample heat takes a lot of energy. I’d stick with simple proven AC corded heat guns.
No battery maintenance to worry about. No worries when it’s a longer heating job.
Not everything bought today has to be battery powered.
Power on an AC heat gun will be simple volts, amps, wattage.
No silly battery powered btu’s rating to try to confuse the power rating

 

[George2615]

My corded guns have a hi/low/off switch. The high is about 1700 don't know what low is but I usually use low for my uses. Before I bought mine I used wife's hair dryer but got yelled at for using it in the garage.

 

[Richard]

I'm going to get some Maple wood. Use some Ferric Nitrate on it (some kind of liquid with suspended iron dust as I think I read) and see if I can re-create this. To get the reaction in the wood, I understand it has to be heat treated, hence the gun.

My hope is to make a wooden box out of this. Seems it interacts with the tannens that are in the maple wood. Otherwise, I have no clue. Got the Ferric Nitrate on way, need method to heat to experiment.

I really like that finish.

 

[Richard]

Looking at heat output, I think you're right..... stick with corded.

 

[scootr]

I've got a benchtop Grizzly. It can be used in hand. Tremendous output, it gets any job done quickly.

Industrial Heat Gun - Grizzly Industrial

<h1>T10827 Industrial Heat Gun</h1> <p>The T10827 Industrial Heat Gun provides a flow of heated air for applications such as paint stripping, bending and molding plastics, shrink wrapping, and drying adhesives.</p> <p>The adjustable stand supports the heat gun, allowing both hands to hold the...

www.grizzly.com

 

[rScotty]

That is crazy looking wood grain.

 

[flyerdan]

I had an old yellow HF heat gun that failed, now have the red and black one that works fine, for some time now. I use it for heat shrink tube so it doesn't get run for long periods of time though.

 

[mrmikey]

Bought this one off scamazon over a year ago and used it quite a bit with no complaints: Amazon.ca

 

[Topzide]

I've got a HF one that's almost 20 yrs old! I think i paid $8. As long as you don't throw them around, they'll treat you right.

 

[bmaverick]

I've got a HF one that's almost 20 yrs old! I think i paid $8. As long as you don't throw them around, they'll treat you right.

Same here, H-F heat-gun $11, going strong for 8 years.

 

[LittleBill21]

i use this has an adjustable heat range. used it for 6 hours straight one day no issue

https://amzn.to/4hRlj28

 

[Oaktree]

I've got a HF one that's almost 20 yrs old! I think i paid $8. As long as you don't throw them around, they'll treat you right.

I have a HF Bauer one I bought 2-3 years ago. Much nicer than the old Ungar it replaced.

 

[dougtrr2]

I would definitely go corded. When I use my heat gun I tend to spend a lot of time slowly and evenly heating things up. On high, and close, you tend to burn things and that is not my goal.

When looking at heat guns see how the stand up or what stand come with it. If you want to set it down for a bit while you are using it, you have to be careful as the business end gets pretty hot. It is somewhat of a problem with my cheap corded gun.

Doug in SW IA

 

[MH8675309]

These are useful when a torch is too much. If the pressure relief valve freezes on the air compressor - it happens sometimes

 

[Alan W.]

I had an old yellow HF heat gun that failed, now have the red and black one that works fine, for some time now. I use it for heat shrink tube so it doesn't get run for long periods of time though.

Same here. The yellow one self destructed. The red n black one has been bulletproof

 

[ray66v]

I had a $17 Amazon heat gun, survive my last 8 years in the body shop.

It got kicked, and dropped all day long.

It retired with me, and it still works.

I own, and have used, high quality ones too.

If you are only going to use it at home, periodically, I would not buy and expensive one unless I was young, and planned to use it for decades.