Heat guns are an extremely useful tool for DIYers and professional contractors alike. They can remove paint or adhesive residue, thaw frozen pipes, shrink tubing or plastic sheeting, dry-fit furniture pieces before final assembly, and even help you remove wallpaper or glue residue from walls. It’s also incredibly handy if you have pets—you can dry wet dog bedding without letting it sit out in the sun all day.
When shopping for a heat gun, ensure it has a high wattage rating to get hot enough to do what you need. Look for one with variable temperature settings so you can adjust it according to what task you’re working on at any given time (and keep your fingers safe!).
No matter your plans for your heat gun, there’s no need to worry about buying one that won’t do the job. This article will examine some of the most common heat gun types and their benefits.
Types of Heat Guns
Heat guns are one of the most versatile tools you can have in your toolbox. They’re great for removing paint, shrinking foam, and even softening plastic.
But with all of their uses, knowing which heat gun is right for you can take a lot of work. To help you figure out what kind of heat gun is best for you, here are three types of heat guns, along with some information about each:
1. Electric Heat Guns
Electric heat guns are a great option for those looking for an efficient and easy-to-use tool. Electric heat guns are designed to be compact and lightweight, making them easy to store and carry around. They also have long cords that allow you to move around using your heat gun. This allows you to use them in a wide range of applications without worrying about being tied down by the power cord.
Electric heat guns can come with different wattage settings, which is important because it determines how quickly the gun heats up. The higher the wattage setting, the faster it will be able to heat up and cool off again after each use. This means that if you’re working on a project requiring frequent temperature changes, you’ll want a gun with more watts than doing some maintenance work around the house every once in a while.
2. Gas Heat Guns
Gas heat guns are typically cordless or have an extended battery life, so they’re easy to take with you in your tool kit or garage. They offer superior performance compared to electric heat guns because they’re more powerful and don’t get hot enough to burn you if you accidentally touch them while they’re running at full blast.
Gas heat guns are also much more efficient than other heat guns because their fuel source (propane) doesn’t require any electricity to run the motor that turns the fan inside the device when it’s turned on. This means that there’s no need for an external power source—you need fuel and a tank-like container called an “extended life” tank (which has more propane/butane than standard tanks) so that you don’t have to refill it as often during long periods of use!
3. Infrared Heat Guns
Infrared heat guns are great for fast, efficient heating. They can remove paint, solder, and other materials from surfaces and soften adhesives and sealants. These heat guns are often used to quickly heat up a small area of your work.
Like traditional heaters, infrared heaters use infrared radiation rather than convection or conduction. This means that infrared heaters heat the object you’re working on instead of heating the air around you. This makes them very efficient—you get more energy from every watt of electricity than other gun heaters.
Infrared heaters are generally safe for indoor use because they don’t create fumes or smoke when turned on (this is true for both convection and conduction). They don’t give off any harmful chemicals, either!
4. Industrial Heat Guns
Industrial Heat Guns are the most powerful heat guns. They are ideal for commercial and industrial applications, with power outputs ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 watts and temperatures up to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit.
They use a fan-like heating element that generates a high-velocity stream of hot air. They have a narrow focus and can cut through metal or solder.
These heat guns are typically bulkier than other models, so they’re more challenging to store in a toolbox or drawer. They also require more maintenance than other heat guns because of the high wear and tear they go through daily.
Benefits of Using Heat Guns
1. Extremely Versatile
One of the best things about a heat gun is that it’s extremely versatile.
You can use it to strip paint from your walls, or you can use it to thaw frozen pipes. You can use it to remove stickers from glass windows and mirrors, or you can use it to melt the ice off your car’s windshield. You can even use a heat gun to dry wet clothes after washing them!
Heat guns are great for so many different applications because they generate very low temperatures and high temperatures at the same time. They’ll get hot enough to cook food but not so hot that they’ll set fire to flammable materials. And because of their ability to generate very low temperatures, they’re also ideal for removing adhesive without damaging surfaces or leaving behind residue.
2. Transfers Heat Quickly and Evenly
Heat guns are a great way to transfer heat quickly and evenly.
The high temperatures that heat guns can reach make them incredibly effective at heating up large areas like roofs or walls. The faster you can get the heat where it needs to be, the better off you’ll be—and that’s why heat guns are so popular among professionals.
You can use a heat gun for just about anything: stripping paint, drying paint, sealing tile grout, removing wallpaper, or thawing pipes. If your project requires applying heat to something to make it more manageable or change its form or shape, there’s a good chance a heat gun will do the trick!
3. Easy to Use
Heat guns are some of the easiest tools to use out there. They’re lightweight, small enough to fit in your hand, and they don’t require any training or special knowledge to operate. You turn them on and point them where you want the heat!
It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional contractor or just someone who wants to make their own furniture for fun—a heat gun will make your life easier because it requires so little effort.
4. Compact and Portable
One of the top benefits of using a heat gun is its compact and portable design. This means you can take it with you wherever you go, so you can get your project done quickly and easily.
You don’t have to worry about lugging around heavy, bulky tools or waiting for them to arrive at your location—the heat gun is a convenient size that’s easy to handle, even if you’re not used to working with power tools.
This makes it great for people who need their projects done fast and on demand, like contractors who are trying to finish up before they leave on vacation or homeowners who have just moved into a new place and need some quick repairs done before they can move in properly.
5. Offers Temperature Control
One of the many benefits of using a heat gun is that it offers temperature control. Heat guns blow hot air, which can soften and loosen the paint, shrink plastic, thaw frozen pipes, and more. Heat guns are ideal for stripping old paint and varnish from furniture or other surfaces.
The temperature setting on a heat gun can range from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (37 to 982 degrees Celsius). This means you can use your heat gun to perform tasks requiring high or low temperatures and precise settings.
Final Thoughts
A heat gun can be a real lifesaver in a variety of situations. Whether working on an art project or trying to get rid of stubborn glue, a heat gun can help you get the job done quickly and efficiently.
They’re also perfect for cleaning paint jobs, loosening adhesives, and much more. Plus, they’re relatively affordable and easy to use.
If you’re ready to start with heat guns, check out our guide on the types of heat guns available and their benefits!