A heat gun is a tool that almost every home should have. It can be hard to decide on the right type for you. This article will enlighten you on the types of heat guns available, their advantages & disadvantages, and their applications.
Heat guns can perform a range of tasks with much ease. They extend a jet of hot air to a specific point.
Types of heat guns
There are four categories of heat guns. Below are the types of heat guns and their descriptions.
Electric heat guns
These heat guns use electric power to operate. They have chords that connect them to the power supply. There are two types of electric guns; high-power guns and low-power guns.
Electric heat guns are the most popular. Accordingly, most manufacturers have focused on developing this technology. Besides, these heat guns are environment-conservative.
Gas heat guns
These heat guns use organic gases instead of a heated element. Mostly used organic gases in these guns are propane and butane. These guns are less popular than electric ones for two reasons.
The first one is that they are expensive. Secondly, you have to refill the gas once it gets finished. However, these heat guns are still in use. Plumbers use the gas heat guns where electricity is not accessible.
Industrial heat guns
The only distinguishing characteristic of industrial hot air gun is the heat level and fun settings. People use industrial heat guns for heavy-duty jobs. These guns do not allow fine-tuning of temperatures for small projects.
Infrared heat guns
Infrared guns are a relatively new technology that uses infrared heat. They produce a maximum temperature of 1,112 Fahrenheit. This temperature is more than enough for most household jobs.
Factors to consider while purchasing a heat gun
Temperature Ranges
The temperature range of a heat gun determines the type of task it can perform. Heavy-duty tasks require a heat gun that produces a maximum temperature of 1100 degrees and a minimum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Household jobs require heat guns that have a narrower temperature range.
Fan speed
The speed of rotation of the fan determines the surface area that the heat gun will impact. Small projects such as loosening soldier joints require lower fan speeds.
Temperature control
Some heat guns operate at a constant temperature. The only way to adjust the heat level is to vary the distance between the nozzle and the point of impact. Variable temperature heat guns have a dial for selecting the temperature you want.
Applications
There are several ways of using heat guns. These include refurbishing old furniture, defrosting water pipes, repairing car bumpers, among others.
Other advanced applications of hot air guns include cable terminals, car covering, preparation of skis, bending plastics and copper tubes, stripping paint, shrink tubing, a take-off of stickers or PVC flooring, and soft-welding.
In conclusion, make work easier with a heat gun. You will be able to accomplish both household and industrial work with the help of this simple machine. It is very simple to use.
