Heat Gun choice

[Paul Deslandes]

My trusty old heat gun has finally given up the ghost after more than 25 years so I need a replacement. Machine Mart offer quite a selection so interested to see if anyone has any experiences, good or bad. The Evolution looks good with a heat range from 50 to 600 degC as does the Black and Decker. I'm sure the DeWalt is excellent but is it worth paying almost twice the price? They all seem to weigh about 0.8kg.

 

Thanks

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

I had to replace mine last year and got a good B&D in a hard case with selection of tips.

[Jonathan Kay]

I use an Earlex HG 1600, nominal 1600W, 350 or 520°C. It has enough shapes of nozzle and a decent case, which may be the most important factors once they have enough oomph. I wouldn't pay any more.

 

Jonathan

[Molecular--Bob]

Remember to buy one that has a heat range suitable for heat-shrink tubing, then you can justify it as car spending and buy a nice one.

[Paul Deslandes]

You're right Bob as I use mine mostly for heatshrink although the old one gave out softening putty whilst re glazing the back door

[Roger Ford]

You can get a DeWalt one for around half the price on ebay. Note this is a different model from the one at Machine Mart - 26411 rather than 26414. I'm guessing that's just an older version.

[alan c]

My old De Walt one has taken a huge amount of abuse now for several years and yes I am biased 😬

[rj]

I'm a huge fan of Steinel.

 

Remember to get one with electronic temperature control.

[Paul Deslandes]

thanks guys. The 26411 looks very similar but without the digital display.

 

I rather assumed you'd be using DeWalt Alan

[Roger Ford]

Ah, hadn't noticed the digital display (which seems a tad pointless - don't you generally want quite hot, hot or very hot?). Beware that the ebay one at least doesn't appear to come with a "curl around" end, if you're used to using that for heat shrink. Personally I find a gas micro-blowtorch much more convenient for heat shrink than a big unwieldy heat gun.

[Paul Deslandes]

the extra nozzles would be knew to me as my old one was either 'on' or 'off with a 1300W element with no extra bits or settings. When using it on heat-shrink I just waved it carefully around until it shrunk reasonably evenly. Some means of protecting the surroundings might be useful although I never had a problem with cooking stuff.

The cheaper DeWalt is available from lots of outlets on line so it may be that its not yet discontinued.

[elie boone]

Heat shrink : i still use the good old lighter, not near the fuel tank doh

[rj]

Quoting elie boone: 

Heat shrink : i still use the good old lighter, not near the fuel tank doh

 

And pretty useless for transparent stuff as it tends to take colour of the smoke...