Favorite heat gun for heat shrink? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Steve Zarg
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2017, 08:08:13 pm
content: Hi,I want to retire my "Bic lighter" and want to shop for a heat gun to use on small pieces of heat shrink in my electronic projects.I have found that many heat guns on the market are large and powerful and good for peeling old paint off the barn.Do you have a favorite model that is good for small electronic projects?Thank you.

author: kalel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2017, 08:20:57 pm
content: If you only need to use it on heat shrink (no soldering), then they sell this for around $10:You can find it by searching for "heat gun heat shrink" as it's advertised for that purpose. I have not tried it, but there are videos on YouTube about it.Seller listed specifications (this one is 110V but there should be a 220V version too if you need it):QuoteBut note that for the price of 3-4 of those, you could buy a hot air station, which can do both heatshrink and soldering/desoldering (adjustable temperature).

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2017, 08:34:48 pm
content: I have an SMD rework station that cost me 60-ish bucks a few years ago. With a 3 mm nozzle, it's great for heatshrink without blasting everything else. Lots of other uses as well.

author: klunkerbus
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2017, 08:36:52 pm
content: I acquired a Weller 6966C 250W heat gun several years ago as my alternative to the Bic lighter. Not the cheapest solution, though...

author: Kohanbash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 01:59:04 am
content: I also use the Weller 6966C all the time. It is a nice heat gun. It comes with adapters for focusing heat around the cable.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 03:26:37 am
content: I have had a Master Appliance Master-Mite heat gun for decades which is great for heat shrink tubing. It is quiet and the volume of air if low.https://www.amazon.com/Master-Appliance-Master-Mite-650-Degree-Fahrenheit/dp/B001HWAFZU

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 05:37:28 pm
content: On the workbench, I have a Yihua 858D hot air station. Away from the workbench, I have a Milwaukee 8975 1400 watt dual heat hot air gun. It does a great job on glue from vinyl flooring, heat shrink tubing and leaving interesting scars on my person when I don't pay attention to what I am doing.

author: ChrisLX200
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 05, 2017, 05:55:08 pm
content: I do have a nice hot air gun for rework but it's a faf adjusting it and waiting for it to warm up just to shrink some tube - so I generally reach for a basic gun used to strip paintWorks well, is quick, and practice means nothing gets overheated that shouldn't be.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2017, 04:28:11 am
content: interesting. my hot air rework station is a no-name from sparkfun 10 years ago. It's up to heat in very short order - about a second.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2017, 10:10:59 am
content: The hot air tip available for some butane soldering irons also works well.

author: Decoman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2017, 02:41:38 pm
content: I just learned that maybe I could use a smaller heat gun, and so I don't quite understand why I ever wanted this 2000 W heatgun of mine, which I previously bought in a store half a year ago.So I've ordered this 300 W heatgun seen in kalel's post above, off eBay.

author: ChrisLX200
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 07, 2017, 03:53:21 pm
content: Quote from: phil from seattle on December 06, 2017, 04:28:11 amI follow the manufacturer's recommendations to switch off the heat first but leave the air pump running until cool - meaning you have to reset the temperature dial each time you power it up. It takes about 20sec to reach set temperature. Other than that it works fine.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2017, 09:38:01 am
content: Any bog standard dual heat setting paint stripper gun from a hardware store works flawlessly for meInstant and perfect custom heat shrinking every timeand no MIC rework station quality control russian roulette

author: Prime
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2017, 07:48:17 pm
content: I find great success with the chinese brand 50 dollar hot air station at work.I realise the temperature control isn't very accurate but it's good enough for general heat shrink work.Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

author: R005T3r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2018, 05:48:06 pm
content: Hakko FR 810B....I use it for electronics reworks and soldering/desoldering, precision micro-mechanics and for heatsrinks, so I can regulate the air temperature otherwise the cable insulation might damage...

author: waveterm
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 09, 2018, 11:14:42 pm
content: RE: kalel's postI'll recommend this unit as well. In the U.S. they are available on Amazon, at Harbor Freight, and Fry's.It's compact, light weight, very inexpensive, and the one I have has lasted years of use in the field.My only complaint is that it doesn't have cooling (fan only) mode, so it needs more time to cool before stowing it in your toolbox than some others. Also, the red plastic at the tip can get soft and sag if it is sitting on the bench running, so I recommend turning it off if it's going to sit for more than a moment.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2018, 11:35:54 pm
content: I usually use my butane soldering iron. I don't even have a special hot air tip, I just use the exhaust port on the side, works great.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2018, 12:19:52 am
content: Hot air rework station for the smaller “precise” stuffBosch PHG630DCE heatgun for a more brute force attack.The Bosch gives control from 50-630 degrees in 10 degree steps and while it’s not super accurate, it is definitely handy to be able to drop the temperature down rather than a off-warm-furnace type heatgun.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 03:25:14 am
content: I use a small heat gun sold in craft stores for embossing. About $15 with the ever present coupon. It is hot enough without being dangerous hot like my big one from Harbor Freight. That one will melt a fingernail if you are not careful.