small hot air tool for heatshrink  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2010, 05:23:35 pm
content: Did some small research , and so far the most interesting solution hides behind the trade logo "Heat it up ".If you are aware of better solutions , just post your links ..

author: wd5gnr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2010, 06:49:06 pm
content: The local hobby store has "embossing tools" for about $5 or $10 on sale most weeks. It is a great little hot air gun but no heat or flow control. I have actually used it to remove SMD parts. Unfortunately with the plastic cover off the tip, it won't quite take a hakko nozzle.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2010, 07:59:26 pm
content: Well my need are for heatshrink works, I currently do that with my cigarette lighter ,but the result in some cases , are not perfect , the small heat gun , I believe that it will offer an more uniform result.Thats what I have currently on my scope.

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2010, 09:13:52 pm
content: I just use my soldering iron. If you pass it close enough it works well. Too close and it burns.David.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2010, 09:31:26 pm
content: Quote from: djsb on August 19, 2010, 09:13:52 pmA hot air gun is WAY better - cheapest is a hot-air paint stripper from a DIY store, on reduced power via a triac controller or variac, but a hot-air rework tool like Hakko or Leister is ideal.Another fairly good option is a hot-gas nozzle on a gas soldering iron like a Weller pyropen.

author: MTron
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2010, 01:01:57 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on August 19, 2010, 09:31:26 pmYea, hot air gun for paint striping is what i use, mine has 2 settings, i use it on the low one, few sec of hot air is usually enough to do the job. There may be better options, but since i already owned one and it works perfectly, its what i use

author: DJPhil
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2010, 01:37:45 am
content: Quote from: MTron on August 20, 2010, 01:01:57 amThat's what I used too, but the heat gun I've got is huge and noisy (I do a lot of work late at night) so it feels like a bit of a blunt instrument for the job.Any more I use a cigarette lighter, though I once had a trigger operated grill lighter that was great for tight spaces.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2010, 12:12:53 pm
content: cigarette lighter and some skill are all i need. never need more.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2010, 04:30:49 pm
content: Well after allot of searching .... ended up to the latest model , of the Creative series...For start It looks like a toy , with this color on it , but under closer inspection,it has all the " good stuff " of what an worthy hot gun should have..Metallic head , an protector around the head , so to not burn your self by an accident,plusnew stand!! This detail gave me the kick that I was needed so to forget the funny look and get it.Most of those items do look alike , and funny enough they all have the same specs.But the new stand , its the most interesting part , because at the bench you have many other things around, and any accident with this item , will damage anything next to it .Or the tool it self , if it rolls and crash on the floor .. " hits the dust "It Shipped before few hours from UK ..About the cigarette lighter , the problem is that you can not move it left and right fast enough.its ok for very thin in diameter heatshrink materials , but the truth is that the heat gun ,gives more flexibility ...I did not liked to get an full size one , I can get those very cheaply , the problem are the space,you can not use the full size one , when you do assembly of small electronic devices.The small one are more practical from my view.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2010, 11:10:29 am
content: how big is the diameter you are talking about kiriakos? the largest in my stock is around 7mm or so.

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2010, 02:29:03 pm
content: I use a jet lighter like this one:http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1320

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2010, 03:55:15 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on August 21, 2010, 11:10:29 amWell its not totally up to the size, but more up to the mass , for instance ,in some cables that will be installed for outdoor use, I use more than one , I could use even three tubes over the same spot , so to get mechanical strength equal with the original insulation .In any case, above the 15mm diameter , you need the full scale hot gun.