Author Topic: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?  (Read 14578 times)

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Offline Steve ZargTopic starter

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Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« on: December 04, 2017, 08:08:13 pm »
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.
 
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Offline kalel

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2017, 08:20:57 pm »
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):
Quote
Specifications ?

Material ? Plastic

Color: Black

Length: 24cm

Working temp.: 200 ?

Rated Power: 300W

Rated voltage: 110V 50-60HZ

Weight: 310g

Type: Constant temp. hot air gun

Plug Type: US Plug

But 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).
« Last Edit: December 04, 2017, 08:23:59 pm by kalel »
 
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Offline phil from seattle

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2017, 08:34:48 pm »
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.
 

Offline klunkerbus

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2017, 08:36:52 pm »
I acquired a Weller 6966C 250W heat gun several years ago as my alternative to the Bic lighter.  Not the cheapest solution, though...
 

Offline Kohanbash

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2017, 01:59:04 am »
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.
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Offline David Hess

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2017, 03:26:37 am »
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
 

Offline GreyWoolfe

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2017, 05:37:28 pm »
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. |O
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Offline ChrisLX200

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2017, 05:55:08 pm »
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 paint :) Works well, is quick, and practice means nothing gets overheated that shouldn't be.
 

Offline phil from seattle

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2017, 04:28:11 am »
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.
 

Offline David Hess

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2017, 10:10:59 am »
The hot air tip available for some butane soldering irons also works well.
 

Offline Decoman

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2017, 02:41:38 pm »
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. :D

So I've ordered this 300 W heatgun seen in kalel's post above, off eBay. :)
« Last Edit: December 08, 2017, 09:00:33 am by Decoman »
 

Offline ChrisLX200

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2017, 03:53:21 pm »
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.

I 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.
 

Offline Electro Detective

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2017, 09:38:01 am »
Any bog standard dual heat setting paint stripper gun from a hardware store works flawlessly for me   :-+

Instant and perfect custom heat shrinking every time  :clap:

and no MIC rework station quality control russian roulette  :scared:



 

Offline Prime

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2017, 07:48:17 pm »
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.

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Offline R005T3r

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #14 on: January 09, 2018, 05:48:06 pm »
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...
 

Offline waveterm

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2018, 11:14:42 pm »
RE: kalel's post

I'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.
 

Offline james_s

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #16 on: January 09, 2018, 11:35:54 pm »
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.
 

Offline PTR_1275

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #17 on: January 10, 2018, 12:19:52 am »
Hot air rework station for the smaller “precise” stuff

Bosch 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.
 

Offline Old Printer

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Re: Favorite heat gun for heat shrink?
« Reply #18 on: January 12, 2018, 03:25:14 am »
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.
 


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