Drying paint. Paint drying requires only light to medium airflow, depending on how fast you want to go, with an average temperature ranging from 40 – 90 °F (4 – 32°C). We spent hours researching the best products available before purchasing the most promising heat guns to put through our comprehensive testing. We rated and ranked products head-to-head, comparing their heating performance and capabilities, user-friendliness, ergonomics, and included accessories. We tested performance through a set of practical applications like shrinking heat-shrink tubes onto wiring, stripping paint, and bending PVC pipe. So cordless gives you convenience, but it may not make sense for every application and use. How Much Temperature Do I Need in My Heat Gun? They can appear like a toy or even a hairdryer, keep away from the reach of children. Always properly store these, preferably away from other household appliances. Most projects and applications, however, don’t require the maximum heat levels you can produce with a heat gun. For example, you can solder around 600 ° –700° F depending upon the material you use (higher for lead-free). If you want to soften plastics, that occurs at lower temperatures—somewhere around 350° – 400° F. Paint stripping needs 600° F, and you thaw frozen copper pipes using some of the highest available temperatures.

The first thing to think about when purchasing a heat gun is its power source. Heat guns often have a power cord that can be plugged into a standard outlet, but if you’re planning to use the tool somewhere that outlets aren’t available, you may want to opt for a cordless, battery-powered model. (Keep in mind that cordless models have a limited runtime before they need to be recharged.) Alternatively, there are select gas-powered heat guns, which typically run on butane.The Wagner Furno 300 is a great option if you need a solid heat gun on a budget. This workhorse offers two different temperature settings integrated with two specific blower settings. With a maximum temperature of 1000°F, it offers more than enough heat to melt adhesives and strip paint, but it can also handle lower-heat DIY crafts. The all-plastic handle has a molded texture for better grip than comparable budget models, and its 6'6" cord is longer than many other models we tested. The cord also has a handy, integrated hanging loop for storage. Air volume setting – 2 stage: the air volume is switchable by sliding the air volume switch to, Position 1 for 120L/min, Position 2 for 200L/min

Another big decision point comes down to how much heat you need the cordless heat gun to produce. For temperature, all numbers we use refer to Fahrenheit. We consider 1000° F to be “Pro-level” for cordless. In actuality, the top temperature for most corded heat guns peaks at 1100° F. If a cordless model approaches that, it qualifies as a corded replacement—at least with respect to heat production. Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films & television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years. You’ll also want to consider the heat gun's temperature range, which can go as high as 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Applications like paint stripping require extremely high temperatures, but if you’re just planning to craft with the tool, you might be fine with a model that only reaches 200 or 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, some models allow you to select a specific temperature, while others just offer high and low settings. Other factors include whether the heat gun has different fan speeds and whether it comes with any attachments. How We Selected Continuous run time with fully charged 6.0ah battery at maximum air temperature (550°C) = 30 mins in low mode (120 l/min) = 21mins in high mode (200 l/min)

If you’re here, you at least think you want a cordless heat gun. Whether that’s the best solution for you or not depends on your application. If you want to remove paint from the side of a 1920s home, cordless doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t tend to get (and stay) as hot as corded heat guns. A cordless heat gun also doesn’t have the continuous runtime you want when doing a larger job like that. Softening adhesive. Airflow here can vary anywhere from light to high, depending on what material you’re loosening the adhesive off. Wallpapers can be light, while tiles may require high. Regardless of material, the temperatures needed for the adhesive are 250 – 325 °F (121 – 163°C). However, you should avoid this tool for removing flex tape.