What are you guys using for a torch, melting shrink wrap and such??

@RJR posted:

" why do some people resist buying a cheap heat gun when it’s really designed for the task"

Because they don't want to blast the entire area with heat.

Blast the entire area with heat?  The nozzle is less than 1/4"!!!  It blasts a lot less "heat all around" than your butane lighter!  I not talking about the 1,000W gun you strip paint off your house with!

I use the nozzle on my hot air tool, and I can shrink just one end of a connection if I like, the heat is a lot more targeted than with a lighter.  I also don't have to position it so the flame doesn't burn something behind it, the air cool very rapidly with distance, I can hole my hand in the stream an inch or more away and it's not hot enough to make me uncomfortable.

@TexasSP posted:

Agreed.  Also, frankly I just don't need more limited use tools.

My grill has a button to light the gas, I don't need a grill lighter.   Also, if I keep the grill lighter in my workshop, I have to shag down there every time I want to light the grill!   Besides, I suspect if you're like most of us, you have a lot of "limited use tools".  Do you drill holes with your wheel puller?

Limited use tools for which there is no substitute are fine.  I don't need a heat gun as other things suffice for it just fine.  I also don't light the grill with the grill lighter but use it for plenty of other things when a flame is needed.  I do use one to light my pit smoker though.  We use it to light candles all the time as well.

Not sure why you're so adamant that those of us who function perfectly fine without a heat gun should have one.

Heat gun gets my vote and a hair dryer second choice! :-)

@TexasSP posted:

Not sure why you're so adamant that those of us who function perfectly fine without a heat gun should have one.

I'm not sure why you're so adamant about using an open flame as opposed to the tool designed for the job, so I guess we'll agree to disagree.

Use what ever tool that works for you. Professionals use heat guns. Maybe you use channel locks to remove lug nuts. I prefer an impact wrench.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Use what ever tool that works for you. Professionals use heat guns. Maybe you use channel locks to remove lug nuts. I prefer an impact wrench.

Pete

Professional what? Some heat shrink doesn't work with heat guns and you have to use open flame. Some of the stuff we had to use on large DC cabling you had to use a torch or similar to get enough heat.

You guys don't seem to understand you're the ones being argumentative. Use what you want and stop telling those of us who use something different that we're wrong.

I posted this question to see what folks were using, period.

Ya, it's 2020 and it sucks, but can we all play nice in the pool??

As my Dad said, sooner or later every tool becomes a hammer. I see that echoed here.

GRJ, when you spoke of a 1/4" heat gun, you got me looking on line.  Didn't realize that there are many small 300-watt guns.  While I intend to stick with my fireplace lighter for heat shrink tubing so I don't have to drag electric cords, I curious as to what unit you use.

@TexasSP posted:

Professional what? Some heat shrink doesn't work with heat guns and you have to use open flame.

Really, what heat shrink is that?  I use a ton of heatshrink, and I've never had an issue using a heat gun to shrink it.  I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to have to call BS on that statement!  The highest temperature heatshrink I know of is Teflon, at 250C shrink temperature.  I can dial up 700C on my bench heat tool, I think it's up to the task!

And, do you really use a lot of Teflon heat shrink?  Exactly what kind of work are you doing that needs that kind of temperature performance?  Virtually all the heatshrink used in ordinary applications shrinks at 90C -125C, well within the range of any heat gun.

Let's be reasonable, I won't care if you use your gas stove to shrink your tubing, just expressing my opinion.  Just because you can do a task with some technique, that doesn't make it the right way or the best way to do it.

@RJR posted:

GRJ, when you spoke of a 1/4" heat gun, you got me looking on line.  Didn't realize that there are many small 300-watt guns.  While I intend to stick with my fireplace lighter for heat shrink tubing so I don't have to drag electric cords, I curious as to what unit you use.

I had a little one I bought on-line, but since most of my work has been at the bench, I've been using my hot air tool.  It has a small nozzle and I can dial up any heat I want.  For shrinking larger pieces like 2" heatshrink around boards, I use a Master-Mite heat gun.  I lent out my little $10 special some time back, and it never came home.  I'm buying another $10 special for working under the layout now that I need portable heat again.  I ordered this one from Amazon for $10.59, more than sufficient for under the layout.

Methinks cabin fever has taken over; myself, even though Indiana has had a bout of snow followed by rain, I'm going for my daily walk to get some O2 anyway.

UPDATE 3:10PM: Still raining and blustery; couch and mug of hot coffee looking better.

Who's being argumentative? I said use what you want. My heat gun goes up to 800F. It will start paper on fire or light matches. I have yet to find heat shrink, including teflon it won't handle. The fact that its lasted me 45 years without a breakdown is plus. Works better than a torch to soften diecast that needs to be straightened without paint loss.

Pete

On a similar note, fellas, if you use a heat gun to shrink tubing, do you use anything to shield other components from the stream of heat?

@RickM46 posted:

On a similar note, fellas, if you use a heat gun to shrink tubing, do you use anything to shield other components from the stream of heat?

Nothing as a rule.  The heat quickly dissipates past the nozzle, and I've shrunk thousands of connections and never had an issue with the heat damaging anything beyond the connection being made.  I can also work at any angle when working with the heat gun.

As for it being a single use tool, I use it for forming plastic, for softening up hot glue for easier removal, etc.  My heat gun is no more a single use tool than my screwdriver.

Off topic, yet oddly on topic:

Mitch

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I had a little one I bought on-line, but since most of my work has been at the bench, I've been using my hot air tool.  It has a small nozzle and I can dial up any heat I want.  For shrinking larger pieces like 2" heatshrink around boards, I use a Master-Mite heat gun.  I lent out my little $10 special some time back, and it never came home.  I'm buying another $10 special for working under the layout now that I need portable heat again.  I ordered this one from Amazon for $10.59, more than sufficient for under the layout.

I just ordered one from Amazon, I was using a BIC butane lighter for heat shrink tubing  but it should be safer to invest a tenner on a mini heat gun.

@Jeff T posted:

I posted this question to see what folks were using, period.

Ya, it's 2020 and it sucks, but can we all play nice in the pool??

As my Dad said, sooner or later every tool becomes a hammer. I see that echoed here.

Here's to a 2021 where our most bitter conflicts are about whether we need heat guns or not... I'm ok with that world.

At least we not fighting over masks.

GRJ, please don't give the Peanut Gallery any ideas.  But Happy New Year anyway.

What am I missing?  Why are you melting shrink wrap?  Should I be doing it?

What, me worry?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I had a little one I bought on-line, but since most of my work has been at the bench, I've been using my hot air tool.  It has a small nozzle and I can dial up any heat I want.  For shrinking larger pieces like 2" heatshrink around boards, I use a Master-Mite heat gun.  I lent out my little $10 special some time back, and it never came home.  I'm buying another $10 special for working under the layout now that I need portable heat again.  I ordered this one from Amazon for $10.59, more than sufficient for under the layout.

I'm glad you showed what you use for under the layout and small projects. I will be ordering one from Amazon tonight. You always have some neat ideas. Thanks!

I know you have sold 2 from this thread, Amazon needs to send you a gift card.

Well, Amazon typically sends me a big bill for my Amazon CC, does that count?

I had one just like that and I "loaned" it out, it forgot the way home.  Safety tip:  Don't loan tools out!

@Alfred E Neuman posted:

What am I missing?  Why are you melting shrink wrap?  Should I be doing it?

What, me worry?

Hi Alfred

It's about heat shrink tubing and what to use to shrink it to a wire splice. lol