Hot Air Gun Tips

1 0 0 t i p s & t r i c k s

Hot Air Gun

German Quality

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Hot Air for Professionals and DIYersHot air guns have long sincebecome indispensable helpersaround the home and garden,both for DIY and professionaluse. Their uses range from paint-ing and decorating to technicalmedicine, from sport to electricalwiring. There's hardly any otherpower tool that's as versatile asthe hot air gun. And keen usersare discovering new applicationsall the time.

This second and fully revised edi-tion of the hot air gun applicationleaflet provides a comprehensiveinsight into the virtually unlimiteduses of our hot air guns. It alsotells you everything you need toknow about handling the versa-tile heat tool properly. We arecertain that after reading thisbooklet you'll think of other usestoo.

Please understand that we areunable to guarantee the com-plete success of all the tips givenhere as they are often based onexperience from avid DIYers andcommitted professionals.Therefore, before attempting anyjob, try out the hot air gun on apiece of leftover material first.

We hope you enjoy reading thisguide and wish you every suc-cess working with hot air. Applications

Contents

This is how it's done

Electrical work

Automotive

Trades

e.g. shrinking cables

e.g. hot tool welding

Sport

Recycling

Technical medicine

Decoratinge.g. stripping paint

e.g. repairing bumpers

Around the homee.g. lighting barbecues

e.g. correcting the fit ofinline skates

e.g. desoldering circuit boards

e.g. fitting shoe inlays

100 jobs and more 14

Modern hot air guns

Features of a first-class tool 4

Hot air system accessories

The right accessory

for any application 6

General tips 8

Paint stripping 8

Shrinking cables 9

Soldering 9

Desoldering 10

Shaping 10

Fit adjustment 11

Overlap welding 11

Hot tool welding 12

Welding plastic 12

Summary of plastic types 13

CE mark

The CE mark guarantees thatproducts conform to the rele-vant safety regulations, at bothnational and European level.

VDE mark

The VDE mark is registered in30 countries as the VDEInstitute's symbol of productcertification and is awarded on the basis of internationalprovisions.

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Interference suppression symbol

The interference suppressionsymbol confirms that the testedand approved product does notinterfere with the frequencyrange in which radio and tele-vision are broadcast.

Air intakemesh filter

LCD display

Button forcontinuouslyadjustabletemperature

3-stageairflowadjustment

Non-slip softstand

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Safety class II

Tools carrying this mark areprotected by double insulation.This means that the operator is protected from electric shockin the event of simple faults.

Modern hot air guns

Heavy-dutyrubber-sheathedpower cord

Detachableguard sleeve

Soft griphandle forcomfortableoperation

Stainlesssteel deliverynozzle

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A wide range of different applicationshas made the hot air gun one of themost popular tools among DIY enthu-siasts and professional users inrecent years. With the latest genera-tion, STEINEL presents new, high-performance hot air guns. Here aresome of the features that distinguisha first-class tool.

2000 W50 – 630 °C

150/300/500 l/min.

INOX

For hand-held and self-resting use

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... only for electronic tools

Reduction nozzle 9 mmPinpoint source of hot air fordesoldering and PVC welding.

Reduction nozzle 14 mmPinpoint source of hot air fordesoldering and PVC welding.

Reduction nozzle 20 mmFor a focused jet of heat, e.g. for edgebands.

Heat reflector nozzle 80 mmfor butt-welding HT plastic piping, cable ducts, plastic rods etc. Fits on a 14 mm reduction nozzle.

Wide slit nozzleFor welding plastic sheeting. Fits on a 14 mm reduction nozzle.

Slit nozzleFor welding plastic sheeting. Fits on a 9 mm reduction nozzle.

Welding shoeFor working with plastic weldingrod of up to 6 mm diameter. Fitson a 9 mm reduction nozzle.

Soldering reflector nozzleFor soldering and shrink-fittingsoldering sleeves and heat shrinksleeves.

Hot Air System Accessories ...

... for non-electronic tools and electronically controlled hot air guns

Large reflector nozzleFor forming and shrink-fittingwith large diameters.

Window nozzle 75 mmWith deflector to protect e.g.panes of glass from overheating.

Surface nozzle 75 mmDistributes the air over a widearea for drying, paint-strippingetc.

Reflector nozzleFor soldering pipes and fittingheat shrink sleeves.

Window nozzle 50 mmDeflects to protect overheating in narrow spots.

Surface nozzle 50 mmSpreads air over smaller areas,e.g. for waxing skis.

Feed rollerFor edgebands and welding PVC sheets.

Paint scraper setComplete paint-stripping set.Contains replacement blades,replacement scraper handle and paint scraper.

Heat shrink sleeveFor shrinking onto cable terminals,breaks or looms,4.8-9.5 mm

Heat shrink sleeveFor shrinking onto cable terminals,breaks or looms,1.6-4.8 mm

Plastic welding wireFor securely welding plasticssuch as LDPE, rigid PVC, HDPE,PP, ABS, plasticized PVC

250 - 300°C 650°C500 - 650°C

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Shrinking cablesIn electrical engineering and electron-ics, cable ends, cable harnesses, sol-dered joints or terminal blocks areoften protected by a plastic sheath.This is done by sliding a heat shrinksleeve of the appropriate diameter over the connection concerned andthen shrinking it on using hot air(approx. 250 - 300 °C) and a reflectornozzle. The sleeve reduces in diameterby as much as half, tightly hugging thejoint you want to protect. Heat shrinksleeves with integrated solder ring orcrimp connection are also available toensure that a reliable electrical connec-tion is made. PVC heat shrink sleevescan also be shrunk onto handles,stands, grips, garden posts, etc., usingthe same principle.

SolderingHot air is suitable for soft soldering.First, you clean and degrease the pointyou want to solder and then heat it atfull power (650 °C). This takes between50 and 120 seconds depending onmaterial, thickness and size. Once theworkpiece has reached a temperatureof about 300 °C you offer up the sol-der. The solder must not be melted bythe hot air itself but by the temperatureof the workpiece. When soldering with-out flux, apply a solder cream, paste or soldering fluid to the soldering pointbefore heating. These substancesmust be washed off with warm waterafter the soldered joint has cooleddown (to prevent the risk of corrosion).Spot-soldering should be performedwith reduction nozzles, pipe solderingwith reflector nozzles.


Paint strippingVirtually all oil and solvent-basedpaints and lacquers can be strippedcleanly from wood using hot air (500-650 °C).Paint is softened with a hot air gunheld at a distance of approx. 2 m fromthe surface and immediately scrapedoff with a filling knife or paint scraper.Attaching a surface nozzle to the hotair gun facilitates this process on largearea surfaces. On heat sensitive mate-rials, such as window glass, it is rec-ommended to use a window nozzle todeflect the hot air. Any paint still left onin corners is removed with a brass wirebrush. The wood must be lightly sand-ed before applying any treatment.Wear work gloves, and if necessaryalso goggles, to protect yourself fromfalling paint scrapings.

The pages that follow explain a numberof basic processes. The various tips andtricks that are given are not only of inter-est to professionals. To make sure thatworking with hot air is a pleasure fromthe word go, please also pay attention tothe following safety warnings.

For your safety

Fresh airis important when working with hot air.Softening up paint may release solvents,formaldehyde may be given off when disinfecting animal pens made of chip-board, soldering produces vapours fromthe additives used, and vapours are alsogenerated when welding plastic. This iswhy you should always work outdoors orwith the window open if work has to bedone in small rooms. If a sufficient quantityof fresh air can be guaranteed at the placewhere you are working, health hazards canvirtually be ruled out.

Working in the presence of waterwith electrical power tools is dangerous.When using a hot air gun, make sure thatair humidity is not too high. Never workabove uncovered water.

Testingis the magic word when it comes experi-menting with hot air. Therefore alwayscarry out a trial run first before attemptingany new application. Check the flow rate,temperature and compatibility of the hotair with the material you intend working on.

Hair dryingis highly dangerous with hot air. Air heatedto over 100°C damages hair and injuresskin.

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200 - 400°C 300 - 400°C600 /400°C 250 - 500°C

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Fit adjustmentHot air can be used to give plastic-shell type function shoes the best possible ergonomic fit. For instance,the fit of customised inline skate bootsis corrected by applying heat from thehot air gun and adjusting their shapewith a special tool. Similarly, pressurepoints can be eliminated in plasticshoes, or inlays can be made to fit. In most cases this is best achievedusing the surface nozzle. The tempera-ture selected should not be too high(about 200 - 400 °C) since shoes areoften made of a combination of mater-ials with differing degrees of heat re-sistance.

Overlap weldingPlastic tarpaulins and coated textilescan be reliably welded using hot air.This is done by pulling the tarpaulin or sheeting taut. The second section – also slightly tensioned – is now over-lapped over the first section by approx.2-4 cm. Using a slit nozzle, hot air(approx. 300 – 400 °C) is then blownbetween the overlap. The materialturns soft within a matter of secondsand is firmly pressed together with afeed roller. And this is how you testyour work: tear the welded seam apartwith force at one end or on a samplepiece. If stress whitening occurs in thematerial, the seam is satisfactory.Otherwise, temperature or roller pres-sure needs to be increased.


DesolderingHot air can also be used to undo sol-dered joints, e.g. copper pipes, at 600 °C. Attach a reduction nozzle andheat the soldered joint. After approx.90 seconds loosen the copper pipewith a pipe wrench. Don't touch thepipe, as you might burn yourself!

Hot air (approx. 400 °C) can also beused to desolder electronic compon-ents from damaged circuit boards.Concentrate the hot air on the solderjoint and remove the component with a special pair of pliers once the soldermelts.

ShapingHot air can be used for shaping plasticsheet, pipe and rod without leavingburn marks.Floor tiles are heated at the relevantpart using a surface nozzle attachment(hot air approx. 200 °C). Plastic sheetfor making containers and items ofdecoration are worked at 250 – 500 °Cdepending on material type. Foldededges are created by heating theworkpiece with a surface nozzle. Thenthey can be bent with ease, e.g. overthe edge of a table. Pipe and rod isevenly heated all the way round usinga reflector nozzle (approx. 250 – 400 °C),shaped or bent and held in the chosenposition until it cools down. A coil orsand filling prevents pipe from kinking.

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250 - 400°C300°C

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Plastic types:Material Application types Distinguishing characteristics


Hot tool welding If you want to butt-weld two identicalworkpieces (pipes, rods, sheet strips),it is recommended to use the hot toolwelding process. This is done byattaching the heat reflector to the hot air gun and heating it up. Once it reaches a temperature of approx.300 °C, run the workpieces across the heated tool, applying slight pres-sure from both sides. The non-stickcoating ensures that the workpiecesdo not stick to the hot tool. As soon as the plastic material becomes"doughy", pull the workpieces awayfrom the hot tool and firmly press theends together for about 15 seconds.An absolutely leakproof and strongbond is ensured after the materialcools down. In this case too, only everjoin identical materials.

Welding plasticAs the materials being welded mustalways be the same, the type of plasticmust be identified before welding thetwo parts together (see table for distin-guishing characteristics). Now selectwelding rod of the appropriate mater-ial. Clamp workpieces in position.Clean, degrease and, if necessary,chamfer the seam. Now heat the seamwith hot air (approx. 250 - 400 °C) andoffer up the welding rod via weldingshoe (welding cord) or welding nozzle(welding rod). For a strong weld, theworkpiece and welding rod must turnto a "doughy" consistency. The seamcan be tested using the same proced-ure that is applied for overlap welding:the tearing test must produce stresswhitening.

Rigid PVC

PlasticizedPVC

PlasticizedPE(LDPE)Polyethylene

Hard PE(HDPE)Polyethylene

PPpolypropy-lene

ABS

Piping, fittings, boards, build-ing profiles, technical mouldedcomponents, etc.

Welding temperature 300 °C

Floor coverings, wallpapers,hoses, sheets, tools, etc.


Domestic and electronicitems, toys, bottles etc.


Baths, baskets, canisters,insulating materials, piping,cellar shafts, transport con-tainers, waste bins, etc.


HT drainpipes, chair seatshells, packaging, car com-ponents, equipment housings,technical mouldings, batteryboxes, etc.


Car components, equipmenthousings, suitcases


Incineration test: carbonises in theflame and extinguishes on its ownSmoke odour: pungent, ofhydrochloric acidFalling test: crashing

Incineration test: smoking, yellowish-green flameSmoke odour: pungent, ofhydrochloric acidFalling test: silent

Incineration test: light, yellowflame, drops continue to burnSmoke odour: resembles an extinguished candleFalling test: dull

Incineration test: light, yellowflame, drops continue to burnSmoke odour: resembles an extinguished candleFalling test: crashing

Incineration test: light flame with ablue core, drops continue to burnSmoke odour: pungent odour ofparaffinFalling test: crashing

Incineration test: black, fluffysmokeSmoke odour: sweetishFalling test: crashing

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Antidrum mattingnot only ensures that sleepingchildren are not woken in theback of cars, but is also a sensible investment for high-mileage drivers. The engine-noise suppressing material isstiff and difficult to lay, particu-larly when it's cold. Hot airmakes antidrum matting supplein next to no time, taking all theeffort out of moulding it aroundbends and into corners.

Ignitingcharcoal with chemicals of anykind is a laborious process, notparticularly healthy and oftenhighly dangerous. Any hot airgun does the job safely in just afew minutes and with no effecton taste.

Stickerse.g. on cars (spray-baked paintonly) or packages can beremoved without a trace usinghot air.

Shrinkinggarden hoses onto couplers orPVC piping ensures a reliablefit and a good connection.Simply heat the hose or pipeend with hot air and push it on.

After putting the cork backinto a wine bottle, slip over aplastic sheath and shrink itonto the neck of the bottle witha hot air gun.

In rowing, hot air provides aparticularly easy means ofshrinking sleeves onto skulloars.

Thawingwater pipes, icy steps or frozencar door locks takes next to notime with hot air. The advan-tage: the material underneathdoesn't scorch, the hot airturns the ice into water whichdries, thereby preventing itfrom re-freezing.

Car matsare magnets for road grime anddirt which means they oftenhave to be cleaned with water.When it comes to drying them,the hot air gun quickly banish-es every last bit of moisture.

Filler pasteis extremely slow to dry when ithas to be applied in very thickquantities. Hot air acceleratesthe drying process significantly.Be sure, however, not to usehot air too intensely, as thepaste will dry too quickly andmight crack at the surface.

MeringueYes, you are reading correctly -because a Berlin housewifeuses a hot air gun in thekitchen. The hot air makes themeringue turn crisp and alsogives it that typical "brown“ finish.

StainingExposed to hot air, untreatedtimber takes on a rustic colour.

Hot Air Gun ApplicationsDefrostingchest freezers and freezer cabinets is done in a jiffy with a hot air gun. Make surethough that the hot air doesnot deform the plastic liningmaterial.

Activatingadhesives with hot air is alwaysan advantage when you wantto stick or unstick large areas.When using hot melt adhe-sives, the hot air prolongs theglue's "open" time, ensuring agood bond over large areas.

Feed rollersare essential for welding certainplastics. The heavy feed rollerfrom STEINEL's range ofaccessories is ideal for edge-banding and for overlap-weld-ing plastic tarpaulins.

Flame cleaningas a method for removing oldpaint and lacquer used to be aproblem - until today: the nakedflame is dangerous and canscorch the wood as well asother materials close by. Now,hot air simply softens up thepaint which is then completelyremoved with a filling knife orpaint scraper. Specially shapedscraper blades are available forcorners and mouldings (seeaccessories). Once the painthas been removed, you shouldfinely sand down the surfacesbefore re-coating.

(Also refer to notes on p. 8"Paint stripping")

Detachingwindow-colour artwork with ahot air gun is quick and easy,leaving nothing sticking to thewindow pane.

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Soldering guttersis not a problem with the high-performance electronic hot airguns from STEINEL. Using areduction nozzle attachment,the seam is heated until it getsso hot that the soldering tinmelts on it. Don't forget to thor-oughly clean and degrease thesolder joint first! (See p. 9)

Disinfectingpot plant soil, bird cages andother animal enclosures can be done safely, simply and non-toxically using hot air. Atemperature of approx. 500 °Ckills most bacteria and germs.Wood ticks and woodwormdon't stand a chance at thesetemperatures either. Make sureyou don't get too close to com-bustible and heat-sensitivematerials!

DryingThe hardening process forcompounds, paints and fillerscan sometimes be acceleratedby blowing hot air onto the sur-face concerned. Use the min-imum temperature setting(approx. 50 °C) and maximumair delivery rate. As the hot aircauses solvent to evaporate,take particular care to providegood ventilation (open windowsor work outdoors).

Nozzlespermit optimum control of theflow of hot air. For perfectresults, it is important to selectthe right nozzle for the job youare doing. Reduction nozzlesconcentrate the heat onto smallareas, surface nozzles distrib-ute heat over wide areas.Reflector nozzles provide aneven distribution of heat, e.g.around pipes, or keep the heataway from sensitive materials(window nozzle). Plastic iswelded using the heat reflector,welding shoe or welding noz-zle.

Shrink wrappingPackagings, parcels or smallparts can be provided witheffective support and stabilityby wrapping plastic film aroundthem. This is done using spe-cial plastic hoods or bags thatare placed over the packagingand then shrunk on using hotair.(See p. 9, "Shrinking cables")

EnamellingCopper moulds and vesselscan be transformed into attract-ive objects using enamellingpowder and hot air. This isdone by heating the substratematerial with the hot air gunand then distributing the enam-elling power over it. Targetingthe hot air will produce a goodcolour finish.

Hot Air Gun ApplicationsBitumenin sheet or liquid form is oftenused for roof repairs. Applyinghot air, this material quicklyturns into a fluid state enablingit to penetrate joints and crackswith ease.

ChemistrySTEINEL hot air guns are specially designed for standingupright without the need for aseparate stand. This makesthem ideal for use, say, asBunsen burners in chemistrywhere infinitely variable tem-perature regulation providesoptimum control of processheat.

Bendingwood, plastic or even coppercan be done with hot air.Model-making, in particular,often involves bending woodinto a specific shape. This isdone by soaking the wood,bending it while wet and, if ne-cessary, clamping it in position. It is then dried with hot air.

Hot air makes plastic pipingor sheeting supple, allowingyou to shape it in any way youwant.

Copper can also be bent afterpersistent heating. Pleaseremember that metal is a goodconductor, so take precautionsnot to burn yourself.

(Also refer to the notes on p. 10"Shaping")

Spectaclesoften need to be adjusted tothe shape of a person's head.Conventional Ventilette frameheaters are too small for largespectacle frames, preventingany uniform heating from takingplace. This problem is quicklyovercome with a hot air gun set up as a Bunsen burner andfitted with a reflector nozzleattachment.

Hot air can be used to weldspectacle arms back togetheragain (Hot tool welding, see p. 12).

Roof repairson flat roofs are always on theagenda. Cracks and holes instandard bitumen roofing feltcan be filled quickly and easilyusing bitumen compound andhot air. Sections of bitumensheeting can be joined togetherwith good results by overlapwelding (see p. 11).

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Hot Air Gun Applications

Desolderingelectronic components fromfaulty circuit boards is possiblewith a targeted flow of hot air.Use a reduction nozzle andclamp the circuit board in avice. After heating the solderpoint (to approx. 280 °C) youcan remove the componentswith a pair of pincers. As hightemperatures irreparably dam-age semiconductors, it is onlyrecommended to use hot air ondefective circuit boards.

To unsolder copperpipes, it is best touse a reflector noz-zle.

DewaxingHot air can be used for de-waxing skis and snowboards. It produces optimum resultsand doesn't damage the run-ning surface.

also refer to ➛ Candleholders ➛ Candle wax

RemovingHot air is the ideal helper forremoving glued-on coverings,building materials, etc.

Bits of floor covering stillsticking to the floor can bescraped off effortlessly afterthey are heated up with a hotair gun. Attach a surface nozzleand direct the hot air betweencovering and floor base sur-face.

Joint-sealing materials are also easy to remove with thehelp of hot air.

also refer to ➛ Detaching,➛ Stickers, ➛ Candle wax and ➛ Synthetic plaster

HeatingMany materials are easier toshape after warming them thanwhen they are cold. Forinstance, a hot air gun quicklyheats up shoe inlays which canthen be tailored exactly to theshape of the foot or shoe.

Vehicle letteringThe hot air gun is a useful toolfor applying and removing let-tering film, e.g. on vehicles.Excellent adhesion to the basesurface is achieved by heatingthe adhesive backing. When it'stime to remove the lettering,the hot air softens the adhesivebacking and the lettering peelsoff with ease.

Paint stripping"Thermal stripping" is one ofthe most environmentallyfriendly and health-consciousmethods of removing old coatsof paint. Section by section, thepaint is heated using a surfacenozzle and can then be liftedoff with a paint scraper. Thetemperature or duration ofheating must be selected so

as not to scorch the paint asthis might release hazardousvapours.

Paint scrapersshould always be at hand whenold paint or lacquer is removedwith heat. Interchangeable,shaped blades can be used forremoving all traces of paintfrom every last nook and cranny. The extra-long handlesor the scrapers and knives featured in the STEINEL rangeof accessories protect yourhands from getting burned. The steel used for the blades is specially hardened.

Windowstake a lot of wear and tear.When the paint on timber-framed windows starts to crackor even flake off, it's time tostrip them down complete-ly. The hot air gun is theperfect choice for thiswork too. However, to pro-tect the window panes youshould use a window nozzle. It keeps the hot air away fromthe window pane.

Moistureoften causes machinery andequipment to break down.Damp spark plugs and mois-ture in the electrical systemregularly lead to starting prob-lems. A strong blast of hot airfrom the heat gun soon getsthe car or motorcycle back onthe road again.

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Resin secre-

tionon wooden panels orother timber can beheated with hot airand removed with afilling knife or paper.

Hot polishingis the easiest form of waxingrustic furniture. The wax isturned to liquid with hot air sothat it can be rubbed quicklyand evenly into the pores.

HT pipesfor gutters or drains are oftendifficult or impossible to getapart. This is where hot airtreatment comes in useful: Ifyou heat the connections, thehardened lubrication paste

becomes soft and the partscan be pulled apart with ease.

PVC pipes up to a maximum of80 mm in diameter can also bebutt welded with the hot toolattachment (see p. 12, ”Hottool welding”).

IndustryHot air guns are also used for a wide range of

purposes in industry. Designed specificallyfor the tough conditions of con-tinuous duty, the professionalhot air guns from STEINEL do agreat job in drying, pre-heatingand liquefying.

Inline skate bootsshould fit well without pinchingso that skating over long dis-tances doesn't end in agony.

Heating and plumb-ing installationsHot air guns are a great help in heating systems and inplumbing. In addition to solder-ing copper pipes (see page 9,"Soldering"), they come in par-ticularly useful for minor repairwork.

In laying PU pipes, hot aircan be used to make stiff, coldpipes supple for push-fit con-nections or for installing inunderfloor heating systems.

Instrumentsfrom the field of veterinarymedicine can be sterilisedquickly and on the spot usinghot air (600 °C) e.g. for treatinganimal claws. Applied carefully,hot air can also be used for treating claw and hoof infectionwithout harming the animal.

Hot Air Gun ApplicationsFossilscan, on closer inspection, be found at virtually any timewhen you are out rambling orclimbing. After careful cleaning,these relics from prehistorictimes can be dried quickly andgently with hot air.

Floor tilesof the plastic type, are very difficult to bend at low tempera-tures. They break easily whenyou try to fit them around stair-ways or into corners. This iswhere the hot air gun comes in.It makes them supple andformable.

Joints and seams can bewelded together with a plasti-cised PVC welding rod (acces-sory). For this purpose, use awelding nozzle.

Tile adhesiveis a stubborn contender anddifficult to get off most sur-faces. All the more annoying if it makes the tool unusable or ifyou want to re-use a tile. Thehot air gun comes to the rescuein both cases. Heat activatesthe adhesive which can then beremoved with a scraper andcloth.

Joining sheetingPonds are good for the souland for the environment. Themost common way of creatinga pond is to dig out a hole andthen line it with plastic sheeting.This often involves weldingtogether two or more lengths ofsheeting – not a problem withthe heat gun. Using a slit noz-zle, hot air is directed betweenthe overlap and the softenededges of both liner sections arefirmly pressed together with thefeed roller. (also see p. 11:"Overlap welding")

Glazingis often a laborious job if itinvolves the removal of oldputty first. If you heat the puttyrebate with hot air when youare renewing old glazing, theputty can be cleaned off with-out a trace using a scraper orputty knife. Use a window nozzle.

When fitting new panes, thehot air gun helps to dry dampwindow frames quickly. This isthe only way of ensuring thatthe putty reliably sticks in therebate.

SmoothingSelf-adhesive film, such as thetype used in PVC stickers or forcovering books, can be appliedquickly and bubble-free usinghot air. In the case of rigid PVC,the film can be smoothed outwith a filling knife or cloth.

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The easiest way of doing this isto heat the sheathing with hotair. It can then be removed witheffortless ease using a strippingknife.

Shrinking cablesRepairs and joints in electriccables can be protected easilyand reliably with heat shrinksleeves. These special plasticsleeves come in a variety ofdiameters. Select a sleeve ofthe appropriate diameter, slip it over the parts you want toprotect and shrink it on usinghot air, preferably with a reflect-or nozzle. Heat shrink sleevesare also available with an adhe-sive coating on the inside forwatertight connections.(also see p. 9 and ➛ Soldersleeves)

Candleholderscan be cleaned of wax in a very short space of time withthe aid of hot air.

Candle waxis no trouble to remove fromtables, floor boards, tiles. etc. if you use a hot air gun. Besure not to overheat the basesurface!

GluingHot melt adhesive is among themost universal of glues.Unfortunately it is difficult touse on large areas because itcools down even while it isbeing applied, losing its powerof adhesion. If you use hot airto keep the glue fluid once ithas been applied, its ➛ Opentime is virtually unlimited. Thismeans it can be used for gluinglarge areas, giving you theopportunity to make subse-quent positioning adjustments.

Bonded jointscan be opened up quickly andcleanly with hot air. Whetherremoving decorative film fromdoors, edgebanding from cab-inets or PVC from floors, thejob's done in next to no timewith a hot air gun fitted withsurface nozzle attachment.

Facing brick slipsmade of thermoplastic materialare a popular choice for finish-ing exterior or interior walls.Only a few millimetres thick, the slips are bonded to thebase surface and simply bentaround corners where applic-able. To prevent the slips frombreaking when you bend andshape them, it is recommendedto heat them with hot air first.

Hot air can be used for repair-ing cracks or fractures in facingbrick slips.

Boot lidsand car doors are often impos-sible to open when the tem-perature drops below zero. Inmost cases, the only solution is a carefully metered flow ofhot air from the heat gun - particularly when it's not onlythe lock that's frozen but whenthe door has frozen to the rub-ber seal as well.

Synthetic glassmade of polystyrene or acrylicis often used for shower parti-tions, banisters, greenhouses,furniture, decorative objects,etc. The materials concernedare thermoplastics that exhibitgood shaping and bendingproperties when heated. Theworkpiece is evenly heated for20 – 40 seconds on both sidesusing a hot air gun fitted with asurface nozzle attachment. It isthen easily bent over the edgeof a table or similar surface toachieve the desired shape.

Plastic handrailcover mouldingson stair banisters can be heated with hot air and thenremoved with ease. When fit-ting handrail cover mouldings,it is best to use a surface nozzle for heating the plasticmaterial from below. Thehandrail moulding is pressedon with a soft cloth.

Hot Air Gun ApplicationsSeasonsdon't play a part in the manydifferent uses for a hot air gun:removing paint from windows inspring, lighting charcoal on bar-becues in summer, taking offpaint in autumn, de-icing locksand steps in winter, etc. The listof possible applications goeson and on.

Re-positioningworkpieces while sticking themtogether is a problem particu-larly where hot melt adhesivesand large surfaces are con-cerned. Hot air can be used toprolong the glue's "open time"significantly, thereby providingthe opportunity to achieve thatperfect fit.

Stripping cablesBefore recycling or disposing ofcables, the plastic sheathingshould be removed completely.

BodyworkThe hot air gun is also a excel-lent helper when it comes tomaking repairs to bodywork:

When carrying out panelrepairs with solder sticks, first heat the metal at the place you are repairing andthen melt the sticks with the aid of hot air.

If fibreglass matting is usedfor repairs, hot air quickly driesthe filler paste.

Candlessoon lose their shape or breakin two. In both cases hot aircan be used to return them totheir former glory. Wilting can-dles are placed on aluminiumfoil and heated. They can thenbe straightened up with ease.With broken candles, heat thebreak and then join the twoparts back together again.

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ModellingWith a hot air gun, you can letyour imagination run free! Forinstance, thermoplastic mater-ials (polystyrene, acrylic glass)can be shaped into attractiveobjects by laying them over any chosen item and heatingthem with hot air.Worked with hot air, unusualcandles can be modelled orcast from wax.

Wet sandingis all part of the routine proced-ure when spraying cars andpainting furniture or doors. Hotair quickly dries the workpiece,allowing painting to begin afterthe shortest possible time.

Open firescan be lit merely by using hotair. The flow of hot air soongets the fire going and in notime at all you can be sitting infront of a cosy, crackling fire.

Open timeis the term used to describethe time taken for materials toset or go hard, such as adhe-sives. With hot melt adhesives,of course, open time extensive-ly depends on the temperatureof the glue. Using the hot airgun, this can be prolonged tovirtually any extent you choose(➛ Re-positioning, ➛ Gluing).The open time for other adhe-sives is governed by solvent or water evaporation (water-soluble substances) whichmeans that hot air can be used to reduce their open time(➛ Drying).

Perspex(Acrylic glass) is a popularmaterial in modern furniture,displays and accessories. Cut to shape, the sheets areheated with hot air and canthen be shaped as required. (➛ Synthetic glass, ➛ Thermoplastics)

Polishing(rustic) furniture, doors andother wooden surfaces is donewith wax and hot air. The heatturns the wax soft which canthen be rubbed in without anyeffort using a soft cloth.

PVCcan be shaped (see p. 10) andwelded (see p. 12) using hot air.When using plastic welding rodfor welding, establish whetherthe material concerned is rigidor plasticized PVC.

Test tubesare normally heated with aBunsen burner. However, prac-tice has shown that in somecases an upright positioned hotair gun is better suited for thispurpose (➛ Chemistry).


Solder sleevesand heat shrink connectors arefrequently used in electricalengineering to produce reliablecable connections. The soldersleeve is a heat shrink sleevethat contains a measure of solder and pushes over thecable end. Applying heat froma hot air gun, the conductors(or twisted conductors) are soldered together and the plastic sleeve is shrunk on all in one go. With heat shrink connectors,first crimp the connecting element integrated in the heatshrink sleeve and then shrinkon the sleeve with hot air.(➛ Shrinking cables)

Synthetic plasteron exterior and interior wallscan normally only be removedwith a hammer and chisel. Thisjob can be done far more satis-factorily with the hot air gun.Once heated, the syntheticplaster turns soft in the sameway as paint does, and can beremoved with a filling knife.

SolderingThe hot air gun can be used forsoft-soldering.(also see page 9: "Soldering")

Soldered jointscan be opened up with hot air.The soldered connection isheated to melting point.A reflector nozzle should beused on pipes.

Painting anddecoratingHot air facilitates or speeds upmany painting and decoratingjobs. Thermal paint stripping (➛ Paint stripping) and drying,e.g. paint colour samples, inparticular make the hot air gunan indispensable tool in thisfield of work.

Model-makersuse hot air guns for bendingwood (➛ Bending) or for covering model aircraft wings.

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Screwconnectionsare sometimes impossible toget apart because they arerusted up or very tight. This iswhere hot air can often workmiracles.

Heat shrink sleeveis the name given to sectionsof polyolefin crosslinked tubeswich are reduced in diameterby up to 50% when heated.They are used for insulating or marking cables in electricalengineering and electronics. (➛ Shrinking cables, ➛ Soldersleeves.

Shrink fitsare often used on engine parts.They provide a reliable and permanent hold. The hot airgun can be used for joiningprecision manufactured partsby shrink fit too. This is doneby heating the receiving part(external part) until it has ex-panded far enough to insert the internal part. Having cooleddown, the joint is virtuallyundetachable.

Applying the same principle,shrink fits can also be used onplastic pipe joints.

Shoe solesmade of rubber (e.g. crepesoles) can sometimes becomedetached on old shoes or inextreme weather conditions.They can easily be repaired byheating the rubber layers tomelting point with the hot airgun and then pressing themfirmly back on again.

Welding rodmade of plastic, welding cordor welding tape is used forwelding hard plastic materials.For a joint to be durable, thesewelding aids must always be ofthe same material as the work-pieces that are being welded.(Also see notes on p. 12,"Welding plastic".)


CleaningWhen dirt is really stubborndirt, hot air is often the onlymeans of getting back a shine.

Crusts baked onto barbecuegrills can be scraped off withease after heating with a hot airgun.

The glass fronts in woodburners can also be cleanedmuch more easily after apply-ing hot air.

Pipesand rods made of plastic can be butt-welded using thehot air gun and heat reflectorattachment.(Also see page 12, "Hot toolwelding")

Reduction nozzlesconcentrate the flow of hot air.As the reduced diameter pro-duces a higher temperatureinside the hot air gun too,reduction nozzles must only be used in conjunction withelectronically controlled heatguns. These hot air tools areprovided with a temperaturesensor that keeps the tempera-ture constant – i.e. corrects itautomatically. In addition toconcentrating the flow of air,reduction nozzles also serve as adapters for other nozzles,such as slit nozzles, heat reflector and welding shoes.(Also see page 7)

Reflector nozzlesare ideal for ➛ Shrinking cables or ➛ Soldering copperpipes. The reflector evenlychannels the air around the circular object. Soldering reflector nozzles are suitable for ➛ Solder sleeves.

(Also see page 7.)

Plumbers and heat-ing engineershave many uses for a hot airgun. But the skilful DIYer canuse the hot air gun for manyjobs in this field too, e.g. sol-dering damaged copper pipes,undoing HT drainpipe connec-tions, bending underfloor heat-ing pipes, etc.(➛ HT pipes, ➛ Heating andplumbing installations).

Speed dryingof paint results in cracking.Although normally undesirable,this can be attractive as anintended effect. For instance,speed drying can give paintedrustic furniture an antique look.

2928

Pond linersMost wet biotopes in gardensare created from pond linersavailable off the roll from virtu-ally any DIY store. Once onsite, the liner sections have tobe stuck or, better still, weldedtogether using a hot air gun soas to obtain one big liner of theappropriate size and shape.(Also see notes on p. 11,"Overlap welding".)

Thermoplasticsare not only shapable with hotair, but can also be weldedquickly and reliably. Unlike thesoldering of metals, however,always remember when weld-ing plastics that it is only pos-sible to join materials of thesame type. First of all, there-fore, it is important to establishwhat material a workpiece ismade of. In this context, help is provided by the table onpage 13 which shows the dis-tinguishing characteristics ofdifferent plastics. However, it is often safer, and also easier,to carry out a trial weld. If thewelding rod fails to combinewith the workpiece, you can be sure it is the wrong material.(Also see notes on p. 12,”Welding plastics”)

Wingson model aircraft are coveredby experienced model-makersusing hot air. This produces asmooth, airworthy wing cover-ing.

Dryingis, of course, a particularstrength of hot air guns.

Colour swatches, dried withhot air, permit objectiveassessment after just a shorttime.

Joints in building work mustalways be kept dry beforeinjecting insulating or sealingmaterials. Not a problem withhot air!

Stucco work can be dried offwith hot air, permitting earlierremoval of the mould.

After grouting tiles in thebathroom, WC or kitchen, hotair can be used to speed upthe drying process consider-ably.

Residual moisture often harboured in the joints andcrevices of wooden boats canbe dried with hot air beforepainting.

Many adhesives (➛ Opentime) reach their final strengthafter a short time when dried atspeed with hot air.

Overlap weldingis the most reliable and durablemethod of joining plastic tar-paulins. No matter whetheryou're applying a companylogo to a curtain side or build-ing a garden swimming pool: ahot air gun is the best tool forthe job. (Also see notes on p. 11,"Overlap welding")

Hot Air Gun ApplicationsSki repairsHot air can be used for waxingand dewaxing skis, repairingplastic running surfaces andperforming countless otherjobs quickly and reliably.

Sports equipmentSurfboards, plastic boats, etc.are prone to cracking or frac-turing when knocked. Minordamage can be repaired with-out a problem using hot air.Where long cracks are con-cerned, the damaged sectionshould be fixed using weldingrod of the appropriate material.(Also see notes on p. 12,"Welding plastic".)

Welding shoeThis special acces-sory, which fits ontoa 9-mm reductionnozzle, is required when using plastic welding rod. The welding shoe consists oftwo "ducts". The welding rod is fed through the smaller one,hot air flows through the largerone. The welding shoe not onlyhas the task of offering thewelding wire up to the work-piece but also of pre-heating it as it runs through. On emerg-ing, it has reached melting pointin the same way as the work-piece beneath it. A secure weldseam can now be produced bymoving the shoe along, at thesame time applying slight pres-sure.(Also see notes on p. 12,"Welding plastic".)

Ropesmade of perlon and nylon (e.g.sailing ropes) tend to fray at theends. This can be remedied bysealing the ends with hot air. Incontrast to using a nakedflame, the ends do not dis-colour.

Bumpersand spoilers are made of plastic in most cases. Accidentdamage can be repaired quick-ly using the hot air gun and, if necessary, the appropriatewelding rod. (Also see notes on p. 12,"Welding plastic".)

WallpaperOld wallpaper normally peelsoff quite well after soaking itwith water. However, there arealways some bits that simplyrefuse to come off. This iswhere hot air can soon lend ahelping hand: the hot, dampatmosphere deals with thestubbornest of wallpaperscraps without a problem.

3130

Solderingon cable lugs is easy toaccomplish with a reductionnozzle. The same applies to fit-ting ➛ Solder sleeves.

Pre-heatingwith hot air makes easier workof many different jobs. Spentoil drains faster and better froma removed engine by heatingthe engine block.

Lawnmower engines areoften very difficult to start ifthey are not used on a regularbasis. Pre-heating them withhot air soon gets them moving.

When using hot-melt adhe-sive to stick thermally conduct-ive materials, the glue's tem-perature and also its open timefalls rapidly. Pre-heating thebase surface with hot air canhelp to prevent the glue fromcooling down prematurely.

Bitumen sheeting for liningvehicle body parts can be pre-heated with hot air to makethem easy to form.

Pre-heated with hot air, garden hoses can be pushedonto connectors and taps witheffortless ease.

Waxingskis or furniture is done in a jiffy with the hot air gun (➛ Hotpolishing, ➛ Ski repairs).

Barbecuing withhot airis a healthy alternative to usingcharcoal. To do this, suspend agriddle in the middle of an oldcoverable saucepan or metalbox. Provide the receptaclewith a hole beneath the griddlethrough which to let in the hotair. Then, with the lid almostclosed, blow hot air of approx.600 °C through this aperture.After a few minutes, even thebiggest of steaks will be readyto eat.Breakfast rolls (slightly mois-tened) can also be warmed upin this way for that taste offreshly baked bread.

Toolsoften end up dirty after finishinga job. With hot air, stubbornglue and paint comes off witheffortless ease.


Weedsare difficult to keep at baybetween paving stones andslabs. Thermal weed control isa good alternative to environ-ment and health-damagingchemicals: heat from the hot airgun destroys weeks and seeds.

UndersealWith time, weather and flyingstones give car underseal sucha battering that every now andagain it has to be renewed orrepaired. This involves detach-ing loose sections or removingthe underseal completely.Using a hot air gun, the com-pound can be softened up andscraped off. Always allow asufficient distance from com-bustible pipes and wiring orrubber and PVC materials.

Clock & watch partse.g. in old grandfather clocks,pocket watches and wrist-watches, need to be cleanedfrom time to time. After leavingthe cleaning bath, wheels,screws and springs are quicklydried with hot air.

Edgebandsfrom DIY stores are oftenbacked with hot melt adhesive.They are easy to apply with ahot air gun and feed roller.Unsightly edges on tables,doors, cabinets and shelveslook like new in next to no time.

Liquefyingtin, tar, bitumen or wax is not aproblem with the hot air gun.This is best done by standingthe hot air gun in an uprightposition like a Bunsen burnerand heating the material in acontainer placed over it.

Liquefied tin can, for ex-ample, be used for casting tin charms on New Year's Eve (➛ Tin casting).

Liquid tar can be used for fill-ing the joints between pavingstones.

Heated sealing wax is usedfor sealing parcels.

Beeswax can be liquefiedwith hot air, making it easy toremove from the honeycomb.

ShapingHot air can be used to softenall manner of materials, makingthem easy to shape.

Specialists use hot air to optimise the fit of carbon fibreorthotic/prosthetic devices.

Thermoplastics can beshaped at relatively low tem-peratures (➛ Thermoplastics).

Wood can be shaped easilyand permanently by soaking it in water first and then fixing it in the chosen shape until it is completely dry (➛ Bending).

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Hot Air Gun ApplicationsTin castingis not only a popular activity onNew Year's Eve but is also acreative pastime for the collect-or of tin figures. The tin isturned to liquid by standing the hot air gun on end andusing it as a Bunsen burner (➛ Liquefying).

Ignition systemsoften get so damp in wetweather that the spark isunable to arc over. This iswhere it helps to open the dis-tributor and blow it dry with hotair.

Two-componentadhesivesquickly reach a higher level offinal strength by heating themwith hot air.

Tarpaulins andawningsmade of PVC sometimes tearwhen subject to heavy use orbecome pierced if they are nottreated with care. Using a PVCremnant and hot air, damage ofthis type can be repaired bymeans of overlap welding.(Also see notes on p. 11,”Overlap welding”)

Bodyside mouldingsand rubber profiles protect car paintwork from gettingscratched on car parks as aresult of other vehicle users'lack of care when opening cardoors. When retrofitting theseprotectors, it is recommendedto heat the adhesive sectionswith the hot air gun beforesticking them on.

Notes

Edition STEINEL Vertrieb GmbHD-33442 Herzebrock-ClarholzAll rights reservedPrinted in Germany

German quality for everyoneSTEINEL was quick to recognise thetremendous capabilities of hot air toolsand has made a decisive contributiontowards enhancing this technologyever since. For instance, the one-timepioneer has moved on to become themarket leader and is still setting thestandards to this day. Whether heat-shrinking cables, stripping paint, sha-ping plastics or even lighting the bar-becue: these powerful heat tools provi-de the fast, no-fuss answer to hund-reds of jobs in and around the home.And the new generation of hot air gunsfrom STEINEL now offers even greaterconvenience and efficiency: innovative,ergonomically shaped soft grip handle,carefully balanced weight distributionand practically positioned controls areall designed to keep you in perfectcommand of these powerful hot airguns. And if things should get too hot:all hot air guns are doubly protectedfrom overheating.

HL 1610 S

HL 1810 S

HL 2010 E

HL 1910 E

The hot air product range

2000 W50 – 630 °C

150/300/500 l/min.

2000 W50 – 600 °C

150/300/500 l/min.

1800 W50/400/600 °C

200/300/500 l/min.

1600 W300/500 °C

240/450 l/min.

Notes

34

Other products

STEINEL Vertrieb GmbH · Dieselstrasse 80 - 84 · D-33442 Herzebrock-Clarholz Telephone +49/52 45/4 48-0 · Fax +49/52 45/4 48-1 97 · www.steinel.de · e-mail: [email protected]

Infrared sensors Light comes on...automatically.

Sensor lightsA ray of light on anydoorstep.

Sensor switchesIntelligent light switches.

Hot-melt glue gunshot-melt adhesivebonding... versatileand straightforward.

Photoelectric lightingcontrollersLow-energy lamp withsensorLight at the right time.

7391

901

Cartridge-type hot-melt glue gunFor permanent joints.

Sensor lightsConvenience andsafety indoors.

Documents

Hot Air Gun Tips