The best heat guns can bring your DIY projects to the next level, whether you're stripping paint, thawing pipes, drying damp surfaces or softening adhesive, a heat gun is an innovative tool.
Unlike an ordinary hair dryer, heat guns produce air of a much higher temperature and can be a very dangerous tool to use.
Ensure you are always wearing protective gear and operate with caution, as to prevent any burns, fires or unwanted melting and heat damage.
Amongst the myriad of heat guns on the market, 5 models stand out from the rest and offer a high level of performance and safety.
Best Heat Guns In Australia
1. Bosch Heat Gun PHG500-2
Designed for DIY and hobby enthusiasts, the Bosch PHG500-2 nozzle directed heat gun is a corded hand tool for stripping paint and varnish from old surfaces, soldering, bending metals including pipes, welding plastics, drying damp wood or plaster, softening glues and so on.
With a power input of 1600W, the tool heats up to between 300 and 500 degrees Celsius and produces an airflow of between 240 and 450 l/minute, to suit a variety of applications. The motor is still very quiet though.
Compact (27 x 27 x 9cm) and lightweight (0.75kg) the gun is easily held in the hand for long periods, and well-controlled.
The 2-stage trigger and heat control switches are ergonomically placed on the closed surround handle of the product, making it comfortably operated with one hand alone. It’s also easy to reach into tight corners or at difficult angles.
The integrated Electronic Regulator keeps the temperature constant and prevents overloading by its Thermostop (auto shut off) function.
This function shuts the heating element off if the barrel gets too close to the surface being worked on to prevent the piece being burned and to also prevent overload of the tool itself.
It restarts the gun when it has cooled down again. The gun sits safely on its base when you need to work with both hands on other tasks.
2. WORX WX041
The WORX WX041 heat gun is a powerful 2000W corded hand tool designed for multiple applications including de-soldering and soldering, stripping paint and varnish, refinishing, softening adhesives, etc.
The three-stage temperature setting allows for versatility of use between different household and DIY jobs, and there is even a cold air setting for fast and safe nozzle changes.
It also features a constant temperature control system for accurate temperature management and fast response to temperature changes.
The easy to use slider control switches are conveniently located on the safe and comfortable pistol-grip handle for easy use.
The lock-on facility minimises user fatigue when working with the tool for prolonged periods, or when using it hands-free.
And the power cord is sensibly located from the base of the handle so there is extremely little chance of it getting in the way of the heat or the work.
The gun can be stood upright on its base for two-handed soldering work, and also for safekeeping and within easy reach when not in use while still hot.
Accessories included with purchase include a scraper attachment, a glass protection nozzle, a concentration nozzle, a hook nozzle, and a flat nozzle.
3. Hitachi RH600T
This 2000W corded heat gun from Hitachi is a powerful tool with features which make it ideal for a variety of different applications.
It has low and high air volume and temperature settings, both controlled by easy to reach two-position switches located on the closed-in soft-grip handle.
The two temperatures are 450 and 600 degrees Celsius, and the air flows are 250 and 500 l/minute.
The gun also has a cold shot button to quickly cool down the material being worked on. And a built-in auto shut off prevents overheating and overload and any consequential damage to the product during extended use.
A quick cooling temperature button also means that the nozzle cools down rapidly for quick and safe nozzle changes.
Weighing only 0.57kg and measuring a compact 24.5 x 8.3 x 25cm the gun is very comfortable to hold for long periods of use, and the power cord coming from the base of the handle means less chance of it getting tangled or in the way.
The gun features a hook for easy storage in the workshop.
Accessories included with purchase include a scraper, several different nozzles (round, flat, curved surface, and glass protector) and a handy hard plastic case.
4. Bosch Heat Gun PHG630DCE
The Bosch PHG 630 DCE corded hot air gun has a powerful 2000W motor which delivers a variable heat between 50 and 630 degrees Celsius at the touch of a button, making it perfect for just about any application, including stripping, welding, tin-plating etc.
The tool has a large digital display showing the temperature, and the integrated Constant Electronic system maintains the selected temperature irrespective of the exterior working conditions.
At the same time, the Electronic Regulation ensures that there is no chance of the gun overheating by shutting off the motor automatically if it does get too hot.
An extra cold air setting allows you to cool the material quickly to stop warping or burning. Not only can the temperature be accurately controlled but the airflow also has three settings: High, Medium and Low.
The handle is closed and has a soft-grip cover for comfort. The gun comes with a detachable heat shield for working in confined spaces.
It can be safely laid on its base and left in a lock-on state when you want to work with your project with both hands, or simply to put it safely to one side whilst you’re doing other things.
5. HSKY Heat Gun
The hot air gun from HSKY is a corded 2000W temperature controlled electric power tool designed for DIY use including paint and varnish stripping, welding, soldering, softening, etc.
The temperature control is a real-time one, meaning that it is not particularly fast. The temperature range is between 50 and 550 degrees Celsius.
Airflow range is between 250 and 500 l/minute. It features a double-headed wire overload system for safety and a turbine air supply system.
It’s important to note however that the gun does not have an auto shut-off switch so it should not be laid down until it has fully cooled down.
The operating instructions also indicate that the product has a time-delay switch and that therefore it ‘takes a little time to turn on and off’.
The LCD is easy to read temperature display. Measuring 25.5 x 20.5 x 8 cm and weighing 670gms the product is comfortable for prolonged use, with a pistol style handle.
The controls are located on the inside of the handle(power) and the rear end of the gun (wheel for airflow and temperature). The power cord is safely threaded from the base of the handle.
Things to Consider When Buying a Heat Gun
When it comes to choosing the best heat gun in Australia there's a few things you need to look at to ensure you choose the right one.
Built in Temperature Control
Nearly every model, even the cheapest ones out there come with some form of temperature control, even if it's just the ability to switch between two pre-defined temperatures. More advanced models will offer more temperature settings.
Temperature Range
You will likely be able to choose a range between 50 to 550 degrees Celsius on the most expensive models, while the cheaper ones may only offer ranges around 350 - 550.
The greater the range, the more tasks you'll be able to achieve.
Built in LCD Screens
Some of the premium models come with a built in screen which can make changing settings a breeze and it's much easier to work out the actual temperature. Some models don't offer this and you can only assume what the temperature is.
If you can afford one with an LCD screen, it will definitely come in handy.
Why Buy a Heat Gun?
They are be used for various tasks including:
- Loosening rusted bolts and screws
- Heating up frozen pipes
- Softening metal for bending
- Removing paint
- Removing stickers
- Removing car vinyl or wraps.
Sources: Removing Paint with a Heat Gun
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Last Updated: December 3, 2021 by Rhys