A heat gun is a versatile tool. You can use this hot air-producing machine in almost every kind of repairing and DIY job. Moreover, artists and chefs use a heat gun for their work purpose. Today, I will talk about plastic welding with a heat gun and the best heat guns for plastic welding.
You may think to use glue for attaching two plastic objects. But the bond will be too weak. On the other hand, if you fuse the plastic and make a bond, it will last for a long time. For fusing, you need to apply high heat. So, the solution is to use a heat gun. Then, let’s dive into our main topic.
How to Do Plastic Welding With Heat Gun
We can weld plastic in two methods. One is using a second plastic material (plastic rod), and another method is heating the spot (known as face fusing)
Method 1: Using a Second Plastic material
(This method is helpful to fill the gap in plastic objects.)
You need to attach the welding nozzle to the heat gun first. Then attach the plastic rod to the nozzle. You can also use pliers to hold the plastic rod.
Place the plastic rod where you want to do welding. Now turn on the heat gun and increase the temperature to the instructed point. Then, Gently press the plastic rod and apply heat until the materials fuse. Usually, plastic rod manufacturers write down the temperature in the packet.
Method 2: Apply direct heat to the plastic faces
(This method is helpful to attach two plastic objects.)
First, clean the faces where you want to apply heat. Then Apply heat to the faces. When they are soft enough, press them together. And hold the objects until the joint become cold; otherwise, they will detach at small pressure.
Best Heat Gun For Plastic Welding
| Rank | Heat Gun | Temperature Range ( 0F) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Master Appliance Heat Gun (Editor’s Choice) | 130-1000 | Check Price |
| 2 | Steinel HL 2020 E Professional Heat gun | 120-1150 | Check Price |
| 3 | Seekone Heavy Duty Heat gun ( Best Budget) | 120 -1200 | Check Price |
| 4 | Berkling Cordless Butane Gas Powered Heat Gun | 482 -932 | Check Price |
| 5 | PRULDE HG0080 Hot Air Gun | 752-1112 | Check Price |
Master Appliance Variable Temperature Heat Gun With Plastic Welding Kit
Specifications
Weight: 1.2 pounds
Dimension: 13.5 x 13.5 x 4.5 inches
Temperature Range: 130-10000 F
Cord Length: 6 feet
Voltage: 120 volts
The Master Appliance’s variable temperature heat gun is an ideal tool for various projects. This plastic welding kit includes a heat gun and two nozzles, as well as five different tips to help you complete any project.
The heat gun features a variable temperature dial that allows you to find the best setting for whatever project you are working on. And the magnetic key helps to lock the airflow and temperature. Moreover, the LCD will help you to set up the temperature precisely.
This plastic welding kit also comes with a convenient carrying case that makes it easy to take your tools wherever you want. However, this USA-engineered heat gun can do all kinds of plastic welding and will help you to be a master of this kind of work.
Pros
- Perfect for any plastic welding
- Has air flow locking system.
- Provides a long power cord.
- Dial-in temperature and airflow control.
Cons
- It may not be suitable for other types of heat work except welding.
Steinel HL 2020 E Professional Heat gun
Specifications
Weight: 2.9 pounds
Dimension: 12.6 x 4.2 x 12.3inches
Temperature Range: 120-11500 F
Voltage: 120 volts
The Steinel HL 2020 E is a professional and powerful heat gun with higher durability. This heat gun is lightweight and has optimized weight balance. Moreover, it has an ergonomic design that will help you work without fatigue. And you can use it hands-free.
This hot air welding gun comes with an LCD with a 10o F increment temperature selection. You can also control the airflow with the “3-Stage Switch”. The heat also comes with 5 types of nozzle, and one of them is for welding. However, with the Steinel heat gun, you can do plastic welding and stripe paint, desoldering, drying filler, and many other jobs.
Pros
- You can easily change the power cord.
- Hands-free use facility.
- Indicates residual heat.
- Gives warning of heat accumulation
Cons
- I have not found any.
Seekone Heavy Duty Heat gun
Specifications
Weight: 1.98lb
Size: 9.76 inches x 7.56 inches
Working voltage: 110v
Cable Length: 1.6m
Temperature Range: 120 -12000 F
Well, do you prefer heat guns that get heated faster and provide more substantial power? Then your wait has got its end, with the Seekone Heat gun. It’s possible to heat it quickly with dual temperature mode.
You can adjust your temperature according to your need. You can choose any temperature among these ranges. You can also adjust the airflow.
Seekone heat gun has a very good ergonomic design. So, goodbye to musculoskeletal disorders. When you hold it, you will feel like you are holding nothing.
Bring versatility to your works with the four different additional air reduction nozzles it offers. You can use this heat gun for different types of work like heating and bending PVC, shrinking heat shrink tubes, plastic welding, etc
Pros
- Provides faster and more robust service
- Effortless in controlling
- Reduces hand fatigue
- Offers four various nozzles.
- Built-in overload protection.
Cons
- Airflow is slightly low
- Do not provide any dedicated nozzle for plastic welding.
Berkling Cordless Butane Gas Powered Heat Gun
Specifications
Weight: 4 ounces
Size: 8.4 x 1 x 1.3 inches
Temperature Range: 482 -9320 F
Gas-powered.
If you do not want to operate your heat gun with a battery or electricity, this cordless heat tool will be the best choice. It comes with a transparent see-through window to easily check the butane fuel level. You can also control the intensity of the flame by adjusting the slider.
The unit has an instant electronic ignition that self-ignites without a lighter. You can use up to 90 minutes with single full recharge. It features three modes: torch flame, heat blower, and soldering iron used for different purposes like plastic welding, repairing circuit boards, arts & crafts repair, etc.
Pros
- Does not require a battery or electricity
- Portable
- lightweight
Cons
- It takes a little bit longer time to cool down.
- Tough to work with it outside on a windy day.
PRULDE HG0080 Hot Air Gun
Specifications
Weight: 1.87 pounds
Size: medium
Dimension: 9.06 x 3.15 x 7.87 inches
Voltage: 120 volts
Temperature Range 752-11120 F
If you want to do heavy work and some craft work, this heat gun can be a good option. The Prulde heat gun has dual temperature mode, which allows using of this heat tool in almost every heat work. They provide four types of nozzles for different use. So, you can apply heat to the work area precisely and efficiently. Moreover, the ergonomic handle design will help you to work for a long time without fatigue.
You can use this heat gun to thaw a frozen pipe, bend plastic, wax skis, etc. Moreover, this heat gun has ETL safety certification. So, this heat gun is safe to use, and it’s durable too.
Pros
- Versatile application.
- Dual Temperature control.
- Provide four different nozzles.
Cons
- Sometimes it creates white smoke in high-temperature mode.
- Air flow is a little bit low.
How to choose the best heat gun for plastic welding
Different heat guns have different features. And these features are required for various kinds of projects. However, for plastic welding, a heat gun must have qualities like high-temperature range, lightweight & ergonomic design, a good temperature control system, etc.
Here I will talk about some key features of a heat gun for plastic welding. I hope this will help you pick the best heat tool for your welding project.
Variable temperature: When you are doing plastic welding, you may need to deal with different types of plastics. For this reason, you need to apply a different amount of heat. So, a heat gun with a temperature regulator is a must need.
And another thing you should keep in mind is that the temperature range should satisfy your project.
Power: Plastic welding is a heavy-duty job. So, a powerful heat gun is always needed. A powerful heat gun can produce high temperatures quickly. Generally, a heat gun with 1200W or more is suitable for welding.
Ventilation and Cooling: You need to deal with comparatively high temperatures. So, the heat gun you will pick must have good ventilation. Otherwise, the heat may damage quickly.
And a heat gun with a quick cooling feature is preferable. Otherwise, you have to wait for a long time to store the heat gun or use it for a different purpose.
Wrapping Up
In this article, I have talked about dedicated heat guns for welding purposes and a budget-friendly multi-purpose heat gun. But the problem with a budget heat gun is they do not come with any welding nozzle. And so, you need to collect them separately.
On the other hand, the dedicated heat gun for welding and welding-like jobs usually comes with all equipment. I hope this article will help you pick the best heat gun for plastic welding from the market.