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Rain on a Tin Roof

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You are here: Home >> DIY Projects >> Power Tools 101: How to Use a Heat Gun

February 2, 2015 By Jenna 19 Comments

Power Tools 101: How to Use a Heat Gun

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Who knew it was so easy to use and what all it can do! How to use a Heat Gun and 15 things to do with it...

This is probably the easiest tool to use – but that many people don’t have.

A Heat Gun.

I didn’t have a heat gun until last year – and I didn’t get it out of the box for a month or so after I got it because I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.

Let me tell you – it can do so many things.

And it is so easy to use.

How to use a Heat Gun

How to Use a Heat Gun | Heat Gun Crafts | Heat Gun Projects | Heat Gun Uses

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

My heat gun is the HomeRight Digital Temperature Heat Gun. I have only used it and the Heat Pro Deluxe II Heat Gun. I can’t attest to other heat guns, but these have always worked well for me and are easy to use. Gina at Shabby Creek Cottage is doing her Power Tools 101 post today on using the Heat Pro Deluxe II Heat Gun.

The digital heat gun comes with a handy case and a few tools to go along with the gun:

Who knew it was so easy to use and what all it can do! How to use a Heat Gun and 15 things to do with it...

There is a scraper for paint and nozzles that you can attach to the end of the gun to focus your heat or change its direction. Typically, I just use the heat gun as is, without an added-on nozzle.

To start, simply plug in the heat gun. This is all electric. I suggest using an extension cord if you are working on a larger project and need to move around a lot.

There is a temperature display screen and two buttons on the back of the gun.

Who knew it was so easy to use and what all it can do! How to use a Heat Gun and 15 things to do with it...

The left button will decrease the temperature (the lowest it goes is 120 degrees) and the right button will increase the temperature (the highest it goes is 1000 degrees).

You turn it on with that switch on the back of the handle there.

Super hard, right? 

The biggest question with a heat gun is what temperature do I use for what projects?

There is an instruction manual that comes with the gun and has suggested temperatures for different things. However, I typically just feel it out for myself. I start with a lower setting and work my way up until the gun has accomplished what I need it to. Its always better to start at a low temperature, rather than starting at a higher one and messing up whatever project you are working on (a.k.a. melting something into oblivion).

I recently stripped the top of a dresser. To strip the paint that was on it, I had to turn the heat gun all the way up to 1000 degrees.  When I made the snake bowl and snake vase, I was more at a “medium” degree setting.

Now, the question is what all can I freakin’ do with a heat gun?

Let me tell you…..

Remove Paint from Furniture

Make a Rustic Tealight Holder

Strip Old Veneer

Make a Golden Snake Bowl

Age Galvanized Metal Roofing (and make a cool arrow sign in the process)

Winterize Your Windows

Make a Snake Bud Vase out of a Toy Snake

Remove Old Vinyl Lettering

Make an Acrylic Tray

Make a plastic animal bowl 

Make an Embossed T-Shirt

Make an Abstract Plastic Bowl

Melt Crayons 

Have you used a heat gun before? What do you use it on?

Need more Power Tools 101 courses?

How to Use a Drill

How to use a Circular Saw

How to use a Miter Saw

How to Use a Sander

The Best Tools for DIYers at any Level

Want to remember this guide for using a heat gun later? Just pin the image below!

How to Use a Heat Gun | Heat Gun Crafts | Heat Gun Projects | Heat Gun Uses

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: heat gun, power tools

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anna says

    February 2, 2015 at 10:50 am

    Great post Jenna! Thanks for including a link to my project. 🙂

    Anna

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      February 3, 2015 at 7:03 am

      Love that candleholder, Anna!

      Reply
  2. Skaie Knox says

    February 2, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    Thanks for including my plastic animal bowl project! Love your blog and am definitely gonna have fun with your “Lucite Tray” 15 minute project! Fun!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      February 3, 2015 at 7:02 am

      Love that animal bowl – so cool!

      Reply
  3. Lory Robinson says

    February 13, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    Thanks for the great info about the heat gun! I had never thought about using one for so many different projects.
    Lory xo

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      February 15, 2015 at 9:55 am

      Glad it was helpful, Lory! Its an awesome tool!

      Reply
  4. Anna says

    June 22, 2015 at 8:25 pm

    This is an awesome post. I use my heat gun for making Halloween props for my yard haunt. I will be using your snake ideas! I used mine to add texture to foam boards and also to singe paper for the Snow White spell book.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      June 23, 2015 at 12:14 am

      That’s such a great idea to use it for that, Anna!! Love it!

      Reply
  5. jenny says

    June 24, 2015 at 6:05 am

    You’re amazing, I have never tried these tools,thanks

    Reply
  6. A says

    January 11, 2017 at 9:21 pm

    I tried to do the melted crayons with a blow dryer. DISASTER! I will buy or borrow one if I need to do it again. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing on #HappinessisHomemade

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      January 12, 2017 at 1:08 pm

      Was it? I’ve always wondered how that one would work out. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  7. Lori says

    January 13, 2017 at 10:52 am

    Great ideas… I always wondered what to do with a heat gun or why I’d want one… 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It! Looking forward to seeing more of your creativity!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      January 19, 2017 at 7:58 am

      They are so cool, Lori!

      Reply
  8. Cristina at Ava's Alphabet says

    January 14, 2017 at 11:19 pm

    This Power Tools 101 series is just the best. I’m pretty sure I need a heat gun now! Pinned and sharing! Thank you for joining us at Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. I hope you will join our next party starting Sunday at noon EST.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      January 19, 2017 at 7:55 am

      So glad you like the series, Cristina!

      Reply
  9. Debra Needles says

    January 18, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    Wow. I have never even heard of a heat gun! Looks like a pretty handy tool!

    Thanks for sharing with us at the Funtastic Friday Blog Hop!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      January 19, 2017 at 7:49 am

      It is! I love mine!

      Reply
  10. Mother of 3 says

    July 20, 2018 at 7:40 pm

    So many great ideas! I have a small heat gun I use for paper crafting and I do just love it. Pinned.

    Reply
  11. Leda says

    February 8, 2022 at 1:55 pm

    I do wood burning and I just bought a Scorch Marker and a heat gun for it. My question is: do I need to put something under the project I’m working on at my desk? If need be I can use the heat gun in the basement where it’s the concrete floor. But if I don’t have to go down there, that would be nice.

    And if I do need to put something under my project, what should I use?

    Thanks so much!

    Reply

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