Heat guns

[Brent Deines]

Normally I don't advocate the use of heat guns to warm a windshield repair as the intense heat is often hard to control even on the low setting, and depending on the gun the tips can get dangerously hot, but yesterday I could not find my hair dryer so I grabbed a new heat gun that we had purchased for the shop and found that it had about 10 different heat settings. I experimented around a bit and found a setting that was just perfect to keep on the glass throughout the repair process. I can't say that it worked better than my hair dryer, but it was quieter and I think the quality of the gun is much higher.

So to any of you that I may have steered away from heat guns, I now have to say that I have changed my mind, depending on the gun of course. Of course if you are a windshield repair technician/cosmetologist the hair dryer may still be your best bet.

[screenman]

Now that does it hair styling and windschield repair in one post, that must be a first.

[chips1144]

Brent, Im not sure what type of heat gun you have, but I have to say be careful, I went to a Matrix demo on vinyl repair at the M.T.E. The guys were explaining how an inch can make all the difference in a good or ruined repair, I think they said the temperature can go up by 100 degrees for every inch you get closer to the repair, all Im saying is be sure you dont get too close, Im sure the Matrix guys would clarify that for you.

[starstruck]

Brent - maybe you could post the brand, type and model of the one you were using?

[Brent Deines]

The heat gun I am using now is the Makita HG1100. It has 5 heat settings and 2 speeds (both slow). Don't get me wrong, I'm not promoting this gun, and I still think hair dryers work very well and are safer to use as and they typically won't get hot enough to damage anything even on the hottest settings. However, if you need a heat gun for other purposes you might as well get one that is as versatile as possible.

I agree that one must be very careful when using heat guns, but as I said, this particular gun has cool settings as well as hot settings, so it is very different than the heat guns I have used in the past. It warmed the area that I was working on to about 85 degrees F and kept it that way throughout the repair process. I could even still touch the metal tip of the gun when I was finished, although in retrospect doing so was probably not all that smart.

Actually the metal tip is the one thing I don't like about this gun. I have another one, can't think of the name right off hand, with a plastic tip, but it does not have a setting cool enough to safely use on a windshield in my opinion. I have no idea what kind of plastic is used that does not melt when the temperature is so hot, but it doesn't.

[chips1144]

Brent the Makita sounds like a great heat gun, It has more settings than my Steinel, Id say Makita tools are some of the best.

l just didn't want the guys to go crazy with a heat gun without being aware of the temperature change at close range, My Steinel is deceiving, very quiet compared to my other cheap gun and far hotter.

Just trying to help the cause.

[Brent Deines]

I'm with you all the way chips.

[jayjacque]

I concur with chips' statement about how much distance away makes a huge difference in how hot whatever is you're heating gets. That's true on high output heatguns, so I'd never advocate using one on a windshield. Not so sure that is the case with very low settings or low output heatguns. I'm picking up a cheap 1000 watt Hobbico heatgun from a Hobby store for only like $16. Only puts out 400 degrees compared to 1500 or 1800 of a Steinel. I'll try and let you guys know if that one seems safe.

The other precautionary measure for a high output heatgun is to keep the gun slowly moving so as to not "bake" what you're heating. But again something not very practical in windshield repair.

[jasonsresin]

for windshield repairs that are stubborn, dont bother with a heat gun or hair dryer, just use a lighter. that is especially important cause it can save alot of time when you're doing three windshields at a time.

[starstruck]

I think they are talking about using a heat gun to maintain the windshield at an adequately warm temperature for repair, not using it to heat a stubborn damage spot. Correct me if I am wrong.