Model Railway Forum

I think its a larger one? My B & D paint stripper hot air gun has a curved nozzle attachment that goes around a 15mm etc copper pipe and with the gun on full heat power it will solder Yorkshire style fittings.

I have one of those Brian but the small versions we are discussing would take a month of Sundays to melt solder particularly on a copper pipe which is why plumbers use a blow torch.

Yeah 100%. The small electric one would melt butter, but not copper pipe solder

Well I wasn't thinking of buying one to do my plumbing! Reminded me I do have a blow torch in the garage somewhere, one of those that clip on to the top of a small can of gas. I've used it to do a lot of work on copper pipe work in the past but think it might be a tad too powerful for shrinking a little tube on my delicate electronic projects!

It would certainly shrink it for a millisecond

I don't think I need a hot-air gun, but this thread has just reminded me that out in the garage there is a "modelling iron" that my son used to use for fixing the covering on model aircraft wings - I'm sure that would work on small jobs, such as heat-shrink covering on wiring?

Just had a look at the details of my Lidl hot air gun, two temperature settings 350 and 550C. The lower setting is certainly about the temperature where many soldering irons work, I must try the upper setting and see if it will melt solder on an old PCB, I cannot see it doing any pipe work although the safety instructions say to take care when paint stripping copper pipes. There is no nozzle to wrap around a pipe and there is no suggestion in the manual you could use it for soldering pipes.

Amongst the selection of nozzles there is one that can be used to light a charcoal BBQ, no need for any spirits just stick it in the charcoal on top setting and blast away, never tried it though.

You can actually get electric soldering “irons” that will do pipe work. They have a clamp type arrangement that clamps around the pipe joiner they have two soldering heads which are interchangeable for different pipe sizes. You do not see them being used much because I believe the process is slow compared to a torch but would be useful in a tight spot where a flame might risk a fire. Another piece of useless info for the pub/club when they reopen if ever?

Richard

I brought my heat gun in a hurry because I was half way through a job and dropped the gun I was using. Loud bang and flash, and it was all over for my trusty 20 year old Black and Decker

My rush purchase from a local hardware store ( not Dyas) and got the job done, then sat down and read the instructions ! Seems it had a number of heat settings, blower settings and useful stand enabling it to stand upright.

My advice to research what you want, may need and treat yourself. They all look the same to the other half.

Rgds

I was having a look at the spec of these mini hot air guns vs a regular paint stripper...

Little gun 200 deg C - ideal for shrink tube use.
Big gun 600 deg C - ideal for lighting fires.

Edit
I ended up buying one that can be left on for more than a brief spell (check the specs) and can hit 350degC. Must give it a try.