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This is my second build, but I have yet to buy a heat gun.
Besides softening epoxy, what can they be used for in boat building?
Also, Harbor Freight has a dual temperature 1500 watt (572/1112 degrees) on sale for $7.99! I am skeptical to say the least. Anyone buy a heat gun from Harbor Freight?
Thanks for any help.
RichMPL
4 replies:
RE: Heat Gun questions
I haven't used the heat gun on my small boats for anything except removing the wires . . . but by far my largest use has been stripping varnish. I've stripped all the exterior varnish off of TWO cruising boats with a heat gun before starting over with new varnish. Way easier than chem. removers or all that sanding (although you still need to sand afterwords).
HTH!
Dan
RE: Heat Gun questions
Thanks for the info. I also work on furniture so the varnish removal will be great.
Anyone use it to make wood more pliable for tough bends?
Thanks again,
RichMPL
RE: Heat Gun questions
I have a cheap heat gun that I bought for my first build, a Great Auk. I used it for bending strips quite a bit, and have since found many more uses for it, including stripping old epoxy and varnish from the tiller on my sailboat. They're handy, and also inexpensive, since its really just a glorified hair dryer.
RE: Heat Gun questions
» Submitted by sskiff - Tue, 1/29/13 » 8:04 AM
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=uses+for+a+heat+gun
Please take that with a grain of something good. Just had it done to me recently and thought it was hilarious!
Seriously, a couple of related applications are drying stain touch ups, nooks/crannies after wet sanding and heating wood before applying epoxy (to improve penetration.)
Re. the low cost heater I certainly wouldn't leave it plugged in and unattended or expect it to last very long. That said..why not?