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What’s the Best Heat Shrink Gun
What’s the best heat shrink gun? There’s no single answer as it depends on the task. These tools offer different functionality, ranging from soldering and hot knife cutting to more generalized heat-related jobs.
Each tool brings its own distinct advantages depending on the task at hand. Rather than list product by product, we grouped them into task type. Any prices shown include VAT and were correct at the time this was written.
Task Type:
- Hobbyist
- General/Light Industrial
- Professional
- Precision
- High Power/Advanced Control
- Mid-Range Power / Temperature / Low Cost
And finally…
Task Type: Hobbyist
There are two heat tools we recommend for hobbyists:
1) PRO120 (£90)
This is an excellent and versatile fit for hobbyists or those needing a tool for light, precise tasks particularly for fine, delicate work.
Uses:
Ideal for heat shrinking, soldering, hot knife cutting, brazing and more.
Temperature/Power/Weight:
Being butane gas powered and cordless, it’s highly portable and will last up 2 to 3 hours on a full tank (depending on settings). It provides a power output equivalent to 30W to 125W with a temperature range of 250-550°C (up to 1300°C for torch use).
Lightweight, this item weighs 125g with an empty tank.
What’s in the case?
The tool and accessories come in a tough carrying case. In total you will receive:
- Pro120 tool
- Safety cap
- 60/40 cored solder
- Cleanup sponge
- Tips:
- Soldering tip
- Chisel tip
- Hot knife tip
- Hot air blower tip
2) Steinel HL Stick Kit (£77.50)
If you prefer a mains operated tool for a similar price, then this item may be an alternative. It has a different set of features, which may come in handy, particularly for precision work.
Uses:
Craft and hobby work, minor repairs, model making.
Temperature/Power/Weight:
Mains powered: 350W, with 400°C or 500°C temperature, depending on nozzle. The unit weighs 0.6Kg.
Extra features:
- See into nooks and crannies with the integrated LED light
- Hands-free working with unit resting on its standing surface
- Easy to grip and lightweight
What’s included?
- Steinel HL Stick tool
- Nozzles:
- 2 reduction nozzles
- 2 reflector nozzles
Task Type: General / Light Industrial
Master Proheat 220 (£180/£240)
This tool offers a great blend of versatility and power, making it ideal for general and industrial use. We recommend buying the kit (£240) as this includes multiple accessories (and who doesn’t need a comprehensive tool set).
Uses:
Ideal for thawing frozen pipes, heating and bending plastics and for heat shrinking.
Temperature/Power/Weight:
Mains powered: 1300W, with a 50°C to 538°C temperature range. On its own, the unit weighs 1.36Kg.
What’s in the kit option?
- ProHeat Heat Gun
- Storage/carrying case
- Set of 5 attachments:
- Spreader Attachment
- Shrink Tubing Attachment
- Specialty Connector
- Reducer Attachment
- Pinpoint Reducer Attachment
Task Type: Professional
We recommend one of these two heat gun tools for this task type:
1) Master Proheat 220 (£180/£240)
You could consider the Master Proheat 220 Kit (£240) as it offers a great blend of versatility and power.
(We covered this tool in the General / Light Industrial section above, so we won’t go into details here).
2) Steinel HG 2320 E (£184.97)
For high-end, professional use where control and power are key, this tool is the better choice. At the higher end of this category’s price range, it comes with many extra features that you may find useful.
Uses:
The Steinel HG 2320E is ideal for paint stripping, heat shrinking and desoldering and more besides.
Extra features:
- Precise temperature control through the joystick and LCD display
- Deliver the right amount of air flow with the air volume control
- Save time with the set-and-forget memory programmes (4 of them)
- Safety – Know at a glance if it is still hot with the residual heat indicator
- It’ll stay where you put it with the non-slip standing surface, or you can hang it via the loop
- Fits nicely in your hand with its optimised weight balance
- Just in case the wrong thing is melted, the power cord is replaceable
Temperature/Power/Weight:
Mains powered: 2300W, with an 80°C to 650°C temperature range. 1 kg weight.
What’s included?
- Box
- Heat gun
Task Type: Precision
1) PRO120 (£90)
We recommend the lightweight PRO120 (which we also covered in the Hobbyist section above, so we won’t repeat all the details here). Its ability to serve as both a soldering iron and a hot knife cutter make it ideal for precision tasks that require delicate handling and finer control. Plus, the unique ability to switch to torch mode adds versatility.
2) Steinel HL Stick Kit (£77.50)
If you don’t need the torch mode, or you’d prefer a precise mains-powered option, then the Steinel Stick Kit may be the tool for you. This is also covered in the Hobbyist section above.
Task Type: High Power & Advanced Control
Steinel HG 2320 E (£184.97)
This high-end device is unmatched in its class for tasks requiring high power and precise control. Its extensive temperature range and advanced features (including the LCD display and programmable settings) make it ideal for professional applications.
We covered this item in the Professional section above, where you can read all the details.
Task Type: Mid-Range Power / Temperature / Low Cost
We’ve already mentioned the top-of-the-range Steinel HG 2320 E.
There are two other Steinel tools available at lower cost, with correspondingly lower power and temperature ranges. Here is a quick comparison for price, power and temperature range:
| Model | Brand | Price | Power | Temperature Range |
| HG 2320 E | Steinel | £184.97 | 2,300W | 80°C to 650°C (in 10°C steps) |
| HL 1820 S 240V | Steinel | £77.50 | 1,800W | 50°C to 400°C to 600°C |
| HL 1620 S | Steinel | £56.58 | 1,600W | 300°C or 500°C |
Summary
As you’d expect, you pay more for increased power wattage, increased upper temperatures and more features. For professional and/or heavy duty work, the high-end Steinel HG 2320 E is ideal. For precision, hobby and craft work then choose either the cordless Pro120 or the mains powered Steinel Stick Kit. If you need something in between then choose based on temperature needs.
Some FAQs
We’ve curated a list of the common questions related to heat guns that people often ask:
What is a heat gun?
It’s a hand-held device that blows high temperature air through a nozzle so that you can direct it onto your task.
What are the common uses of a heat gun?
Here’s a starting list (some may require specialised tool tips, or tool features):
- Heat shrinking of heat shrink tubing
- Paint stripping
- Melting or heating plastic to reform it
- Desoldering
- Brazing
What temperatures can a heat gun deliver?
Up to 650°C. You’ll need a gas-powered tool in torch mode to go up to 1,300°C.
How much does a heat gun cost?
Our prices range from £56.58 to £240 (inc VAT).
What’s the best tool for heat shrink tubing?
Scroll to the top of this post and look for the task type (eg hobbyist, professional) that matches what you plan to do.
What’s the best variable temperature heat gun?
That depends on the task. Scroll to the top of this post and look for that task type that matches yours.
Do I need a heat gun for heat shrink tubing?
Yes, that’s our recommendation.
What’s an alternative to a heat gun? Can I heat shrink/shrink wrap without a heat gun?
If you are desperate then possibly a hair dryer might do, but you’d need to check the specifications of it and the item you are trying to heat to make sure there will be sufficient heat.
Will a hair dryer work as a heat gun to shrink heat shrink or shrink wrap?
It might if the temperature is sufficient. (Check the specs of the hair dryer and the item you need to heat).
But we believe in using the right tool for a task…
A hair dryer is not designed for paint stripping, for example and so we don’t sell them. We certainly don’t recommend using one of our paint-stripping heat guns as a hair dryer, due to the likely disastrous consequences to your hair, skin etc.
How do I use a heat gun?
We have a post on how to use a heat gun for heat shrinking – you can read it here.
Can you use a heat gun for shrink wrap? What’s the best heat gun for shrink wrap?
Our focus on this site is for heat shrink tubing, but this and shrink wrap can use the same heat guns. Check the heat requirements of your shrink wrap then look through this post for temperature ranges (and task type) that suit.
