A quick, concentrated blast of heat is an excellent addition to several car maintenance projects, and there’s no better way to get some hot air on demand than with a heat gun. Heat guns work like really powerful hairdryers, using a small electric fan to blow air over a powerful heated filament to deliver a near-instant jet of heated air.
Related: The best socket sets for home mechanics and DIYers
Serious amateur mechanics will find uses for a heat gun all over a car. They can be used to remove old adhesives to make removing parts easier, soften plastics for reshaping and remoulding and even be used to add vinyl wraps to bodywork. But even if you’re just wanting to dry glues quicker or add some shrink tubing to an exposed wire, a heat gun is a clever tool to have in your garage.
What else can a heat gun be used for?
A heat gun doesn’t need to cost a lot of money for most domestic tasks, won’t take up much space and will come in handy at some point. Even so, it can be hard to justify the price of a heat gun if you rarely work on your car, but it’s worth noting some of the common DIY and home maintenance tasks that a heat gun can help with:
• Thawing frozen pipes
• Drying out damp wood
• Removing old wallpaper and paint
• Using shrink wrap
• Loosening jammed bolts and screws
• Some people say you can roast coffee or cook bacon with one (a nice party trick but stick to coffee machines and grills, we say)
The best heat guns
Black+Decker 230 V Heat Gun
The best simple heat gun
Price: RRP £24.99 | VIEW OFFER
Heat guns don’t get much more basic than this option from Black+Decker. Featuring two heat settings (460 or 600°C), it’s ideal for stripping paintwork, removing old adhesives and drying filler. It also features two air speed settings, allowing for some adjustability. It’s well-made, affordable and ergonomically designed. The flip-out handle, for example, means it can be used hands-free and there’s a risk-free way of cooling the heat gun down once you’re finished with it.
Pros
• Good value for money
• Easy to use
• Includes a stand
Cons
• No included nozzles
• No good for low heat activities
Specs
Temperature range: 460-600°C
Power: 1750W, two-metre power cord
Nozzles supplied: None
Weight: 376g
Bosch UniversalHeat 600
The best head gun for beginners
Price: RRP £54.99 | VIEW OFFER
A step up from the Black+Decker, the UniversalHeat 600 from Bosch features three heat settings to go alongside its two airflow speeds. It also comes with a heat shield for more precise work as well as a raft of optional attachments for working with glass, small areas and even reflecting heat. Add in the usual Bosch build-quality and ergonomic handle and it’s a solid choice for a newbie to heat guns.
Pros
• Perfect for most DIY tasks
• Ergonomic design
Cons
• Optional parts are expensive
Specs
Temperature range: 50-600°C
Power: 1800W, 2.4-metre power cord
Nozzles supplied: One
Weight: 530g
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Heat Gun
The best cordless heat gun
Price: RRP £76.95 | VIEW OFFER
Ryobi’s offering does without the cord and relies on the brand’s swappable battery packs to provide the heating. The immediate benefit to this is that you’re not a slave to cord lengths and finding three-pin plugs. It is however quite expensive and doesn’t reach the same temperatures as the other heat guns here. It will at least have Ryobi’s excellent build quality and a hefty battery should provide enough power to keep the heat gun working for a while.
Pros
• Truly portable
• Includes nozzles
• Handy LED work light
Cons
• Only heats to 470°C
• No temperature settings
• Need to buy your own battery
Specs
Temperature range: 470°C
Power: 18V, cordless
Nozzles supplied: Two
Weight: 649g
Draper Storm Force Hot Air Gun
The best heat gun on a budget
Price: RRP £28.25 | VIEW OFFER
An excellent budget option from Draper, this heat gun is a powerful option and benefits from three temperature choices and outstanding build quality. What marks this out as such good value is the included accessories; a concentrator nozzle, hooked nozzle and edge protector.
Pros
• Perfect for DIYers
• Really good value for money
Cons
• Not the most stylish
Specs
Temperature range: 50-600°C
Power: 2000W, two-metre power cord
Nozzles supplied: Three
Weight: 1.2 kg
Bosch Professional Heat Gun GHG 23-66
The best heat gun for serious use
Price: RRP £170.47 | VIEW OFFER
Planning on stripping the paint and filler from an entire car or shrink wrapping a load of furniture, you’ll be after a more professional option, like this one from Bosch. Offering 10 airflow settings and digitally adjustable temperature control, this heat gun will be perfectly capable of dealing with whatever you can throw at it.
Pros
• Perfect for almost any task
• Great adjustable
Cons
• Expensive
• Overkill for most people
Specs
Temperature range: 50-650°C
Power: 2300W, corded
Nozzles supplied: Two
Weight: 2.11 kg
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