That $15 heat gun from Amazon melted my paint job into a disaster

I was stripping an old dresser I picked up at a garage sale in Tampa. Figured a heat gun would be faster than sanding. Got one for 15 bucks with good reviews. Worked great for about 10 minutes, then the handle got too hot to hold. I set it down on a rag and it set the rag on fire, melted the plastic nozzle right off, and scorched the wood before I could grab it. Now I've got to replace a whole panel. Anyone have a brand that actually stays cool for longer jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

joel_young10d ago

...and I said "cheap tools are fine if you're careful" not "cheap heat guns are fine to rest on a rag while they're on fire." Big difference. That $15 gun was basically a hair dryer from a gas station that someone glued a nozzle onto. The handle got so hot I felt like I was holding a soldering iron. Lesson learned, I guess, but now I'm out 15 bucks plus the cost of a new dresser panel. At least the fire was small and I caught it quick, but jeez. Next time I'll just use sandpaper and some elbow grease, maybe buy a real heat gun from a hardware store that won't try to burn my house down.

cole_hall10d ago

Weren't you just saying last week cheap tools are fine? That handle thing sounds sketchy.