Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: jeffp51 on July 22, 2017, 10:19:37 am
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I just burned out my third heat gun in three years. Any suggestions for a quality replacement?
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I use the 25$ yellow Wagner, most of my friends use the same gun. I have bought two, still on number two. I can only guess 200 bows have been done in total, just a guess.
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I use the same gun as PD. It's lasted 3 years now. Are you standing it on the back end when it's cooling?
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My first is still going, but tosses a spark here and there and I figgered that wasn't good for a dusty, chippy, curly bow shop.
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I use a porter cable heat gun, and haven't had any issue, but I've only been using it a year. My dad uses a Milwaukee, and it's been running for him for years.
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PD where do I find a Wagner heat gun?
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Lowe's or Home Depot, I bought my last at Home Depot, $23, 2 heat settings, it does all I need it to do.
This is my third, I dropped #1 too many times on the floor and broke the ceramic disc in the front, I held #2 too close to a limb (right on) when I was heat treating and burned it up, I am being more careful with #3, it should out last me.
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I believe both of mine came from a ma and pop hardware near work. They are easy to be found as Eric said. I see this model more often than any other brand. I think because it suits the needs of 98% of heat gun users.
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I have an old B&D I paid $5 for at a flea market about 20 years ago and it's still going strong. I think if I needed another I'd get a Wagner.
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I'm still using my wagner I bought in 2009.
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I use the 25$ yellow Wagner, most of my friends use the same gun. I have bought two, still on number two. I can only guess 200 bows have been done in total, just a guess.
Burnt one of those out after about 5 years. I'm on #4 now, a cheapo from ebay. It's getting hard to find a plain and simple heat-gun around here
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I use a Masters, they have a strong blower in them and put out a lot of heat. A bit pricey at around $140.00 but I have had mine for over 20 years and it gets a lot of use. Repair parts are easy to get and easy to install and cheap. I have replaced a switch, and a couple of heating units over the years and one cord that I burned.
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My first heat gun was an el cheapo from Harbor Freight. It lasted for quite a few years. When it got burned out a couple years ago I bought 2 of the newer version and both burned out after a few uses. Then I got a better $40. model from them and so far it is holding up but I have not put it to heavy use. Time will tell.
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I use a Masters, they have a strong blower in them and put out a lot of heat. A bit pricey at around $140.00 but I have had mine for over 20 years and it gets a lot of use. Repair parts are easy to get and easy to install and cheap. I have replaced a switch, and a couple of heating units over the years and one cord that I burned.
Thanks for the tip, Steve. Im saving my pennies for one of these babies. Not that my Wagner doesn't work, but I really like the sounds of yours. Im a fix-it kind of guy and would prefer to repair as to fill a land fill.
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I recently had to replace mine. I bought this one at HF https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-watt-12-interval-heat-gun-430-800-570-1160-69343.html
I really like this heat gun, temp control and auto cool off mode. Made a lot of bamboo arrows with no problem so far.
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I've had a wagner for at least 5 years.Still doing ok.
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My Wagner is going strong after 7 years. Figure I got my money's worth a while back.
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I'm still on my first one, a Black & Decker, almost 20 years old. I've been thinking about getting a different one, more powerful maybe, but it sounds like I better just hang on to this one.
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I didn't even use a heat-gun for the first year or so of heat-treating when I was doing all those experiments. I used a hotplate and suspended the reflexed bow several inches above it, worked quite well and gave a very uniform browning. I still have that hotplate
P.S. I know that there were some people that tried different methods of heat-treating shortly after I wrote that first article. I remember one guy tried his BBQ but it didn't work very well and Murray Gaskins told me once that he and a few others tried a propane torch, that didn't work either.
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I do tend to be careful handling my heat gun though.I try not to drop it on a hard surface much anytime while using it or not using it.Might be nonsense but I don't think that's good for them.That element in there can be fragile I suspect.
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Regarding Marc's comment, I do all of my heat treating over a burner on my electric stove. I turn it up to high, and suspect the bow clamped to a form about 5 inches above the element. Gives a nice even brown.
Maybe one of these years I'll pony up for a heat gun...