Removing old paint from your living room walls or bedroom doors can be incredibly time-consuming. If the paint is particularly old, then chances are that you might damage the wall or the wood of the surface you’re working with.
That’s where a decent heat gun comes in. But maybe you’ve worked with a heat gun in the past and found that they aren’t particularly great at generating enough heat to melt off the existing paint. Or maybe your paints are too strong for this task.
Sometimes you might be limited by a cord that is too short or a power supply in a cordless model that simply does not keep your heat gun powered for long enough. You might also have an issue with a too-large gun and cannot store it in your tool shed.
So what exactly are the best heat guns for paint removal? What features do the best paint guns have, and what accessories do they come with to give you the ability to strip paint in record time? How much will a decent paint gun cost you in terms of price?
If you are struggling to remove your stubborn paint markings, look no further! I have painstakingly researched the best heat guns that are currently available on the market.
I also have a buyer’s guide that will help you identify which heat gun you need for your particular paint job and some frequently asked questions from DIY enthusiasts.
First, I am going to give you a list of some of my top picks with a few of their best features:
Top 5 Heat Guns To Remove Paint
Now that you’ve seen my favorites, I will give you a more in-depth summary of each model, what makes them so good, and which specific model will be the most suitable for your needs.
1. Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun
The first heat gun I have rated as one of the very best on the market – and the internet seems to agree with me!
With literally thousands of positive reviews on Amazon, you can’t help but take notice. This economic model is extremely easy to control, removing paint safely and quickly – introducing the Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun.
One thing you’ll want from your paint gun is the ability to stay hot for a long period. You might want to remove all the paint from an old door in one session, and this will be the perfect heat gun for that very task. With a low heat of 750 degrees, you can use this on your wood surfaces without burning.
You can even lie this heat gun on its back and use it hands-free. This is great if you want to strip paint from wire, having control over the surface of the wire so that it doesn’t burn up.
PROS
- Safety – this is one of the most important aspects of a heat gun, and this one has plenty of built-in features, such as a stand on the base that allows you to heat hands-free.
- This unit will not overheat when operated for long periods. This is particularly useful if you are stripping paint in your family home.
- You have two fan speeds that can be operated for different heating levels – if you want to remove paint from steel, I recommend turning this up to this highest setting.
- This one can be cranked up to 900 degrees so that you can make short work of those painted steel garage doors.
- With this heating gun, you can do plenty of things – loosening rusted old nuts, stripping hardened paint, or making old wiring flexible enough to bend into new configurations.
CONS
- Some users have reported failures after one year of use – including a faulty on/off switch and a dead battery.
- Some users have also reported that this unit produces smoke and has even melted in some instances.
2. Black and Decker Heat Gun
This next one is the best option for those working to a budget – although this doesn’t mean you sacrifice any of the quality! This dual-temperature gun gives you as high as 1000 degrees when put on full blast.
It has a high-powered heating rig that won’t overheat – introducing the Black and Decker Heat Gun. This very lightweight and compact unit makes it great for storage when not in use. This one won’t take up too much space in your toolshed!
This has a wraparound cord and plug, which are also very easy to store. This is a great unit for removing old paint from many different styles of surfaces, including wood, steel, and porcelain. It can also be used to reheat an icy outdoor water pipe.
This unit’s defining feature is the price tag- perfect for a handyman trying to count the dollars.
PROS
- This device comes with a built-in stand that will allow you some hand-free operation. This is ideal if you need to mold some wiring and don’t want the surface of it to get too warm.
- It is built to cool down nice and quickly, a great little safety feature that will be very important to those working around pets and children.
- You can use this heat gun for all manner of jobs, including loosening rusted bolts and thawing out frosted taps on the side of your house or vehicle.
- The handy trigger will allow you to operate the heating elements with the utmost control – you can reach up to 1000 degrees in temperature, which is very useful for those more stubborn paint jobs.
- This has a very powerful 1375-watt heating capacity – you can rely on this one to blitz your painted surface quickly, no matter what material it is made from.
CONS
- This one has a cord, so you might find your movements restricted.
- The heat levels might not reach those of other models, so you might struggle to remove those more stubborn paint markings.
3. Dewalt 20V Max XR Cordless Drill Combo Kit
This next kit is really for those gung-ho DIY enthusiasts, coming with a fantastic set of accessories that will help you with any paint-stripping duties you must tackle.
This will probably appeal to a professional handyman who relies on having all the tools at his disposal for the job at hand – introducing the Dewalt 20V Max XR Cordless Drill Combo Kit.
Not only does this come with a drill, but you have a heat gun too. This gives you pretty much all the basics for a renovation. If you are thinking of transforming your old Victorian door with new screws and a lick of paint, you can’t go wrong with this drill set.
Your heating gun has 42 minutes of battery life, but the heating unit has plenty of power to deliver highly intense heat. This is also cordless, giving you plenty of freedom to move around all the corners of your door frame or take it outside to your metal garage.
PROS
- The accessories are why I have dubbed this my luxury option, coming as it does with a hard case to protect your high-end equipment.
- The heating gun has a built-in LED bulb that will allow you to work into the late evening hours if you have a job that takes longer than anticipated.
- Being cordless, you can take this practically anywhere, giving you the flexibility to get into any corner of your object without worrying about trip hazards.
- The built-in stand allows you to work hands-free, which is perfect if you need to heat some copper or steel wiring from all sides without having it snap.
- The heating gun has a brush-free motor that gives you a lot more cordless runtime than some of the other brands on this list.
CONS
- The fact that your heating gun only has 42 minutes of battery life will be a hassle for carpenters or DIY handymen who need a little extra life for a larger job.
4. Porter-Cable Heat Gun
This next heating gun is perfect for those users who want to have something in their tool shed for stripping off paint quickly and efficiently.
Considering the price and its number of features, this is a very decent gun to get. With a 6-foot cord, you have plenty of freedom to get into those tight corners – introducing the Porter-Cable Heat Gun.
This gun comes with a built-in stander that you can use for soldering wire or heating metal elements with the utmost control. You can also use it to heat rusted nuts and bolts that are seemingly impossible to remove with just your hands or even the sturdiest spanners or wrenches.
This has a variable control dial that you can use to alter the heat to within the degree. This will be very important if you feel that the higher heat is damaging the surface of whatever paint you are trying to remove.
You’ll want to get that balance of removing paint and rust but not damaging the substance underneath.
PROS
- This is a great budget unit that will be able to do the most basic of heating jobs, whether it is unscrewing rusty bolts or giving your door that new lick of paint.
- This has a 6-foot cord that gives you more versatility while minimizing the trip hazards that shorter, tighter cords can always create.
- You can balance this one on its base, giving you hands-free support that will enable you to solder and bend old wiring.
- Comparing the price with the range of features, this is a great unit for home DIY use, giving you enough power and heat while being small enough to store conveniently in your toolbox or garage.
- This provides an ample 1500 watts of power, cooling down quickly once you have finished, with a bracket in the handle.
CONS
- There is no Celsius temperature option, which might confuse users who are used to this type of heat reading.
- Even though the cord is lengthy, it will still limit you, particularly if you work in a cluttered studio.
5. Dewalt Heat Gun with LCD Display & Accessory Kit
Our final heating gun unit is another one for those who want that extra heavy-duty heating capability, coming with a bumper crop of accessories, such as a scraper, and nozzles, with a clamshell carry case.
You can also control the temperature with an LCD screen that will give you the current temperature – introducing the Dewalt Heat Gun with LCD Display & Accessory Kit.
You can have great control over your heating gun, with a temperature gauge that can be altered to within the degree. This granular style of temperature control is very important if you want to strip paint and rust while leaving the surface intact. This unit tops out at a very impressive 1100 degrees.
Different nozzles on this heating gun give you much greater versatility in the surface area you’re heating. This also has plenty of built-in safety features, such as an overload prevention feature that will automatically detect when the unit is overheating and will switch off accordingly.
PROS
- The LCD display will give you a reliable temperature readout, which is ideal for stopping the whole unit from overheating.
- The safety features will be very important when it comes to ensuring that your unit does not overheat or burn your hand. It will automatically switch off when it gets too hot.
- This comes with plenty of accessories that will help make your paint stripping job all the more simple – including scrapers and multiple sizes of the nozzle.
- The hard case of this set will protect your heating drills – this will be very important if you’re working on a building site and need to keep it safe from the various hazards that you can find there.
- This unit can be cranked up to over 1000 degrees, which is amazing for anything who wants to burn the rust of metal or scrub their garage down to its original materials.
CONS
- This is one of the priceless units on this list, and you should only pick this up if you are serious about your DIY or are a professional handyman.
- Some users have complained that some of the attachments on this device do not screw on tightly enough.
Buyer’s Guide
When buying your next heat gun model, you’ll want to think about the intensity of the job you’ll be doing and how frequently you’ll be using your heat gun. Many models of heat guns are out there, including gas- and electric-powered options.
The most popular options for a heating gun are generally electric, as these are much safer and have plenty of built-in features that will prevent your gun from overheating over time.
These are also much smaller, so they don’t require additional fuel and are easier to wield than gas-powered units.
Electric Or Gas-Powered Heating Guns
Electric models are generally considered the low-end pricing option, so if you want to save a few bucks on a more reliable unit, I recommend that you seek an electric option.
However, even these electric options come in two different varieties: with a cord or without a cord. The cordless options certainly give the DIY enthusiast much more flexibility, especially if you are working around a complex object such as a door or a windowpane and don’t want that cord snagging and severely impeding the quality of your work.
Many of these electric models also have a dual heating function that gives you much more control over your heating output. These guns also operate at much higher temperatures.
Nozzle Choices
Many different nozzle styles will help you hone your heater to get the best heat output for whatever project you happen to be doing. Think about it: you won’t want the same amount of heat for wood as you do for metal.
Each different nozzle will result in a different outcome for your project. Here is a comprehensive list of some of the most popular nozzles that you can get for a heat gun:
- Spoon Reflector Nozzle – This will form the air and heat from your gun into a conical shape. It then flips that heat back around off a small hook or a spoon-shaped piece of steel. This is the perfect nozzle for soldering.
- Fishtail Nozzle – This pushes your flame into a flattened shape, ideal for steel surfaces requiring a wider heating area.
- Cone nozzle – this nozzle is tapered so that you have a much narrower concentration of heat. This nozzle comes in a very unique tiered style that will help concentrate your heat over a smaller surface.
- Inbuilt Scraper Nozzle – The built-in scraper will really help you to shift some of those more stubborn paint marks. Combining the intense heat and the hard metal scraper that attaches to the end of your heating gun, this is perfect if you’re working with metal.
How Do You Remove Paint With A Heating Gun?
The main premise of using a heat gun is very simple – all you have to do is remove the top layer of paint by using heat to reduce it to its original state, that is, liquid. Once the paint is pliable, you can easily remove it with a scraper.
Softening this paint works well on either hard or variegated surfaces such as brick or steel. It is great for renovating old walls or applying a new coat of waterproof paint on an old garage door, but you need to remove the top layer first.
There are a few different methods that you can use to heat your surface. One is by quickly getting it to the right temperature before putting down your heat gun and scraping the paint with two hands.
Or, as mentioned above, you can buy a heat gun with a built-in scraper, which will allow you to scrape as you heat. Either way is very efficient, although you’ll want to ensure that you don’t burn yourself and that your work area is clear of other debris and, more importantly, pets and children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Proper Method of Using Your Heat Gun Safely?
A heat gun is a combination of fairly volatile components – that is, a stove and a gun. It fires heat out at a rapid rate, so it should be treated with caution when handling. If you leave your gun lying on its side while it is switched on, then the chances are that it will catch fire or overheat.
This is a tool, but it is also an electronic piece of equipment. If safety is on your mind, I suggest you buy a flamer with a built-in safety feature. Some guns automatically shut themselves off when they get to a certain temperature.
One thing that probably goes without saying, but I’ll state anyway: you should never point your gun at exposed flesh. This could lead to severe burning. Plus, if you use your heating gun around children or animals, place it out of reach during the cooling-off period.
Some guns reach around 1000 degrees in just under a minute. The kind of heat generated is very concentrated, unlike a candle that operates at a very low intensity. Even if you briefly wave your hand over this, you’ll suffer from extreme burns.
Should You Let Your Gun Cool Off?
Yes, you should have designated warm-up and cool-down periods. If your gun gets too hot, then the chances are that it will start to malfunction and might even explode in your hands, causing irreparable damage.
If you want to switch between nozzles, you will have to deactivate your heat gun and let it stand for around 45 minutes. This is the more surefire way of guaranteeing you won’t burn yourself when handling.
