Heat Guns: 8 Unexpected Uses You Didn’t Know Were Possible

Heat guns are incredibly versatile tools that most people primarily associate with removing paint or welding plastics. However, with some creative thinking, you can discover heat guns have many more handy and unexpected uses around the home, hobby shop, or garage.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 8 surprising uses for heat guns that you may not have considered before. For each application, we will provide a detailed overview covering how to safely and effectively leverage heat guns to save time, money, and effort on various projects.

1. Roasting Coffee Beans

Roasting raw coffee beans with a heat gun allows you to create customized blends from your home with total control over the roast profile. This method produces far superior flavor compared to pre-roasted beans.

Overview

• Roasting coffee transforms the chemical and physical properties of raw beans through the application of heat, enabling the desired flavors and aromas to fully develop.
• Using a heat gun provides more precision and customization than commercial roasting which cooks beans in large batches.
• With some basic supplies and safety measures, you can roast coffee at home cheaper than buying artisan beans.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun capable of producing temperatures between 370°F to 540°F
• Extension cord
• Mesh strainer or colander
• Metal mixing bowl – stainless steel or aluminum works best
• Oven mitts and hot pads
• Spray bottle with water
• Raw, unroasted coffee beans
• Storage container with airtight seal

Safety First

• Roast outside or in a well-ventilated area due to smoke
• Position the direction of the heat gun to avoid blowing debris
• Keep flammable items away from the hot heat gun nozzle
• Use oven mitts when handling hot bowls or beans
• Have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Fill the metal bowl with the desired amount of raw beans, leaving plenty of open space for increased airflow and agitation. Start with a small batch if this is your first time.
2. Position the bowl on a safe, level surface. Angle the heat gun to blow hot air directly into the beans.
3. Turn the heat gun to the highest setting. Expect to use temperatures between 370°F and upwards of 500°F. The thicker the bean’s skin, the more heat required.
4. Continuously stir the beans with a spoon or paddle to promote even heating. All beans must achieve consistent roast level.
5. After 2 to 5 minutes, you will hear cracking sounds as the beans expand and begin releasing oils and sugars. The beans will also double in size.
6. Monitor color and aroma closely once first crack occurs. Each additional minute leads to progressively darker roasts. Avoid burning.
7. Light roasted beans will appear light brown. Medium roast is moderate brown with some oil sheen. Dark roast is very dark brown with oil coating.

8.Spray a light mist of water over the beans to cool the roasting process once your target color is reached.

9. Immediately pour the roasted beans into a strainer. Shake vigorously to enhance cooling.
10. Allow beans to rest uncovered for 8 to 24 hours to fully degass before grinding and brewing. Store in an airtight container.

With some practice controlling heat and timing, you can easily achieve light, medium, and dark roast coffee beans matched to your taste preferences saving money over store-bought artisan beans.

2. Defrosting Freezers

Manually defrosting a frost-covered freezer with a heat gun is vastly faster, easier, and safer than more traditional defrosting techniques. Within an hour or so, you can eliminate thick icy buildup without making a huge mess or damaging your freezer’s interior.

Overview

• Over time, ice continuously accumulates inside freezers reducing storage capacity and operational efficiency.
• Heat guns can safely thaw freezer ice many times faster than unassisted natural defrosting.
• Avoid using knives or other tools to chip away at freezer ice which can puncture critical components like refrigerant lines or the evaporator coils.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun – ideally capable of generating temperatures upwards of 1000°F
• Extension cord if needed to safely power the heat gun
• Cloths or towels
• Oven mitts
• Large bucket or bins
• Old credit card or plastic scraper (optional)

Safety First

• Never leave a heat gun unattended while powered on
• Avoid directing heat flow across any plastic components or wiring
• Routinely check that the freezer interior isn’t getting dangerously hot
• Use extreme caution handling freshly thawed ice which will be very slippery

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Completely empty the freezer of all food which could spoil if allowed to warm significantly.
2. Suit up with oven mitts and prepare your heat gun, extension cord if needed, buckets for water drainage, and old towels or cloths.
3. Start applying heat in either the top or bottom corners depending on ice accumulation patterns, holding the heat gun just 3 or 4 inches away.
4. Continuously move the heat stream side to side until ice begins melting. Apply extra heat to especially thick areas of hard ice.
5. Let newly thawed portions drain into your buckets before resuming heat. Check how much ice remains and refocus your thawing efforts accordingly.
6. Once large ice chunks are loose, use an old credit card or plastic scraper to dislodge buildup and speed overall defrosting if desired.
7. Routinely dump accumulating water and wipe down with towels to improve drainage and maximize heat transmission into remaining ice.
8. Carefully inspect sides, corners, hinges, coils, and other areas for final bits of clinging ice. Melt down to full clearance.
9. Use towels to dry up remaining moisture so it doesn’t simply re-freeze. You can also place bowls of hot water inside to aid drying.
10. Welcome back restored freezer capacity and efficiency! Be sure to reset appropriate temperature levels.

With some care and patience wielding your heat gun, you can save vast amounts of effort hacking away at thick frozen buildup by instead letting controlled heat rapidly melt ice away restoring your freezer to peak operation.

3. Removing Stickers and Labels

Whether dealing with price tag residue on new items or old stickers that didn’t fully peel off on prior removal attempts, heat guns provide a simple, non-toxic method for eliminating leftover sticker adhesive without damaging delicate underlying finishes.

Overview

• Sticker and label adhesives are specifically engineered to cling on tightly, often leaving behind a sticky mess when removal is attempted.
• Traditional solvents for dissolving adhesives take time to penetrate and can damage many surfaces.
• Heat guns soften stickers and melt glue so the entire piece easily detaches fully intact with no leftover stickiness.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun
• Plastic putty knife, old credit card, wood sticks, or non-metal scraper
• Paper towels
• Goo Gone or other mild adhesive solvents (optional)

Safety First

• Avoid heating soft plastics or materials vulnerable to heat damage
• Work carefully around electronics, painted surfaces, or antiques
• Start on low/medium heat ramping up slowly
• Keep the heat gun moving constantly to prevent burning

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prepare your heat gun and non-metallic scraping tool. For electronics or delicate items, it’s best to start on low heat around 300°F to 500°F maximum.
2. Rather than concentrating heat in one spot, keep the heat stream moving continuously over the entire sticker area. This prevents potential damage from excess localized heat.
3. After 10 to 20 seconds of sweeping low heat application, use your scraper to test if the sticker can be slowly peeled up or nudged loose from an edge.
4. If additional softening is needed, continue slowly moving heat back and forth before trying again to lift the sticker intact.
5. For extremely stubborn stickers on durable surfaces, dial up the heat gun to around 1000°F maximum taking appropriate precautions.
6. After successfully removing the entire sticker, immediately wipe away all remaining adhesive residue while still hot and loose with paper towels.
7. If any leftover sticky patches remain once cooled, spot treat small areas with a mild solvent like Goo Gone or reapply targeted heat.

With this process, the formerly frustrating task of removing old stickers that fight back against removal suddenly becomes quite easy without damaging the underlying surface.

4. Thawing Frozen Pipes

Rather than allowing precious hours for given areas of frozen pipes to gradually thaw on their own, strategic heat gun usage can restore flowing water in affected pipes 10 times faster so bursting risks are minimized.

Overview

• Freezing temperatures can infiltrate exposed water pipes causing interior ice blockages halting flow.
• If frozen areas go unaddressed, pressure buildups lead to cracks, ruptures, and disastrous leakage.
• Traditional passive thawing methods waste hours before resolving frozen pipes.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun capable of approximately 1100°F+
• Heavy work gloves & eye protection
• Insulation/cushioning materials – rags, paper, foam
• Additional heat sources like portable space heaters or plumbing tape

Safety First

• Never leave powered heat guns unattended near plumbing
• Avoid heating plastic pipes unless using lowest settings
• Prevent scalding; run hot tap water slowly at first
• Be extremely careful handling pipes once ice begins melting
• Never try using a propane torch or open flames!

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Locate suspected frozen areas based on positions of affected fixtures and valves without flow. Target the middle point between working hot/cold water sources.
2. Prepare your heat gun, gloves, insulation materials, and other heat sources if attempting to thaw in extremely cold spaces.
3. Starting 1 foot below suspected frozen sections, begin slowly sweeping heat gun streams back and forth using around 750°F to start.
4. Gradually increase heat gun temperatures towards 1100°F if ice blockages prove stubborn. Wrap rags or foam around pipes as extra insulation if needed.
5. Continuous heating will penetrate pipes melting interior ice eventually allowing trapped water to drain followed by restored flow.
6. Avoid excessively heating copper pipes which can soften and deform if overheated. Plastic pipes likewise demand lower heat levels.
7. Once water emerges, carefully adjust fixtures to run slowly avoiding immediate full pressure. Check for cracks or new leaks.
8. Consider pipe insulation upgrades, heated tape, or thermostat adjustments to prevent repeat freezing threats moving forward.

Instead of crossing your fingers and waiting hours for frozen pipes to maybe unthaw on their own, take control using a heat gun to rapidly restore flowing water again in 10 to 20 minutes avoiding disastrous pipe bursts.

5. Drying Wet Shoes

If your shoes get soaked either out in the rain or falling into water hazards, break out your heat gun to rapidly dry them instead of stuffing crumped up paper inside or wearing damp footwear.

Overview

• Wet shoes left as-is can take over 24 hours to fully air dry allowing mold risks.
• Trapped moisture degrades shoes over time through curling, cracking, and coming apart prematurely.
• Heat guns can safely dry most shoe materials without direct contact avoiding damage.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun – temperatures starting around 300°F to 500°F max
• Old towels or cardboard
• Thin wooden sticks or spoons
• Oven mitts & eye protection

Safety First

• Check shoe tags for material contents including glues before applying heat
• Keep heat gun 6+ inches away slowly moving across entire surface
• Cease heating immediately if smells or smoke occur
• Avoid excess heat on logos, bindings, or decorations

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Remove shoe laces and removable inserts if possible. Stuff interior cavities with towels or cardboard allowing airflow.
2. Position shoes over a vent, near a fan, or outside for maximum ventilation. Direct heat gun path accordingly.
3. Dial heat gun temperatures to 300°F for canvas or mesh shoes. Use 500°F max for leather, rubber, synthetic blends moving up and down continually.
4. Work systematically around entire shoe exterior moving heat stream side to side until drying, then rotate to hit unseen spots.
5. Pause heating every few minutes. Use sticks inserted into tongues or sides to check interior dryness, then resume heating damp zones accordingly.
6. Focus extra heat on rubber trims, seams, or padded zones where moisture easily hides.
7. Allow shoes to fully cool off after visually confirming both inner and outer sections appear/feel dry throughout.
8. Consider water protection spray applications after drying to boost weatherproofing for chronic wetness issues.

With some care and observation, heat guns can safely rescue wet shoes overnight that might otherwise stay damp for days exposing them to mold damage.

6. Shaping and Bending PVC Pipe

While PVC pipe starts out straight, sometimes your particular project demands custom angles, curves, or formed connections requiring careful shaping. Heat guns offer an easy way to selectively soften areas of PVC pipe for bending and sculpting as needed without damage.

Overview

• PVC pipe offers durability at low cost but primarily remains used for straight runs of drainage, water lines, electrical conduit, ventilation, and structural builds.
• Sawed, drilled, or fitted PVC pipe connections often leak over time loosening up.
• By warming specific pipe sections, you can twist and sculpt contact points for increased integrity or form smooth bends.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun – 1000+ degrees modes work best
• Heavy work gloves
• Eye protection like goggles/face shield
• Lubricant spray such as silicone or soapy water
• Jigs or molds for shaping support
• Sandpaper

Safety First

• Work only in well-ventilated areas
• Avoid inhaling PVC vapors
• Prevent contact with hot pipe sections
• Secure pipe during bending to prevent cracks
• Allow proper cooling before handling bent pipes

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Sketch your planned pipe route with measurements marking where bends or contacts occur.
2. Lightly sand target pipe connection points and bend zones to improve adhesion and heating transmission.
3. Suit up fully covering arms and face before powering heat gun to 1100°F+ settings.
4. Starting 6 inches back from contact points or center of your bend area, slowly sweep heat gun concentrating directly on the top hemisphere rotating pipe gradually. Apply lubricant occasionally to prevent overheating damage.
5. Once pipe droops substantially signaling desired softness, quickly move pipe into jigs supporting your intended bends and connection angles before rehardening occurs. Alternatively bend by hand against fixed objects using gloves & allowing extra cool down time.
6. Briefly reheat bent sections to maximize smoothness and weld contacts more firmly together where needed.
7. Cool shaped pipes completely before attempting installation. Consider clamps initially in case relaxation shrinking occurs.

With the incredible malleability heat guns provide for PVC piping combined with molded rigging for support, you can bypass prefab elbows and connectors by instead forming the exact integrated runs required according to your custom project needs.

7. Waxing Skis and Snowboards

While waxing skis and snowboards protects against moisture and helps generate momentum, achieving even application is frequently frustrating. By selectively melting wax into boards and skis using heat guns, you can achieve drip-free professional glaze jobs in a fraction of the time irons require.

Overview

• Wax protects the bottoms of skis and snowboards from surface moisture allowing maximum speed.
• Irons take considerable time to initially melt wax before laborious spreading and dripping.
• Heat guns cover more surface area faster melting wax in seconds for seamless rubbing in.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun – 800°F capability
• Extension cord
• Scrapers and brushes
• Gloves and paper towels
• Non-drip ski wax
• Plexiglass or rubber sheet

Safety First

• Work in ventilated areas avoiding wax vapors
• Prevent wax overheating/flaring up
• Avoid heating too long causing base damage
• Keep flammables away from heat gun nozzle

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Cover work surfaces with protective layers like rubber sheeting secured smooth and wrinkle-free.
2. Arrange chosen ski wax beside bare board/ski bottoms. Connect extension cord to outlet ensuring adequate heat gun range.
3. Power heat gun on highest setting waving across wax starting ~3 inches above briefly until visible melting occurs.
4. Immediately pour or rub melted wax evenly across base using scrapers or towels for efficiency before rehardening making sure to hit the edges.
5. Wait a minute or so allowing penetration then pass heat gun over surfaces again concentrating extra time on edges and tip/tail sections allowing pooled wax absorption.
6. Smooth away excess wax thoroughly once the base feels only slightly warm to the touch rather than melted hot.
7. Use plastic scrapers followed by stiff brushes once mostly cooled to reveal glistening smooth finishes.
8. Repeat wax removal steps as needed to eliminate streaking or uneven buildup before storage.

With the expanded area coverage and precise heat control heat guns provide, you can melt and apply ski/snowboard wax faster than irons reducing messy handling by instead effortlessly pouring instant liquid coverage.

8. Drying Paint

When applying coats of paint to walls, vehicles, or other projects, heat guns can cut down between-coat drying times to under 10 minutes instead of waiting hours or days speeding your workflow dramatically.

Overview

• Multiple paint coats often demand drying periods of 4 to 48 hours wasting immense time.
• Thick coats or cool humid conditions can further prolong drying leading to dripping, dust nibs, and brush stroke impressions from coat to coat.
• Strategic heat application evaporates paint moisture accelerating cross-linking for drastically faster hardening.

Supplies Needed

• Heat gun – 1100°F+ modes preferred
• Work gloves & respiratory mask
• Laser surface thermometer (optional)

Safety First

• Always operate heat guns wearing protective gloves and masks
• Avoid breathing in vapors or sanding dust
• Prevent direct heat contact with paint surfaces
• Confirm surface compatibility and heat thresholds for paint materials
• Keep flammables like solvents far away

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Complete prep work like sanding or cleaning ensuring the surface is ready for paint.
2. Mix components thoroughly and test spray consistency before applying first coat using smooth controlled motions side-to-side.
3. Allow just 2 to 5 minutes before moving heat gun nozzle in sweeping motions roughly 8 to 12 inches over surfaces concentrating on thicker coat zones.
4. Check layer hardness between passes once gently warm to touch. Repeat another minute of heat if softness remains.
5. Flip over larger pieces after 2 minutes of top surface heating to lightly warm undersides preventing sagging.
6. Flip back once underside feels slightly warm to the touch concentrating heat blasts across the top layer again.
7. Lightly scuff sand then wipe down fully dried first coat removing any dust nibs, debris, or imperfections revealed.
8. Mix and spray the next coating layer within 5 minutes while the surface remains warm increasing adhesion.
9. Repeat abbreviated heat drying process between all subsequent layers until achieving your desired coat thickness.
10. Give final coat extra heat duration for maximum toughness and sheen.

With practice determining optimal heat distances and drying times, you can apply multiple coats of paint daily rather than waiting overnight or longer between progressive layers.

Conclusion

We covered heat guns’ surprising abilities across a diverse range of situations from removing troublesome adhesives and accelerating paint drying to bending pipes and restoring frost-covered freezers. While often relegated to strictly stripping paint or joining plastics, heat guns prove incredibly versatile for tackling an impressive variety of both common and unexpected challenges.

Despite most homeowners and hobbyists already owning heat guns, few realizes their extensive capabilities beyond removing paint or basic construction usage. Hopefully exploring this collection of 8 surprising uses provided fresh ideas and new skills allowing you to unlock far greater value from your trust heat gun helping tackle projects of all kinds faster, easier, and with higher quality end results.

As you discover more handy uses for heat guns not included here through your own ingenuity, consider sharing them online with others who can similarly benefit expanding these tools perceived scope even farther. With modern high-powered models providing pinpoint heat levels ranging from just above room temperatures upwards of 1100°F, heat guns can assist in accomplishing almost any task or process demanding rapid introduction of controlled heat.