A word of caution about heat guns. Several months ago I was using one to rapidly dry up a leak in my bathroom (I know, a pretty stupid use of the tool). Unknown to me there was a chip of wood under the edge of the bathtub. It started burning and not knowing what the wood was or how much there was, I called the Fire Department. Embarassing to say the least, especially since I had been a fireman at one time (in the same department no less). No big deal as it burnt out pretty quickly but I had seen cases where home owners had tried to handle these things and they got out of hand.
dknelsonA hot curl of partly melted latex paint on the back of your hand is a shocker.
These are very true words. I learned this one the hard way a couple of weeks ago. Hot latex paint seemed even hotter than hot glue.
The only thing I have used a heat gun on a layout for was Woodland Scenics EZ Water... what a great idea that did not work at all.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I think I've seen real examples of all of those, PC. I use the soldering iron.
Either way, takes some practice. Get out those old Tyco and LifeLike cars and give it a try.
Mike.
My You Tube
kasskaboose Never used a heat gun but I wonder if it would work to slightly warp the plastic on a gon car to make it look more used? My soldering iron won't do that. Seeing bends, nicks, scratches on cars does give it a realistic look.
Never used a heat gun but I wonder if it would work to slightly warp the plastic on a gon car to make it look more used? My soldering iron won't do that.
Seeing bends, nicks, scratches on cars does give it a realistic look.
Heat gun vs Flat tip Soldering iron/pencil.
Heat gun.
Heat gun,
Soldering iron/pencil.
I need to get a better camara for the up close photos.
BigDaddy PC101 The heat gun, with proper ventilation, takes the flatness out of Blue Board foam land surface. I think you mean texture????
PC101 The heat gun, with proper ventilation, takes the flatness out of Blue Board foam land surface.
I think you mean texture????
Maybe so.
Hair dryer works much better
Ed
Semi newbie HO scale modeler coming from the O scale world
There are heat guns and then there are heat guns. The ones that strip off paint are powerful weapons (and a hot curl of partly melted latex paint on the back of your hand is a shocker).
The folks in the stamping hobby have their own lower power heat guns. But I suspect even those could melt styrene plastic.
Dave Nelson
doctorwayne I can't imagine being so impatient (or with nothing else to do while the paint dries) that I would even bother with that process.
I can't imagine being so impatient (or with nothing else to do while the paint dries) that I would even bother with that process.
I agree. On our layouts there are many things to do while the paint drys. But in all fairness the guy was making a video and he wanted to move on to the next step.
Rick
hbgatsf I was watching some videos on painting/staining hydrocal rocks. In one of them a heat gun was used to dry the paint quickly to move on to the next step. I had never thought of doing that. Has anyone tried it?
I was watching some videos on painting/staining hydrocal rocks. In one of them a heat gun was used to dry the paint quickly to move on to the next step.
I had never thought of doing that. Has anyone tried it?
PC101The heat gun, with proper ventilation, takes the flatness out of Blue Board foam land surface.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Yes. It's adjustable heat range is great and then I have a hair dryer for slower work. Be careful, keep it moving around the area, you can dry the outer layer to quick and the inside can still be wet. Heat gun used 10% of the time and Hair dryer used 90%. Heat gun has a slower blower speed then Hair dryer.
The heat gun, with proper ventilation, takes the flatness out of Blue Board foam land surface.
Right Henry, I tried to flatten out a warped flat car deck, thought it was working fine, than, in an instant the deck shriveled into a melted mess.
You can scorch stuff with a heat guy, if you are impatient. I wouldn't know anyone like that I stick to an old hair drier.
Lots of times, and situations, including working on the layout.