Information / Reviews of heat guns

[gregpullman]

This thread is for the posting of basic information/reviews of heat guns for coffee roasting and is intended to be used as a starting point for those looking at acquiring a new heat gun.

For ease of reading posts should be made using the following format:

Heat Gun Name / Model Number:
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand):
Place of purchase:
Length of warranty:
Power Consumption:
Fan Speeds:
Heat Range (if applicable):
Length of service (how long have you been using, how long did it last?):
Notes:
Photo (if available):

This thread is not for any discussion, only informational posts in the above format. Any posts made not of this type will be deleted.

Unless you have some additional information about a heat gun that has already been covered please do not make an additional post.

Please use the regular forum for any discussion or questions.

For further information on a particular heat gun, use the search button at the top of the page, or alternatively use your favorite search engine and add the string site:coffeesnobs.com.au to limit the returns to only this site.

Greg "Shameless copy of JavaPhiles review posts"

[JavaB]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number: Ryobi 2 heat EHG 2002

Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand): new $40 approximately

Place of purchase: Bunnings

Length of warranty: 2 years

Power Consumption: 2000 watts

Fan Speeds: 1 fixed speed.

Heat Range (if applicable):two settings 600 deg and 60 deg

Length of service (how long have you been using, how long did it last?): The gun has been used for 3 months now (quite regularly) typical on time 15-20 minutes without a problem.

Notes:

This appears to be a well built unit compared to the others I inspected. It is really only a single heat setting gun (the 60 degree setting is of no use for roasting). To adjust heat output, varying the height is the only option with a standard version of this gun.

I have modified mine to take an external triac controller to vary heat output with the Corretto and this works well.

Without modification, I would not recommend this unit for use with the Corretto - the variable heat output version (twice the price) would be a better option.

The 60 degree setting can be used to reduce heat output at the end of the roast to cool off the gun.

[rowdee]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number: Black & Decker CD701

Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand): new under $40

Power Consumption: 1800W

Fan Speeds: I/II

Heat Range (if applicable): 300/500

Notes:

Weighs 650g, purchased June 2006.

Bought it because I didnt want to spend too much money while experimenting with roasting.

Others with variable settings, more output, etc were much more expensive.

Been very pleased with it so far and if I get 12 months out it would be extremely happy.

[Presso]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number: GMC PLATINUM HG 2000K
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand): New $65
Power Consumption: 2000W
Fan Speeds: Super, Ultra, Ultra Maxi
Heat Range (if applicable): 50- 650 fully variable
Notes: With the 14 day first up failure warranty and the 2 year replacment guarantee this baby rocks Refer to NB below..... Mal.
Photo (if available): No Photo, saliva ruins the keyboard

NB: Change to Warranty Conditions as of 27/12/2007.....
GMC have changed their warranty system so you can no longer take it back to the place of purchase, and swap it. Now you have to lodge your purchase with GMC then call them to lodge a complaint. They will then send someone out within 2 weeks to check the product and then if they decide its faulty they will swap it for a new one.

Thank you to Sarg and JavaB

[Dimal]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number:..... Aldi Power-Craft - Model #WYH-HAGIV
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand):.... New at $15 while on Special
Place of purchase:..... Aldi
Length of warranty: ..... 2-Year Replacement Warranty
Power Consumption:... Two settings - High 2200W, Low 1350W
Fan Speeds:.... Two Settings - High 650 L/Min, Low 300 L/Min
Heat Range (if applicable):.... High 600 C, Low 300 C
Length of service (how long have you been using, how long did it last?):.... About 3 Months
Notes:.... Does NOT have a Cool-down setting. Have completed about 20 roasts so far without problems.
Photo (if available):.... Coming soon.

Mal.
N.B.
Died today after completing 31 Roasts .... R.I.P. 17/04/2007.

[Viviane]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number:  Ozito HGG-911K
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand):   $29.95 new
Place of purchase: Bunnings
Length of warranty: 3 years
Power Consumption: 2000W
Fan Speeds: I/II
Heat Range (if applicable): 300/500 degrees C
Length of service (how long have you been using?): Purchased over 3 months ago, still going strong.
Notes: I use this to roast 3 or 4 batches every 7 to 10 days. Needs a 10 minute break to cool down after the 3rd batch, but I need break and a coffee myself by then anyway.
Photo (if available):

[CoffeeChaser]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number: Makita HG1100
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand): $139
Place of purchase: Tool Specialists
Length of warranty: 12 months
Power Consumption: 250 - 2000 Watts
Fan Speeds: 2 (250/500 Litres/minute)
Heat Range (if applicable): 100 - 600 degrees celcius
Length of service (how long have you been using, how long did it last?): I have had it for 2 years but only just started using it for roasting.
Notes: Has a thermocouple so you can adjust the heat range. This is a industrial quality tool which is why it is so expensive. I bought it for other purposes initially and couldnt justify buying another one for roasting. Doesnt require a cool down cycle.

[JasonD]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number: Makita HL500 (made in Germany)
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand):   had it for years, got it second hand, dont know if still available
Place of purchase: nice neighbour gave it to me!
Length of warranty: dont know, assume 12 months
Power Consumption: 1500W
Fan Speeds: 1 & 2
Heat Range (if applicable): 350 on low speed and 540 degrees C on high
Length of service (how long have you been using, how long did it last?): done about 20 roasts, still purring along nicely.
Notes: I have found that to control the temp on the beans, it is easier, gradual more accurate to raise/lower the gun rather than use high/low switch.
Photo (if available): attached
Jas.

[JasonD]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

and closer crop of the gun

[mbg963]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number: GMC   PLATINUM HG 2000K
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand): New $65
Power Consumption: 2000W
Fan Speeds: Super, Ultra, Ultra Maxi
Heat Range (if applicable): 50- 650 fully variable
Notes: With the 14 day first up failure warranty and the 2 year replacment guarantee this baby rocks
Photo (if available): No Photo, saliva ruins the keyboard

Here is a photo to add to Pressos review above.

Note 1: This heatgun has a thermal cutout that takes 30 min to reset if overheated. This can be a pain in the butt if it switches off mid-roast so be sure to have plently of cooling flow around the body.
Note 2: The temperature controller inside the body is a simple thin plastic spigot driving a variable resistor. Avoid overuse and use at high heatgun body temps as it breaks easily!

[robusto]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

JasonD, I see youve re-employed the home brewing bottling machine into a lowly stand for the heat gun. At least its being used (unlike mine)....

--Robusto

[bolb]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number:..... Bosch - Model #PHG 630 DCE
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand):.... New , no idea of price as it was a christmas present
Place of purchase:..... no idea
Length of warranty: ..... 2-Year Replacement Warranty (still waiting on receipt from my brother)
Power Consumption:... 2000W
Fan Speeds:.... 3 settings - High 500 L/Min, Med 300 L/Min, Low 150 L/Min
Heat Range (if applicable):.... Fully variable to 630 C, low speed 50 C, med & high 50 - 630 C
Length of service (how long have you been using, how long did it last?):.... Nearly 1 month (started boxing day) and still going strong!
Notes:.... Great gun, Fan stays on high and i start roast at 630 C and when 1st crack starts i drop it to 550 C and then let the beans coast from there.
It has + and - buttons at the rear for setting temp as you use it, element cannot be seen which gives very even roast, the last gun i had, had an open end so you could see the glow on the beans and this seemed to result in some beans with scorch marks and a more uneven roast.
Have completed about 10 roasts (450-500g each) so far without problems.
Also note the sophisticated shoelace helping to keep the gun in position on my bottle capper!!

[Toad]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number:  Ozito HGG-911K
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand):   $35.00 (approx) new
Place of purchase: Bunnings
Length of warranty: 3 years
Power Consumption: 2000W
Fan Speeds: I/II  
Heat Range (if applicable): 300/500 degrees C
Length of service (how long have you been using?): One month.
Notes:

I bought this gun becuase it was cheap & has the 3 year warranty.

I noticed a lot of chaff being sucked into the gun when roasting, so I cut up a length of stocking & placed this over the air inlet - now I just have a paintbrush handy to occassionally brush the chaff off the stocking.

Low heat setting appears to be too cool.

I now just use the high setting, and adjust the height of the gun and/or the position of the desk fan to get the right heating.

Photo (if available):  

[wrstikoff]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Heat Gun Name / Model Number: XU1 / XHG-501
Price Range (specify new or 2ndhand): $15
Place of purchase: Bunnings
Length of warranty: 12 months
Power Consumption: 1800W
Fan Speeds: 2 (380 & 650 L/min)
Heat Range (if applicable): 300 & 600
Length of service : This 0ne 10 roasts, previous one - lost count but I heavily modified it in an attempt to get more air through it, it still works (read heats up).
Notes: I also have a spare one.
Photo (if available):

[Dimal]

Re: Information / Reviews of heat guns

Off topic replies have been moved to [link=http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1176799309/0]This Thread[/link]

Please keep this thread for its intended purpose, i.e. detailed reviews of specific Heat Guns in the same vein as has already been done,

Thanks,
Mal.