Paint stripping
Virtually all oil and solvent-based paints and varnishes can be stripped cleanly from wood using hot air (500 – 630°C). Attaching the surface nozzle makes work easier on large areas, use of a window nozzle deflects the hot air on heat-sensitive materials. |
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Shrinking cable sleeves
In electrical engineering and electronics, cable ends, cable harnesses, soldered joints or terminal blocks are often protected by a plastic sheath. This done by sliding a heat-shrinkable sleeve of the appropriate diameter over the connection concerned and then shrinking it on using hot air (approx. 250 – 300 °C) and a reflector nozzle. |
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Soldering
Hot air is suitable for soft soldering. The cleaned soldering point is heated at full power (630 °C). The solder must not be melted by the hot air but by the temperature of the workpiece. Spot-soldering should be performed with reduction nozzles, pipe soldering with reflector nozzles. |
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Desoldering
Hot air can be used to undo soldered joints, e.g. in copper pipes, at 600 °C. The soldered joint can be heated with pinpoint accuracy by attaching a reflector nozzle. This also goes for electronic components on damaged circuit boards. These can be desoldered with hot air and a reduction nozzle at approx. 400 °C and pulled off using special pliers once the solder melts. |
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Shaping
Hot air can be used for shaping plastic tiles, pipe and rod without leaving burn marks. Floor tiles are heated at the relevant part over a surface nozzle (hot air approx. 200°C). Pipe and rod can be shaped or bent by evenly heating all the way round using a reflector nozzle
(approx. 250 – 500 °C). |
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Welding plastic
To weld plastic, the appropriate welding rod must be selected for each material (rigid PVC, plasticised PVC, soft PE, hard PE, PP, ABS). The welding rod is offered up to the heated seam (approx. 250 – 400 °C) via welding shoe (welding cord) or welding nozzle (welding rod). |
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Overlap welding
Plastic tarpaulins and coated textiles can be reliably welded using hot air. This is done by applying the hot air (approx. 300 – 400 °C) through a wide slit nozzle.
The material turns soft within a matter of seconds and is firmly pressed together with a feed roller. |
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Repairing sports equipment
Cracks or fractures, e.g. in surfboards, plastic boats, etc. are repaired quickly and reliably with hot air. Where long cracks are involved, the damaged area should be filled with welding rod of the appropriate material. |
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Hot-tool weldingn
Hot-tool welding can be used to butt-weld two identical workpieces (pipes, rods, sheet strips). At a hot air temperature of approx. 300 °C the workpieces are run across the tool, applying slight pressure from both sides. The non-stick coating ensures that parts do not
stick. |
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Fit adjustment
Hot air can be used to give plastic-shell type function shoes (e.g. inline skate boots) an ergonomic fit. Use of the surface nozzle at a mid-range temperature (about 200 – 400 °C) is appropriate in most cases. Inlays can also be made to fit by proceeding in a similar way. |
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