47runner Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 I'm looking to create larger work and could use some suggestions about aheat gun. I'm using Standard Ceramics 182 stoneware. Not interested in a propane torch. Any suggestions about the value of a heat gun over a hair dryer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnolia Mud Research Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 The heat gun costs more, is heavier, and can ignite paper and cloth and will melt plastic bats and spash pans; the hair dryer does not have those qualities. I have both and prefer the hair dryer because it is lighter and I don't have to worry about where I place it when I am not holding it. LT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 The heat gun costs more, is heavier, and can ignite paper and cloth and will melt plastic bats and spash pans; the hair dryer does not have those qualities. I have both and prefer the hair dryer because it is lighter and I don't have to worry about where I place it when I am not holding it. LT I agree with above-I have both to.Both have their place but LT summed it up well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Hair Dryer FTW. Used it many times on larger pots with shoulders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47runner Posted April 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Thanks for the input, I certainly don't want to melt my bats and splash pan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRankin Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 A hair dryer is sufficient. Just make sure it has push buttons and not a slide switch. I bought a cheap one with a sliding switch and have some difficulty at times pushing it with wet fingers. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47runner Posted April 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 Thanks, Paul. I see your point. I appreciate the input, no use getting a heat gun when a hairdryer will due. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 Heat gun shoots hot air. The hair dryer may be purchased with multiple settings, including no heat for much less. There are times when this would be preferable. When throwing large, if throwing dry, it really does not take much. I leave the wheel running slow in the summer, with open windows. The moving air will help to dry the pot enough that I can make my next pulls and shape in 30 min. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What? Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 The cheap one from Harbor Freight is a good option. It also comes in handy to do stoppers and knobs dries clay pretty quick cut off the hump attach and no smudging or prints. Please take into consideration the cautions mentioned by others. Also if you use a heat gun keep it pointed away from others. It can even melt splash pans when left unattended. Can easily start a fire in no time quick. I have a fan I place to assist in drying when making sectionals. I do use heat gun for very large bowls and shoulders of large bottles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1515art Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 I'm a heat gun user... personal preference, for me the heat is even and controllable. I would only use a torch working with very big pieces (more than 100#) where it would take forever any other way to get the results i need. Same thing with a hair dryer, they are great for smaller pieces and because the heat is much less you probably won't find yourself over drying and losing plasticity. Kind of like the three bears for my use, the heat gun is just right. I can quickly dry small pieces, finials can be thrown and trimmed in minutes. Throwing cylinders I can make useful changes in the wall stiffness in a minute with my heat gun and direct the heat to specific (streatigic) areas in less time than that. They can be dangerous...they are hot, use caution again it's hot and that's kind of the point so use some common sense. I've gotten all my heat guns from sears, the big red one and they run around $50. Last years under heavy studio abuse and blow hot, very hot and cold air. From my experience lesser heat guns have a short life and hair dryers die fast as well, but realisticly weren't designed for shop abuse so you get what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 I have my dad's old heat gun. Haven't melted anything with it. I like it better than a hair dryer. I also use a propane torch. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perkolator Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 I recently purchased the "better" Harbor Freight heat gun and I like it. I needed a new heat gun for studio and I decided on this model solely because it comes with a screw-on base that allows you to use it hands-free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugaboo Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 I use both. The heat gun primarily for speeding up the drying of Underglaze to a paste consistency for silk screening. I also use it for heating up occasional pieces that I need to reglaze to help the glaze stick to the already glazed piece. The blow dryer I use for firming up clay pieces to continue working on them. I also use it at times to make the glaze dry quicker on something, like the inside of a box form which tends to take longer to dry and I get bored waiting to move on to the next step. I did learn to never use either tool to speed up the drying of a silkscreen... now that was an expensive lesson. I had to remake the entire screen. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
47runner Posted April 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 This has been a very helpful discussion on how each option serves a variety of situations. I really appreciate everyone who contributed. Thank you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Longer Member Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 Bought this for the wife and it'll melt the sun: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-750VT-Industrial-Heat-Gun-10035/301090982 Bought this for me and love it: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wagner-Furno-300-Heat-Gun-0503059/206723935 It has a slide switch but is big enough to move even when sloppy. I like it and weights the same as a hair dryer. Her's is heavy but will last forever. Her's is a bit different and costs a lot more than that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preeta Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 47 i am still a student. the heat gun allowed me to go tall and big bellied. i borrowed it from the sculpture dept. (simple, new, very light) honestly if you are careful there is no need for any melting to happen. before the heat gun i tried many different things trying to go taller - different clays, different grogs. but nothing worked till i used the heat gun. no way would i work with a hair dryer myself to make big pieces during the rains. however this is winter rainy season (yes we had rain last week). heat gun worked GREAT!!. i even experimented with throwing a bowl and heat gunning it and then trimming it - all in one sitting. it is so wet here that even after a week under plastic the pot was too wet to trim. dont know how things would dry in summer. under 100+ degrees temp. would the hair dryer be enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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