Last reviewed: May 2026 · MLC editorial team · UK trade workshop perspective
Photo by Orhun Rüzgar ÖZ on Pexels
A £20 DIY heat gun strips paint and that’s about all. Industrial work - heat-shrink tubing on cable assemblies, plastic welding, seized-fastener removal, PVC bending - wants temperature control to within ±10°C, variable airflow, and a duty cycle that survives a full bench shift. This workshop demands tools like the Metabo HPT SH1500EC at £80 or the DeWalt DW-HT200S priced around £130 for reliable performance. These guns offer adjustable heat settings and air flow to cater to different tasks, ensuring durability and efficiency in demanding environments.
How we picked these
- Temperature range: 50-650°C with electronic control. Two-speed-only guns are obsolete for trade.
- Airflow: variable. Plastic welding wants low flow / high temp, paint stripping wants high flow / mid temp.
- Duty cycle: rated for continuous trade use. DIY guns thermally shut down after 30 minutes.
- Display: LCD with set + actual temperature readout. LED-only indicators are inadequate.
- Cool-down: automatic cool-down cycle prevents heating element burn-out (extends life 2-3x).
Reviewed picks
Steinel HG 2620E (LCD)
Price: £180-£240 | Best for: professional plastic welding and trade workshop
The Steinel HG 2620E (LCD) heat gun is a top choice for professional plastic welding and trade workshops in the UK, priced between £180 and £240. It offers precise temperature control down to 1°C and variable airflow settings from 150 to 500 L/min, making it ideal for demanding tasks. However, its hefty weight at full power and higher price point make it less suitable for occasional users.
| Range | 50-650°C |
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| Steps | 1°C |
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| Airflow | 150-500 L/min variable |
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| Display | LCD set + actual |
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| Wattage | 2300W |
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Pros
- 1°C resolution
- Variable airflow
- Genuine trade duty cycle
Cons
- Pricey for occasional use
- Heavy at full power
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Check Steinel HG 2620E (LCD) on Amazon UK →
Bosch GHG 23-66 Professional
Price: £120-£170 | Best for: Bosch trade ecosystem
The Bosch GHG 23-650 Professional heat gun boasts a temperature range of 50 to 650°C with precise 10°C increments and adjustable airflow from 250 to 500 L/min. It features an LCD display and comes with a robust Bosch Pro warranty, ideal for tradespeople in the UK. Priced between £120 and £170, it offers reliable performance but is slightly bulkier than some competitors.
| Range | 50-650°C |
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| Steps | 10°C |
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| Airflow | 250-500 L/min |
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| Display | LCD |
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| Wattage | 2300W |
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Pros
- Bosch Pro warranty
- 10°C resolution
- Variable airflow
Cons
- Larger body than Steinel
- Marginally heavier
Check Bosch GHG 23-66 Professional on Amazon UK →
Makita HG6531CK
Price: £130-£180 | Best for: Makita trade ecosystem
The Makita HG6531CK heat gun is a solid choice for UK tradespeople, offering an 80-600°C temperature range and variable airflow from 200 to 550 L/min at £130-£180. It features an LCD display and includes a carry case. A standout pro is its temp memory function, handy for repeat tasks. However, it struggles slightly with plastic welding due to being under-powered at the lower end of its range.
| Range | 80-600°C |
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| Steps | 10°C |
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| Airflow | 200-550 L/min |
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| Display | LCD |
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| Wattage | 2000W |
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Pros
- Variable airflow + temp memory
- Makita build
- Carry case included
Cons
- 80°C minimum temperature
- Slightly under-powered for plastic welding
Check Makita HG6531CK on Amazon UK →
DeWalt D26411
Price: £100-£140 | Best for: DeWalt site / trade tradesperson
The DeWalt D26411 heat gun is a solid choice for UK tradespeople with its precise 1°C LCD temperature control and robust warranty. Priced between £100 to £140, it offers compact handling but lacks variable airflow settings and packs only 1800W, which might be insufficient for large ground planes.
| Range | 50-600°C |
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| Steps | 1°C (LCD) |
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| Airflow | Fixed |
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| Display | LCD |
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| Wattage | 1800W |
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Pros
- 1°C LCD resolution
- DeWalt warranty
- Compact body
Cons
- No variable airflow
- 1800W under-powered for ground planes
Check DeWalt D26411 on Amazon UK →
Steinel HG 2120E Cordless 18V
Price: £180-£230 | Best for: field service / where mains is unavailable
The Steinel HG 2120E Cordless 18V heat gun offers up to 500°C range with 20°C steps and a fixed airflow, making it ideal for field service where mains power is unavailable. Priced between £180-£230, its cordless freedom is a standout feature, though the battery must be purchased separately. Trade users appreciate its compatibility with major 18V platforms via adapter but note its lower max temperature compared to mains models.
| Range | Up to 500°C |
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| Steps | 20°C |
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| Airflow | Fixed |
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| Display | LED |
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| Power | 18V Li-ion (battery sold separately) |
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Pros
- Cordless freedom
- Compatible with major 18V platforms via adapter
- Trade duty cycle
Cons
- Battery sold separately
- Lower max temperature than mains
Check Steinel HG 2120E Cordless 18V on Amazon UK →
Wagner Furno 750
Price: £40-£60 | Best for: budget hobbyist / occasional use
The Wagner Furno 750 offers a temperature range of 50-600°C with adjustable steps in 10°C increments and airflow from 190 to 380 L/min at two speeds. At £40-£60, it's a budget-friendly option for hobbyists and occasional tradespeople. Its LCD backlit display is handy but the build quality isn't up to Bosch or Steinel standards, limiting its suitability for prolonged use.
| Range | 50-600°C |
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| Steps | 10°C |
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| Airflow | 190-380 L/min |
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| Display | Backlit |
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| Wattage | 1800W |
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Pros
- LCD temp display at £50
- Two-speed airflow
- Adequate for occasional trade
Cons
- Wagner is DIY-tier
- Duty cycle limits continuous use
- Build quality below Steinel / Bosch
Check Wagner Furno 750 on Amazon UK →
Recommendations at a glance
| Best overall (trade) | Steinel HG2620E - 1°C resolution, variable airflow, plastic-welding standard |
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| Best Bosch ecosystem | GHG 23-66 - Bosch Pro trade duty cycle |
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| Best Makita ecosystem | HG6531CK - Makita reliability with airflow control |
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| Best DeWalt ecosystem | D26411 - DeWalt site-tough with 1°C display |
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| Best cordless | Steinel HG 2120E - 18V cordless for field work |
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| Best budget / occasional | Wagner Furno 750 - LCD display at £50 |
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Related reference on MLC
Frequently asked questions
Steinel or Bosch heat gun?
Steinel HG2620E is the plastic-welding trade standard with 1°C resolution and variable airflow. Bosch GHG 23-66 is solid trade kit with 10°C steps. For pure plastic welding / heat-shrink work the Steinel; for general trade duty either is fine.
Do I need variable airflow?
For plastic welding and precision heat-shrink - yes. Plastic welding wants ~50°C below the melt point with low airflow to avoid cooling. Heat-shrink wants high flow at the right temperature. Fixed-flow guns force you to compromise.
What's a 'cool-down cycle' for?
After heavy use, the heating element is white-hot. Switching off immediately means the element cools while the fan stops - uneven cooling shortens element life. A cool-down cycle keeps the fan running at low power for 30-60s after switching off, extending element life 2-3x.
Are cordless heat guns trade-grade?
The Steinel HG 2120E 18V is genuinely trade-grade for field service work - heat-shrink on cable terminations, seized-bolt heating, small plastic welds. For workshop bench work where mains is available, the corded HG2620E is faster (higher max temp, no battery downtime).
What temperature for heat-shrink tubing?
Standard polyolefin heat-shrink shrinks at 120-150°C. Adhesive-lined dual-wall heat-shrink wants 150-200°C. PVDF / Kynar heat-shrink (aerospace, high-temp) wants 220-260°C. Industrial heat guns handle all three; the £20 DIY guns struggle with PVDF.
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