Glue & Heat Guns

Heat guns and glue guns at MTN Shop UK

Two of the most useful tools in any workshop or toolkit sit in this collection: the heat gun, which delivers a controlled stream of hot air for stripping, shrinking, softening and welding, and the glue gun, which melts adhesive sticks for fast, strong bonding. Both turn awkward manual jobs into quick ones - lifting old paint that a scraper alone cannot shift, shrinking cable insulation neatly, or bonding materials in seconds without clamps or curing time. This collection brings together corded and cordless heat guns from compact to industrial, and glue guns from craft to heavy-duty, across the leading brands.

What a heat gun does

A heat gun blows hot air, typically from around 50°C up to 600°C or more depending on the model and setting, through a nozzle onto the work. That controlled heat has a huge range of uses:

• Stripping paint and varnish: heat softens old paint so it lifts away with a scraper - the classic use, and a job the Metabo LF 850 S paint remover is purpose-built for.
• Shrinking: heat-shrink tubing over electrical joints, and shrink wrap over packaging and boat or trailer covers.
• Softening and removing: old adhesive, vinyl flooring, stickers, laminate edging and bath sealant.
• Bending and welding plastic: forming plastic pipe and sheet, and plastic welding repairs.
• Freeing seized parts: heat expands rusted nuts, bolts and fittings to break them loose.
• Thawing and drying: thawing frozen pipes (with care) and drying damp areas.
• Vehicle wrapping: car wrappers use heat guns to mould vinyl to bodywork - the Steinel HG2120E car wrapper kit is an example.

Choosing a heat gun

• Temperature control: basic guns run a single temperature; dual-temperature guns offer a low and high setting; variable and LCD guns (like the DeWalt D26414 LCD and Steinel HG2320E LCD) let you dial in a precise temperature, which matters for delicate work and specific materials.
• Airflow stages: two-stage and three-stage airflow (as on the Steinel HL2020E) lets you match the air volume to the job - gentle for shrink wrap, strong for fast stripping.
• Grip type: pistol-grip guns suit general handheld work; barrel-grip industrial guns (Steinel HG2420E) balance well for prolonged and overhead use.
• Corded or cordless: mains guns give unlimited power for heavy stripping and industrial use; cordless 18V guns - the DeWalt DCE530N, Makita DHG181, Einhell TE-HA and Bosch GHG 18V-50 - go anywhere without a lead, ideal for electricians and quick jobs on the platform you already own.
• Wattage: higher wattage generally means faster heat and stronger airflow; 2000W and up suits heavy stripping, while lower-wattage and compact hot air tools suit electronics and detail.
• Nozzles and accessories: reflector, reduction, spreader and glass-protection nozzles focus or shape the airflow for specific tasks.

What a glue gun does

A glue gun melts solid adhesive sticks and dispenses hot melt glue that bonds in seconds as it cools. It is fast, needs no mixing or clamping, and grips a wide range of materials - wood, card, fabric, plastics, ceramics and more. Glue guns range from small craft tools to heavy industrial units:

• Glue stick size: guns take a specific stick diameter - commonly 7mm for small craft and detail guns and 12mm for general and heavy-duty guns. Match the sticks to the gun.
• Temperature: high-temperature guns give the strongest bond on tough materials; low-temperature guns suit delicate or heat-sensitive materials; dual-temperature guns (like the Arrow Dual Temp) do both.
• Corded or cordless: mains guns run continuously for production work; cordless guns (Tacwise H4-7, Rapid BGX7, Einhell TE-CG) remove the lead for freedom and quick jobs.
• Craft versus industrial: compact guns suit crafts, hobbies and light DIY; higher-wattage industrial guns (the Rapid EG range) melt glue faster and dispense more for continuous packaging, assembly and trade use, with point applicators for precise dots.

Applications and users

• Decorators and renovators: heat guns for stripping paint and varnish, and softening old sealant and flooring adhesive.
• Electricians: heat guns for heat-shrink tubing over connections; cordless models for working on site.
• Joiners, upholsterers and makers: glue guns for fast bonding in assembly, trim and craft work.
• Packaging and production: industrial glue guns for sealing, fixing and assembly lines.
• Vehicle wrappers and signmakers: heat guns for moulding vinyl and applying graphics.
• DIY users: a heat gun and glue gun cover a huge range of home repair, craft and maintenance jobs.

Safety - heat guns

• Extreme heat: heat guns reach temperatures that cause instant serious burns and can start fires. The nozzle and air stay dangerously hot for some time after switching off - rest the gun on its stand and let it cool fully before storing.
• Fire risk: never use near flammable materials, gases or liquids, and take great care in roof spaces, around eaves and near insulation, where trapped heat can smoulder and ignite hours later.
• Old paint fumes: paint from before the 1970s to 1980s may contain lead - heating it releases toxic fumes. Check before stripping old paint, follow HSE guidance, avoid overheating, and use suitable respiratory protection and ventilation.
• Ventilate: stripping and plastic work give off fumes - work in a well-ventilated area and wear appropriate respiratory protection.
• Never use as a hair dryer or point it at people or animals - the temperatures are far higher than domestic appliances.
• Eye and hand protection: wear suitable eye protection and heat-resistant gloves, and keep the airflow away from yourself.

Safety - glue guns

• Molten glue burns: hot melt glue is applied very hot and sticks to skin instantly, causing burns - never touch the melted glue or the nozzle, and keep fingers clear of where the glue emerges.
• Hot nozzle and drips: the nozzle stays hot in use and glue can drip - work over a protected surface and use the gun's stand.
• Cool before storing: let the gun cool fully before putting it away, and unplug corded guns when not in use.

Related categories

For paint stripping alongside sprayers and steam strippers, see our powered decorating tools range, and for paints, strippers and finishes see paint and decorating. For batteries and chargers to run cordless heat and glue guns, see our batteries and chargers for cordless tools range. Browse by brand at Steinel, Rapid, DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, Metabo, Einhell, Arrow and Tacwise.

For trade orders, industrial glue gun supply, or advice on choosing the right heat gun for a job, request a quote and our team will get back to you with availability.