The word ‘heat gun’ is something that you may have heard of when venturing into the world of candle making. Whether you are new to candle making or have been enjoying this craft for a while, the importance of a heat gun is something you are probably already familiar with.
A heat gun is used for many different things in the crafting world and the candle industry has adopted this tool in a variety of unique jobs.
Lots of veteran candle makers will tell you a long list of the merits of using a heat gun and the ways it can help you in candle making.
Controlling temperatures with accuracy and precision is one of the most important things in the process of shaping and making your candles. A heat gun is one of the tools that can help you with this task and allow you to control the temperature of the wax as per your need.
So what are the best heat guns that you can use in candle making? The best heat guns should help you control the temperatures of your wax with multiple temperature settings. A moderate fan speed, for surface area coverage, is ideal. Safety features are also a good idea.
In this guide, we’ll go through the 5 best heat guns on the market.
Many heat guns on the market will enable you to do a variety of different tasks all at very economical prices. We’ll talk about what you should be looking for when buying a heat gun and how you can make any heat gun work for all of your candle-making needs.
Uses of Heat Guns in Candle Making
If you’re new to the world of candle making, you may be wondering what uses a heat gun has. While it is not something that you need, a heat gun is something that will make your candle-making experience a whole lot easier and the result will be great.
Below are some common uses for heat guns in your candle making process:
Preparing Containers
When you’re pouring candles, the difference between the temperatures of the container and the mixture is a very important factor.
If your container is colder than the mixture, shrinkage and wet spots can happen that can lead to your candle moving around.
Using a heat gun can help you manage the temperature of your containers. Prep you container by heating them up and pour your candle in. This will help you curb the shrinkage and any wet spots. You will not be able to control the ambient air temperature, but a heat gun can make a good difference.
Fixing Imperfections
If you have been making candles for a while, you will know that slight imperfections can happen no matter how careful you are. Your top may not come out smooth or air bubbles may form beneath the surface.
Heat guns can help you apply even heat that will allow you to fix any imperfections that may come up. You can make melt the wax to get an even top and fix any mistakes you may have made when placing your wicks.
Cleaning Supplies
Before you can pour your candles, you have to melt the wax and use a few utensils to mix in your scents and colors, all of which retain a certain amount of wax. This wax then hardens and the cleaning process can be frustrating.
Heat guns can help you melt this residual wax on your tools which you can then clean up with paper towels.
Apart from cleaning your supplies, you can also clean out candle jars that have burnt out. The wax left at the bottom can be heated with a heat gun and reused.
Buyer’s Guide to Heat Guns For Candle Making
When you venture out in the market looking for a heat gun, you may get overwhelmed by the number of available options. You need to be able to understand exactly what your needs are and how different heat guns can help you.
Heat guns are available in the market in four different types:
Electric heat guns can be corded and cordless; they are the most popular ones in the market. Gas heat guns use butane or propane in place of a heated element and tend to be more on the expensive side.
Industrial heat guns are more geared towards bigger projects, while infrared guns are the cheapest heat guns you can find in the market and will not go up very high in terms of temperature.
You will probably want to opt for an electric heat gun thanks to the sheer number of quality models, their suitability for this kind of project, and the fact that many can offer a broad range of temperatures.
Here are the key things you should be looking for when in the market for heat guns that you can use while candle making:
Temperature Range
The range of temperature that your heat gun has will determine the type of work you will be able to do with it. Heavier jobs require a lot of range from the heat gun but for candle making, you don’t need anything above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you’re in the market, you should be looking at heat guns that offer you a range of temperatures from 120 degrees Fahrenheit to anything close to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. This will provide a versatile range for you to use as you please when making candles.
Temperature Control
There are many basic heat guns in the market that set themselves on one temperature and the only way you can control the heat is by moving it forward and backward. This is something that does not provide you a lot of control over the amount of heat you are applying.
For candle making, you should be looking for a heat gun that allows you to control the temperature more easily and has fan controls so you can ensure you are only applying the amount of heat that you need.
Fan Speed
The fan speed of a heat gun determines how much surface area the heat will be applied to at a time.
You don’t need a powerful fan speed for candle making as you don’t need to cover a lot of surface area. Opt for a heat gun that helps you distribute heat easily but does not cover too much surface area so no heat is wasted.
Safety Options
Safety options are important to take note of when buying heat guns – especially when we’re talking about models which can reach up to temperatures like 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many options in the market have thermal cut-out switches that turn the gun off if the heat gun gets overheated. Surface stands also come with many guns as well that save your surfaces from getting any residual burns from the heat.
5 Best Heat Guns for Candle Making
We’ve seen what makes heat guns great for candle making and what you should be looking for when in the market. Here are our top recommendations:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chandler Heat Gun | Dual temperature, UL certified |
| 2. | Homidic Mini Hot Air Gun | Quick heating, 6.5" cord |
| 3. | Genesis Dual-Temperature Heat Gun | Dual temperature, 4 nozzle types |
| 4. | Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun | Dual temperature, up to 1000F |
| 5. | ZeopoCase Mini Heat Gun | Lightweight, portable |
Now, let’s take a closer look at the 5 best heat guns that you can buy for your candle-making adventures.
1. Chandler Heat Gun
One of the best sellers on Amazon, this heat gun is great for candle making. It is a handy size meaning you can store it easily and handling it will be very stress-free too.
The Chandler heat gun is UL-certified which means that you will be using a very safe heat gun. The design of this heat gun means it is easy to use and is very lightweight.
It is available in two colors and does not make a ton of noise when being used. Chandler heat guns are some of the most trusted heat guns on the market and we can assure you, you won’t be disappointed if you get this one.
2. Homidic Mini Handheld Hot Air Gun
This heat gun comes with a long cord that allows you to work wherever you please without having to worry about where your outlet is.
It is a compact heat gun that is easy to handle meaning you will have precision in where the heat goes. The tip warms up to quite a high degree in just a few seconds, making it a highly time-efficient heat gun.
The inside of the gun is stainless steel and the outside is plastic providing a safety element. The quality of all the elements used in this gun is high. It is quite durable.
3. Genesis Dual-Temperature Heat Gun
If you’re looking for a heat gun that provides some kind of versatility with its temperature, then this is the one for you. You can adjust the heat settings with this heat gun which has a powerful 12.5 amp motor running it.
Apart from the range of temperature between high and low, the deflector nozzle at the end of this heat gun protects glass surfaces very well. So you can use it easily on any glass candle jars you may be using.
The heat gun comes with 2 deflector nozzles, 1 reflector nozzle, and 1 air reduction nozzle, giving you a lot of options in terms of its use.
4. Wagner Spraytech Heat Gun
This heat gun is a great one if you want to buy something that will not only help you with candle making but other crafts as well.
It offers a broad temperature range which offer you a lot of choice as the heat gun can go as low as 750F and as high as 1000F.
The two fan speeds also allow you to control the amount of heat you are using for melting your candle top or sides.
The nozzle is corrosion resistant and the heat gun comes with a hanging hook which means you easily store it on a peg on the wall or your workstation.
5. ZeopoCase Mini Heat Gun
Last on the list is this mini heat gun which is great for beginner and novice candle makers alike.
It is made from highly durable materials and is extremely lightweight. The stainless steel internal structure ensures that you have good heat dissipation from the heat gun.
The chord is also long on this mini heat gun which means you are not bound to sitting near an outlet.
Conclusion
Candle making is one of the relaxing things you can do. Not only is it a fun craft but it also can add to the aesthetic of your home when you display your hand-poured candles.
Whether you are getting into candle making for the first or have been pouring your candles for a while, the uses of heat guns are something you must have heard of.
Heat guns can help you get smoother tops and fix any air bubbles that may come up in your candles. Shrinkages and wet spots are also something that can happen when there is a temperature difference between the jar and the mixture which you can easily overturn by using a heat gun to prep your containers.
We hope this guide helps you in seeing what heat guns can do for you in your candle-making journey and the buyers’ guide helps you understand what you should be looking for.
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