9
My cheap hot air gun melted its own handle last night
I was working on a stubborn HDMI port replacement for a PS5 board, maybe my third one this week. The gun was a no-name brand I picked up for $40 from an online marketplace about six months ago. I had it set to 380C, which is normal for this job, and was maybe five minutes into heating when I smelled burning plastic. Looked down and the plastic housing around the grip had actually started to sag and bubble. I had to shut it off fast and let it cool for an hour before I could even touch it to finish the job with my backup iron. It wasn't just a nuisance, it's a real safety hazard I didn't see coming. Has anyone else had a tool fail in a dangerous way like this, and what brand did you switch to that actually holds up?
4 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In4 Comments
cole_baker23d ago
That Weller switch @lewis.terry made is the only smart move.
3
lewis.terry23d ago
My old soldering station once tried to set my workbench on fire, so you're not alone. It was a real wake-up call about trusting cheap gear with high heat. I ended up switching to a Weller, and the difference in build quality is night and day. You get what you pay for, right?
2