A heat gun has a number of uses, including removing solder, melting plastic or adhering non-conductive materials to uninsulated electrical wire. You can make your own heat gun from a few hardware and hobby shop parts. Built correctly, the do-it-yourself heat gun will function as well as any store-bought model. Get adult supervision when making the DIY heat gun if you are underage.
Instructions
1. Place a sheet of newspaper on a table. Cut two 2-foot lengths of electric wire with the wire cutters. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off both ends of the two electric wires.
2. Solder one end of one of the two electric wires to one end of the brass tube. Let the solder cool for a minute. Solder one end of the other electric wire to one end of the copper tube. Let the solder cool for a minute.
3. Push the end of the brass tube into the copper tube so that the electric wires are both at the same end. Push the silicone tube onto the copper tube from the end that does not have the electric wire attached to it.
4. Wind the end of the steel wire from the steel wire spool around one end of the steel MIG welding wire. Wind the steel wire down the side of the steel MIG welding wire and back up the side an additional 20 times. Cut the steel wire off the steel wire spool. Wrap the end of the steel wire around the steel MIG welding wire.
5. Push the steel MIG welding wire through one end of the tube. Stop pushing when the steel MIG welding wire emerges from the other end of the tube.
6. Solder one of the free ends of the electric wire to one of the two contacts on the power transformer. Solder the free end of the other electric wire to the other contact on the power transformer. Let the solder cool for a minute.
7. Attach the end of the hose of the fish air pump over the end of the tube where the electric wires are attached.
8. Put the glass dish on the newspaper. Light the match. Hold the flame of the match under the hose where it meets the end of the tube. Remove the flame after 10 seconds have passed. Blow out the match. Put the match on the glass dish.
9. Clamp the jaws of the needle-nose pliers around the hose where it meets the tube. Twist the needle-nose pliers to adhere the hose to the tube. Remove the needle-nosed pliers. Clamp a T-valve around the hose just before it meets the end of the tube.
10. Plug the power cords of the fish air pump and the power transformer into the wall socket for power. Hold the DIY heat gun by the hose at the back end.
11. Release the T-valve to send air through the tube where it will be heated by the steel MIG welding wire. Apply the heat from your DIY heat gun to whatever project you want.
Tags: steel welding, steel welding wire, steel wire, welding wire, electric wire