Design and operating principle of a soldering hair dryer: temperature and power

Soldering guns are tools designed for soldering and welding. Hair dryers can be manufactured industrially or domestically; depending on this, they are divided into household and industrial. Household ones can have several operating modes: blowing, air supply mode without heating, etc. An industrial hair dryer has a larger range of modes. Household soldering guns can be purchased on Aliexpress.

The simplest soldering devices are housed in a plastic case, but more advanced models have rubberized handles and metal parts. To make it easier for you to decide on the choice of a soldering hair dryer, we have compiled a rating of the TOP 20 best soldering hair dryers from Aliexpress.

Operating principle of a hot air gun

All devices can be divided into two groups:

• household;
• industrial.

A household hair dryer for soldering plastic is an excellent device with which you can perform many jobs: from installing linoleum to welding PVC.

Some devices are equipped with a temperature controller , which allows you to select the optimal parameters for various materials. The presence of an adjustment mechanism expands the scope of application: you can solder copper pipes with a hairdryer or carry out restoration repairs of microcircuits.

Before work, it is necessary to identify the material of the part, since only polymers from the group of thermoplastics can be heated - after heating they return to their original state without loss of performance characteristics.

The degree of temperature exposure can be adjusted by changing the distance from the nozzle to the surface of the workpiece. This requires certain skills, since if it is removed excessively, the part will not warm up to the required temperature throughout its entire depth, which will negatively affect the parameters of the seam. For example, poor-quality welding of PVC fabric leads to loss of joint tightness.

Welding technology

Before welding, you need to select a plastic rod and adjust the temperature of the hair dryer. These two parameters are selected based on the type of material you are going to cook and its characteristics. For example, if you are going to weld a part from polypropylene, then the rods should also be made of this material. And adjust the temperature mode based on the melting temperature of the material. In the case of polypropylene, 160 degrees Celsius is enough.

To find out what a part is made of, just look at the surface. Manufacturers usually write material directly onto the parts. By the way, do not forget that the part must also be prepared before welding. There should be no dirt, paint or oil on the surface. Clean the weld area with sandpaper and degrease.

Join the two parts. Place a plastic rod into the joint and begin to evenly heat this area using a welding gun. Warm up not only the rod, but also the edges. Usually the part starts to melt a little faster than the rod. If you notice this, press the rod into the molten edges and continue to heat the weld area until the rod is completely melted and mixed with the plastic of the part itself.

Then the parts need to cool. It is advisable that it cools naturally, without the use of cold water or anything like that. This will allow the joint to harden evenly. Once the part has cooled, cut off any excess melted material and sand the surface if necessary. For sanding, you can use fine-grained sandpaper or a grinding wheel.

Design

The structure of the device is not fundamentally different from other devices for generating hot air flows. The main structural components are:

1. Handle and body . The only requirement for the manufacturing material is resistance to prolonged temperature exposure. Most often, ceramics or ebonite are used as a base. If production conditions require long-term use, for example, the holder is additionally wrapped in heat-resistant fabric.
2. Nozzle _ Made from steel. As practice has shown, this metal copes best with constant temperature changes. The cost of nozzles made from other alloys is much higher.
3. A heating element . The thermoelement has special requirements - maintaining its shape when heated. This requirement is best met by twisted nichrome wire.
4. Fan . The device has limited dimensions, so the fan must combine compact dimensions and high performance to create a stable air flow.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a soldering gun with a pump built into the soldering station?

1. Hairdryer power (according to the passport).
2. Maximum temperature range (indicated on the soldering iron or heating element from 220 to 400 degrees Celsius).
3. Maximum air flow (the pump must produce at least 8 cubic meters of air per minute).
4. Availability of additional nozzles for soldering small parts, for example, hot-air soldering irons.
5. Noise and vibration levels.
6. The presence of a smooth mode for warming up the instrument and adjusting the amount of air flow.
7. Ease of use:

• temperature adjustment;
• on/off;
• a display showing the heating temperature of the hair dryer;
• smooth or step mode;
• ease of use, adjustment and operation;
• Possibility of connecting an external power supply.

Note! When choosing a soldering gun with a pump built into the soldering station, it is very important to take into account the antistatic heating function. In this case, the hair dryer must be equipped with a handle or be equipped with a special temperature sensor that will give a signal at the beginning of each heating and cooling cycle.

Main characteristics

The quality of operation of an air soldering iron is influenced by the following parameters:

1. Power . Depends on the type of products being connected. To work with electronic circuits, 300 W will be more than enough, and to weld banners with a hair dryer, a minimum of 1.5 kW is required.
2. Voltage . The safest indicator - 12 V will not be enough to achieve operating parameters, so modern units operate with a voltage of 24-36 V. The resistance of the nichrome heating element should be 6 Ohms.

Rating of the TOP 20 best soldering hair dryers from Aliexpress: review of the most popular models

The rating includes soldering guns, which are most often ordered on Aliexpress. The rating is based on reviews from real customers. In addition, all soldering guns presented are tested by us personally. We evaluated heating speed, smooth operation and ergonomics.

Which soldering iron would you choose or recommend on Aliexpress?

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We make an air soldering iron from a regular

Upgrading the device will not take much time. As a result, the master will receive a convenient heating tool that can melt any solder, including particularly hard materials.

As a basis, you can use a regular electric soldering device with a power of 40 W. To create a stable air flow, you need a miniature compressor, like an aquarium compressor. Stages of creating a hair dryer:

1. First you need to remove the contact rod of the device.
2. On the reverse side of the attached adapter sleeve, which will serve as the connection point for the air line.
3. We drill holes in the case to bring out the power wires.
4. The metal tip to which the tip was attached must be protected from heat leakage. There is no need to use expensive insulating material - foil and copper wire will handle the heat preservation function.
5. We seal all holes on the body.
6. In place of the rod we install a steel tube of similar dimensions. In this case, its backlash will be minimal.

This completes the assembly of a hair dryer for soldering with your own hands. Such a device is capable of heating the surface up to 300 Cº. This is enough to work with any plastic products at home. The main advantage of the device is its simplicity of design - for assembly you do not need to turn any parts on a machine or use a special tool.

Do-it-yourself operating principle

First of all, it is necessary to determine the length of the air line . If you place compresses at a large distance, the power of air flow will decrease due to constant friction from the inside of the tubes. The optimal length is 30-40 cm.

Entering the body of the soldering iron, the air passes through a heating element with increased heat capacity, and then enters the surface to be processed through a steel tube.

The disadvantages of a homemade design are the lack of a mechanism for adjusting the temperature and relatively weak air flow.

To increase air pressure, it is necessary to assemble a miniature turbine, but this will lead to an increase in the cost of the device.

Mini station with great capabilities

To assemble a more advanced device for generating hot streams, you will need a blank for a housing of sufficient size. You can use a plastic case from an old car first aid kit.

A special feature of the design is the heating element , which is installed directly into the tube. This circuit was used in old capacitors. Unlike the previous device, the compressor is placed directly in the housing, which increases its performance by reducing friction.

To regulate the temperature, use a power supply with regulation on a microcontroller. Compact dimensions allow you to use this soldering station in any conditions.

What to look for when choosing a soldering gun with a built-in turbine?

A soldering gun with a built-in turbine can be used for burning plastic, burning out various inscriptions and logos, as well as for soldering various products. Typically, such soldering guns have two main modifications with a power of 300 or 900 watts.

Both options are quite powerful and during their operation a large amount of heat is generated, so it is necessary to use specialized protection during operation. For safety, be sure to wear safety glasses, a special respirator and gloves.

The hair dryer body is made of durable black plastic. There are several keys on it for selecting the desired temperature. The power regulator is located on the body and is designed to set the desired mode. There is also an on and off button located on the handle of the soldering iron. The hair dryer body itself is equipped with a hole for connecting nozzles.

But most often such soldering irons are connected to a 220 volt network. However, there are more powerful modifications that are suitable for working with various materials. Included with this hair dryer you can find a nozzle for dismantling microcircuits, nozzles for burning out small parts, various nozzles for soldering plastic, metal or wood, a nozzle holder, as well as other equally useful little things.

This soldering gun can operate in two modes. When choosing the first mode, the air is heated, during which it is distributed evenly over the entire working surface of the hot air unit. In this mode, the air heats the working surface of the part and melts it, and the molten workpiece is supplied to the soldering site. The second mode is designed for faster soldering and is characterized by more intense heating of the air. Here its power is distributed unevenly.

The air temperature varies from minimum to maximum, depending on the heating temperature. That is why such a hair dryer is called a hot-air hair dryer. This hair dryer runs on mains power. The power of the device can range from 450 to 1300 watts. However, even with such a powerful hair dryer, the temperature that can be set is 500 C. This is the temperature that needs to be set on the soldering table during soldering.

Video - Learn to solder, choose a soldering gun and learn how to use it

How to properly assemble a homemade one?

Let's look at a diagram for assembling a reliable hairdryer for home use:

1. Assembling the temperature unit. It is recommended to use a nichrome spiral with a cross section of 0.5 mm as a material for the heating element. For reliable fixation, it is wound on a cylindrical base. It is important that during the winding process the turns do not touch each other. The leads of the spirals should be secured using temperature glue.
2. The temperature unit is placed in a hollow cylinder made of thermal insulating material. The outputs of the spirals are connected to the power wires. Current-carrying parts are passed through a starter and a rheostat in order to regulate the incoming voltage.
3. A hair dryer is installed on one side of the tube to create air flow.
4. A nozzle is installed on the reverse side, the cross-sectional size of which depends on the tasks assigned.

Making such a welding gun is not at all difficult. To expand its capabilities, we recommend developing a mechanism for replacing nozzles.

Voting for the best soldering iron with Aliexpress

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Making a machine for soldering microcircuits

The components of this device do not differ from the devices that were discussed above. Particular attention should be paid to the housing , since it will experience constant temperature loads. The difficulty is that the cost of thermal insulation materials is quite high, so it is best to use an old hair dryer as a base.

The nozzle attachment point is the most critical area that requires careful insulation. Otherwise, the heat will be transferred to other areas of the hair dryer, which will complicate the soldering process.

The temperature regulator is best placed on the handle . This will allow you to change the basic parameter without being distracted from your work. We recommend using elements from old household appliances as a switch.

Recommended Manufacturers

When purchasing such serious and versatile equipment, you should under no circumstances skimp on its cost. There are several manufacturers that have proven themselves to be of very high quality materials used and have repeatedly confirmed their reliability and durability. Remember that cheap models from unknown manufacturers that you have never heard of will very quickly fail and will not work out even the money spent on them. The cost of the device is reduced due to the use of poor quality plastic, short-lived heating elements or electric motors. Such little-known manufacturers, which are unlikely to provide a long service life, include cheap models of the Zenit , Elprom or Proton . to avoid buying a hair dryer with this name .

Such brands as Bosch, Makita, DeWALT, Steinel, Stern, DWT have proven themselves well These companies produce not only high-quality construction hair dryers, but also much other equipment. In general, these brands are distinguished by high-quality assembly , the safety of their tools, high-quality materials, and reliable electronics. Naturally, the cost of such a hairdryer will be higher, but you will not have to regret the purchase, especially since you will definitely be provided with an official warranty card for all products.