Heat gun for heat shrink
Updated: 21.10.2026
A paint-stripping gun on full heat will glaze, split or burn heat-shrink tubing long before the sleeve looks neat. Most thin-wall tube shrinks at a little over 100°C. The low step on several guns in this amazon.co.uk set is already 400°C, and one brand’s low step is 570°C. This page covers how hot the tube needs to be, which nozzle to use, and which stated steps are plausible. The rows are on the [hot air gun comparison](/hub/compressors/hot-air-gun). Figures are the 19 October 2026 listings and UK tubing guidance, not a lab test. Vinyl-wrap film is a different job and is not covered here.
A paint-stripping gun on full heat will glaze, split or burn heat-shrink tubing long before the sleeve looks neat. Most thin-wall tube shrinks at a little over 100°C.
A paint-stripping gun on full heat will glaze, split or burn heat-shrink tubing long before the sleeve looks neat. Most thin-wall tube shrinks at a little over 100°C. The low step on several guns in this amazon.co.uk set is already 400°C, and one brand’s low step is 570°C. This page covers how hot the tube needs to be, which nozzle to use, and which stated steps are plausible. The rows are on the hot air gun comparison. Figures are the 19 October 2026 listings and UK tubing guidance, not a lab test. Vinyl-wrap film is a different job and is not covered here.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Stated temperature | Nozzles | Temperature control | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  SEEKONE SEEKONE SDL-2816 | 50–600°C | Five, including a glass-protection nozzle | Variable dial plus high/low airflow | 8.1 | about £25.99 | View offer |
| Best value |  SEEKONE SEEKONE HG886 | 400°C and 600°C | Four: reflector, deflector, two concentrators | Two fixed settings | 6.3 | about £16.99 | View offer |
| Alternative |  JOJOREC JOJOREC Hg2600 | 50–600°C | Three: two focusing nozzles and an arc nozzle | Stepless dial plus two airflow steps | 6.8 | about £14.99 | View offer |
On this page
How hot the tubing needs to be
WKK says most tubing shrinks between 110°C and 135°C, with a wider spread from about 65°C to 260°C. Your sleeve’s own rating wins. A Rapid UK note says, if the gun has a display, to aim around 200–250°C after you have checked the tube. That is not a British Standard, and most guns in this set have no readout.
A 600°C step is paint heat. Even a 400°C low step, which a Partex HG2 kit uses as setting 1, sits well above 135°C. People do shrink tube on that step, but only with distance, movement and a nozzle that spreads the air. If the sleeve wrinkles or cracks, cut it off and start again. HellermannTyton’s UK notes are not a suggestion to buy a gas torch for a connector in a loft.
Nozzle and movement
A reflector wraps air around the sleeve so you are not blowing a jet onto one side. Rapid sells them, in sizes such as 35.5 mm, when the gun did not include one. A concentrator can reach a tight boot if you keep it off the plastic. It is also the nozzle that overheats a cheap gun on the high step. The JOJOREC listing says not to run step II through a small focusing nozzle for more than a short time.
Rotate the cable, and do not touch the sleeve with the metal tip. Stop when the tube has tightened and any adhesive ring has just wet out. How to use a heat gun covers cool-down, including the JOJOREC note to finish on strong wind with the dial down for about 5 minutes.
What these guns can actually select
Both SEEKONE guns list a reflector. The SDL-2816 dial is stated from 50°C to 600°C, so you can start far below a paint step. The HG886 is fixed at 400°C and 600°C. The 400°C step is still far above 135°C, so you shrink by distance and movement. There is no lower step. Skip 600°C for ordinary thin-wall tube.
The JOJOREC states a dial from 50°C and lists an arc nozzle, against a spec line that says the gun alone. If the arc nozzle arrives, try it first. The BLACK+DECKER KX1650-GB lists no nozzles, and the Amazon low step is 570°C, so a separate reflector still leaves you with no milder step. The COMTO states 50–650°C, and reviewers say the scale is not in degrees. The heat gun buying guide is where those printed steps are compared.
Cordless and upright use
The WORKPRO 7.2 V claims 150°C and 360°C and includes a reflector, which on paper looks ideal. One reviewer got thin sleeving to move only with the nozzle very close and measured about 110°C. Others say thick shrink and glued wrap do not recover. It is 3.7 from 18 reviews, and it cannot be used while charging.
You can stand a gun upright while you rotate a cable if the base is stable and you stay with it. The AIUNAOM QR-85A claims a hands-free base. A stand does not reduce the temperature. For a handful of DIY connectors, the dial SEEKONE or a careful 400°C step with a reflector is the realistic pair in this set. For medium-wall cable, a £16 two-step gun is the wrong class.
Common questions
What temperature shrinks tubing?
WKK says most tubing shrinks between 110°C and 135°C, with some types anywhere from about 65°C to 260°C. A Rapid UK note suggests aiming around 200–250°C on a gun that has a display, after you check the tube. Use the rating on your packet. A 600°C paint step is far above either figure.
Do I need a reflector nozzle?
For an even sleeve, yes. A reflector wraps the air around the cable so one side does not melt while the other stays loose. Both SEEKONE listings include a reflector. The BLACK+DECKER included line has no nozzles. A concentrator can reach a tight boot if you keep the metal off the tube and off the high step for long periods.
Can I use a lighter instead?
No. A flame is a poor way to shrink a connector, and it is the wrong tool near old paint. HellermannTyton mentions gas guns for medium-wall tubing as trade tooling, not as a lighter in a kitchen. Use an electric gun on the lowest step that moves the tube, with the nozzle clear of the sleeve.
Which guns in this set have a low enough step?
The SEEKONE SDL-2816 and the JOJOREC state a dial from 50°C. The SEEKONE HG886 low step is 400°C, which can shrink tube if you keep your distance, and cannot go lower. The BLACK+DECKER low step on Amazon is 570°C, which is the one to skip for sleeves. The COMTO claims a range from 50°C but reviewers say there is no degree scale.
Will the WORKPRO cordless do sleeving?
Only thin sleeving, and only if you test it. One reviewer needed the nozzle very close and measured about 110°C. Others say thick shrink and glued wrap fail. The claimed 360°C mode is not what those reviews measured. Do not buy it as the shrink gun for a day of connectors.
Can I leave the gun standing while I rotate the cable?
You can stand it on a stable, heatproof base while you turn the joint in the airflow, and you should stay with it. A stand is not a timer. Do not walk off with a tight nozzle on the high step.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources below. amazon.co.uk listings checked on 19 October 2026.
- HSE: Lead in construction (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE: CIS79 Old lead paint (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk: Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, Great Britain (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Electrical Safety First: Heat guns (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Met Office: Frozen or burst pipes (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Cold weather ready (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Vehicle Wrapping Academy: Steinel HG 2120 E (retrieved 19 October 2026)