Best Embossing Heat Gun — Buyers Guide, Review and Comparison
Heat embossing guns enable you to mold and melt crafting powder to give some extra pizzazz to your handiwork projects. Designed to deliver the perfect temperature and blowing intensity, they allow for more precise and delicate work than a traditional DIY hot air machine.
- 392 and 572 degrees Fahrenheit settings.
- Integrated stand.
- Made in the USA.
- Six-foot cable.
- Dual heat/blower mode.
Top Embossing Heat Guns 2023
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Best Dual Temperature
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Best Dual Temperature
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Chandler CTHG150D Review Chandler CTHG150D Review | |
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Best Budget
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Best Budget
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Homidic HJ7 Review Homidic HJ7 Review | |
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Best for Guys
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Best for Guys
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Wagner HT400 Review Wagner HT400 Review | |
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Best for Seniors
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Best for Seniors
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Crafter’s Companion Review Crafter’s Companion Review | |
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Best for Beginners
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Best for Beginners
|
Features
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Check Price at Amazon Heat Tool Mini Gun Review Heat Tool Mini Gun Review |
Embossing Heat Gun Buying Guide
Using embossing powder in your crafts adds a visually pleasing texture, gives your handiwork a professional feel and provides that extra sparkle to your projects. So — to ensure it adheres and has an eye-catching finish — you need a heat embossing gun.
These small yet powerful machines deliver just the right amount of heat and intensity to melt and mold the embossing powder — without damaging delicate card or paper.
Bear in mind that — while these versatile units may enable you to complete some household DIY jobs — they’re unlikely to have the temperature capability to deal with stripping paint. If that’s what you need — check out the best paint strippers instead.
But, for the consummate crafter, there’s no better tool than a heat embossing gun.
When choosing your ideal machine, consider:
Why You Need a Specific Heat Gun for Crafts
Allow me to explain:
Ovens
You may be attempting to make the most beautiful floral birthday card for your Auntie Mabel — but chances are it will turn into a cinder pile of melted glue, ink, and powder.
Hairdryers
They undoubtedly have the heat to sufficiently warm embossers — but they also possess the power to blow the powder across your room.
DIY Heat Gun
Most embossing powders melt at around 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, if you possess a household heat gun that you use for stripping paint, you can also use it for crafting.
Well, on one condition.
It does require a variable temperature setting, allowing you to drop the heat sufficiently. Many budget machines only possess two heat intensities — with the lowest at around 700 degrees Fahrenheit. This is much too high and will do nothing apart from burning your projects.
And, comparing a true embossing gun vs heat gun for DIY — the most significant downside of DIY machines is that they tend to be large and cumbersome — making them awkward on delicate work.
So, here’s the deal.
A purpose-built embossing powder heat gun has been designed by specialists to provide optimum results to your crafts.
They have the advantage over other heating methods by:
- Low and controllable airspeed, to prevent you from blowing powder away from its intended position.
- A tightly-concentrated plume of heat to allow for precise arty work.
- Sufficient heat to melt powder — but not so high it will burn card or paper.
- Designed for you to switch the unit off and on repeatedly.
How to Choose the Best Heating Gun for Embossing
Here are a few pointers to consider when selecting the perfect heat gun embossing tool:
Dual Temperature
An additional upper heat setting allows you to rapidly cover large swathes of embossing. Hence, if you often work on larger projects — such as posters or oversized greetings cards — it may be worth checking out one of these units.
Cable Length
There’s no ‘ideal’ length for your power cord. Consider how close your crafting desk is to power outlets and the size of your projects. Choosing incorrectly can lead to messy artwork and present a burn hazard.
Nozzle Protector
It’s rare for a purpose-built heat gun for embossing to lack a nozzle protector — but some mini DIY models do omit this safety feature.
These plastic casings prevent you from accidentally touching the hot tip of the machine — thus preventing injury.
And, it’s not just you — think about the children.
Research indicates that the most common causes of thermal burn injuries in kids under 14 years of age come from hot appliances — such as heat guns, curling irons, laundry irons, and ovens.
Rapid Heat Up
Perhaps not so important if you’re an intermittent embosser — but if you are completing numerous projects per day, all those minutes of waiting add up.
Weight
If you lack strength — or suffer from hand or wrist issues — wielding a heavy unit for extended periods could be uncomfortable, or promote problems such as tenosynovitis.
Conversely, too little weight to your heat gun can make it difficult to control — one slight accidental movement of the hand making a dramatic difference to your powder finish.
Best Embossing Powder Heat Gun — The Top Five
Unlike many of its competitors, this unit boasts two speed and heat settings — operated by a tactile rocker switch on the upper casing. Hence, for delicate and precise work, you can keep the unit at a lower temperature and with minimal blowing intensity. For your high volume or heavy-duty projects, you can crank it up to maximum to effortlessly cover larger areas.
Safe use is at the heart of this versatile crafting tool. It boasts an extensive protector shield that should prevent the most inquisitive and exploratory of tiny fingers accessing the hot nozzle. Furthermore, the manufacturer emphasizes that this embossing unit has been UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certified for safety.
With low-noise output, this embossing gun shouldn’t become an annoyance when in use — even for extended periods. Furthermore, an integrated stand enables you to safely put down the machine when changing powders, moving onto an alternative project, or taking a well-deserved coffee break.
Made in the USA, the manufacturer is so confident in its embossing hot air machine that it offers a lifetime warranty. And, should you wish to complete a little DIY too, it’s also suitable for melting wax, repairing smartphones, shrinking film, and connecting wires.
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Perhaps the stand-out feature of this heat gun is the impressive cable length. Possessing a 6.56-foot mains cord — the longest of all in my top five embossers — this could be the consummate machine for those artisans operating a significant distance from a power outlet — or completing larger projects.
And, despite being easy on the bank balance, this unit is remarkably durable. It possesses a stainless steel core, shielded by an outer ABS plastic casting — both providing resilience to knocks and bumps and preventing heat transfer into your hand.
The outer case has significant knurling — elevating the grip. Thus — even on longer projects — perspiration, slippage, and concomitant mistakes to your crafting should be avoided.
This heat gun for embossing includes a substantial protector nozzle. By being colored differently from the main body of the unit, there’s no mistaking where the hot — and therefore most dangerous — part of the machine is.
It arrives complete with an integrated stand to prevent burning your workbench or desk when not in use. Plus, weighing just 10.4 ounces, it should suit those crafters with poor hand strength.
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Our Rating: 4.4
But what about the boys?!
This machine, from the power tool behemoth Wagner Spraytech, oozes masculinity. Allowing the men to get down and dirty with their embossing powder — while using a machine that isn’t ‘girly.’
Bold angles, black casing, and a shape that looks like a futuristic weapon — the Wagner HT 400 embosser not only says power — it delivers it.
Its novel and angular shape enables you to either hold this unit in a traditional embossing ‘pencil’ grip — or go completely John Wick and hold as a pistol. When not in use, you can utilize the integrated stand to prevent scorching your desk — or for angling the gun upward to allow for two-handed material manipulation.
As it’s a machine designed for both crafting and DIY, it possesses a couple of characteristics that may not appeal to the embossing purist. Firstly, it’s weighty — at 14.4 ounces it’s the heaviest unit in my rundown. Secondly, it lacks a nozzle shield — hence, perhaps not ideal for those with little ones running around the home.
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Ok, admittedly it does look something akin to a hairdryer — but in practicality, this is a pure artwork machine. This heat gun incorporates a substantial folding handle. In the open position, it allows you to wield the machine in the palm of your hand — not requiring you to grip with finger ends. Thus, it aids those lacking strength or suffering from arthritis to manipulate the machine effortlessly.
Twin fan speeds allow you to control the heat intensity. And, as the rocker selector switch is located on the handle itself, you can make mid-work adjustments with just one hand.
As the handle folds against the main body, it becomes a compact unit that will easily fit into a drawer for storage — although ensure that it’s cooled down first! A robust nozzle protector shields you and other household members from accidental burns. And, being distinctively colored — it ensures that even those with less than perfect eyesight can see the hot end of the heat gun.
Perhaps my only slight criticism of this machine is its choice of tones and typeface. The script font and pastel colors give this heat embossing gun a rather feminine aesthetic — meaning it may not appeal to all crafters.
- Design
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Our Rating: 4.0
This heat embossing gun delivers everything you need for finely-finished artwork — but without extraneous features.
With neutral coloring, this machine should appeal to all aesthetic tastes. A six-foot power cord prevents you from feeling tethered to the wall, and a neatly integrated stand ensures you can rest the heat gun safely.
A color-coded shield protects the nozzle from both knocks and detritus — while ensuring its hot tip doesn’t touch your skin or easily-damaged paper and card. Possessing rear heat vents — this embossing gun should remain pleasantly cool in your hand — while increasing the lifespan of the delicate coil by preventing overheating.
This unit arrives complete with full instructions. So — should you have never wielded a crafting gun before — a few minutes of reading and you’re ready to go. Furthermore, this machine has been safety tested by the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) to ensure peace of mind.
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Conclusion
But only if you use the correct tool!
Sure, you can use a hairdryer or DIY heat gun — but the finish will be far from professional. Heat embossing guns allow you to have that precise finish on small and intricate work — while also having the capability to manage large, more expansive projects.
When choosing the ideal machine — consider what you need from your gun. If you have kids, those with robust nozzle shields are more attractive. Should time be of the essence, think about a rapid heat-up unit. And, if you’re completing both small and more substantial crafting — it may be worth obtaining a dual temperature model.
The best embossing heat gun ensures that your final artwork will be some seriously hot property.
Embossing Heat Guns FAQs
Q: Can You Use a Heat Gun for Embossing?
Yes. However, ensure you use a purpose-made heat embossing gun to achieve the best results. A standard DIY heat gun typically delivers too broad an airflow for delicate work and will cause hand fatigue if used for lengthy periods of time.
Q: Can You Emboss Without a Heat Gun?
Some people suggest using a hairdryer, holding your handiwork over the stove, or using an incandescent light bulb. However, the results you achieve will be less than ideal. A hot air embossing gun gives you the perfect heat intensity, and will not damage your craftwork.
Q: What Do I Need for Heat Embossing?
To heat emboss, you require:
- Heat embossing gun.
- Cardstock paper.
- Scrap cardstock (to lay under your craftwork).
- Embossing ink or ink pad.
- Embossing powder.
- Tweezers — to prevent your fingers from becoming too warm.
Q: How Hot Do Embossing Guns Get?
While temperatures vary between models, a typical heat embossing gun will reach at least 390 degrees Fahrenheit — the point at which embossing powder melts.
Q: Can You Use a Hairdryer for Embossing?
Yes, but you are unlikely to ruin your handiwork. The air delivery intensity from your hairdryer is too high for lightweight embossing powder. Using this appliance will blow the powder off your card and paper. Instead, use a heat gun, designed for embossing.
Q: What Kind of Paper Do You Use for Embossing?
Ideally, use vellum or Cardstock. Avoid thin paper at all costs — it will tear, burn, or scorch when you apply heat.
Q: Are Embossing Heat Guns Dangerous?
Since embossing guns become very hot, you need to treat them with respect and handle them with care. However, the best hot air tools for embossing will feature a casing that remains cool, and possess a protective shield over the hot nozzle.
Q: Can I Strip Paint With an Embossing Heat Gun?
Some heat guns for embossing will reach sufficient temperatures to strip paint. However, as they deliver their heat over a concentrated area, they are only suitable for small stripping work.