Fan speeds
The number of fan speeds provided for in the adjustments of the heat gun. The intensity of blowing the workpiece, or rather the amount of air supplied and the pressure of the air flow, depends on the fan speed. And since different jobs require different intensities of air supply, the more speeds a hair dryer has, the more versatile it is, the easier it is to adjust its parameters for certain tasks. Most modern models have
2 – 3 speed adjustments, however, there are also very simple single-speed options, and even advanced devices with smooth adjustment, which allows you to select the fan speed as accurately as possible for a specific purpose.
Max. performance
The maximum amount of air that a heat gun can pass through during operation. The higher the performance (at the same temperature), the more intensively the workpiece can be heated and the better the hair dryer is suitable for large-scale work related to blowing large surfaces. On the other hand, high performance usually requires corresponding power, with all the ensuing consequences (see "Power consumption"), and the need for large volumes of air is not always there. Therefore, when choosing, you should not chase maximum performance — first of all, you need to take into account the specifics of the tasks for which you plan to use a hair dryer.
Minimum heating temperature
The lowest air temperature that a heat gun can produce when operating in normal mode, in other words, the lower limit of the operating temperature range. Accordingly, the lower this limit, the wider the range, ceteris paribus, and the more versatile the tool: after all, for different jobs and temperatures, you need different ones. Some modern hair dryers have the ability to "cold" blowing, without heating.
Cold air mode
This option allows you to completely turn off the heating element, leaving only the fan running, or reduce the heating temperature to a minimum of 50 °C.
The cold air mode is necessary for cooling heated parts. For example, a stream of cold air will allow you to quickly cool the seams of hot melt adhesive. Most often, the cold air mode is represented by a separate position on the temperature mode switch, while cold air will be carried out at one single speed. But some models allow you to turn off the heating element by hardware, in which case cold blowing can be carried out in a wide range of speeds.
Weight
The total weight of the tool. On the one hand, heat guns are held in the hands during operation, which means that a lot of weight is undesirable for them — heavy devices are less “agile” and tyre the operator more. On the other hand, too little weight can mean low quality materials, a small thickness of insulation and, accordingly, unsatisfactory safety performance. Therefore, in most modern models, the weight is at least 500 g, and in the most advanced models it can exceed 1 kg. Also note that some "heavy" hair dryers may have a design that allows you to install them on a flat surface during operation.
If there are additional nozzles in the kit, the weight of the tool without them is usually indicated.
