Welding machines for plastics sheets and pipes

Hot-air units from STEINEL^® - Top quality ✓ Powerful ✓

Hot-air units for plastic welding and thermoforming

Plastic welding is one of the most common methods of joining thermoplastics permanently and securely. In this process, the parts to be joined are welded together using a suitable welding rod and a suitable welding device. Using a hot air welding device with an appropriate attachment, both the edges of the plastic parts to be welded and the welding rod are heated to the desired temperature with pinpoint accuracy so that they fuse together. However, plastic welding does not only produce a firm and tight connection of plastic sheets. This joining method also does not have a negative effect on the basic properties of the plastic. However, it is important when welding plastics that the correct welding temperature is selected. This can usually be set very precisely in high-quality hot-air welding machines in order to achieve a perfect welding result.

We deliberately chose the STEINEL^® brand because, with its hot-air units, the manufacturer not only offers outstanding value for money, but is also the market leader in hot-air technology with more than 30 years of experience, and not without reason. What's more, all hot-air units from STEINEL^® are developed in Germany and manufactured in the EU. Above all, this reflects the high quality standard of the products, which is often barely maintained in productions made in China. Particularly in the case of STEINEL^® Professional-Line appliances, the STEINEL^® brand stands for the very highest standards by commercial users from all branches of industry. The product range extends from high-quality gun blowers with mains connection, through battery-powered units, to rod units for intensive use by tradesmen and industry.

TIP: In our online shop we also offer suitable attachment nozzles and welding wires for plastic welding from one meter.

Hot air welding units for highest demands

With the hot-air units that we offer in our online shop, a basic distinction must be made between the rod blowers suitable for construction sites for professional use and the hot-air blower in pistol form. While the rod units are primarily suitable for permanent use, e.g. for welding plastics in the commercial sector, the cheaper hot air unit in pistol form is only conditionally recommended for welding plastics. Smaller welding seams or repairs can, however, be carried out with the simple hot-air unit without any problems.

For this reason, we also differentiate between hot air welding machines and hot air blowers.

All appliances, however, are from the high-quality STEINEL^® Professional-Line, which can't be compared in any way with cheap hot-air appliances, e.g. from a DIY store. The Professional-Line is aimed at craftsmen and tradespeople or those who have the highest expectations when it comes to the service life and quality of a tool. The Professional appliances differ not only in the colour of the casing (the simple stones from the DIY store have a blue casing), but also in important features such as the high-quality hand-wound ceramic heater, the high air flow rate or the integrated fine dust filter. Also the adjustable temperature range, which ranges between 50°C - 700°C or 80°C - 630°C depending on the model, is not available with most commercially available heat guns. As a rule, these simple units have only two, maximum three stages with temperatures between 300°C and 500°C. This makes it almost impossible to weld many plastics without burning the surfaces.

Depending on the version and model, the life of the motor is up to an incredible 10,000 hours. The hand-wound ceramic heater can be easily replaced if necessary and even our cheapest pistol-shaped model has a service life of 600 hours. With the rod blowers suitable for construction sites, the service life of the heater is even an enormous 800 hours. Here, too, most simple models from the trade are at a disadvantage.

Regardless of the type of use, however, it must be ensured that the hot-air welding units in rod form and the hot-air blower have different receptacles for hot-air nozzles. Only professional nozzles can be used with the rod units in our shop, which are plugged on and screwed together. The hot air gun, on the other hand, has a receptacle for plug-in nozzles which are simply plugged on. These nozzles differ not only in the way they are attached, but also in the diameter of the holder.

• Our welding machines from STEINEL^® are characterised by a very long service life
• For maximum safety all our welding machines are equipped with a thermal fuse
• The service life of the heating system on our STEINEL supersonic welding machines is at least 800 hours.
• The high-quality ceramic heater is hand-wound and can be easily replaced
• The temperature of all hot air blowers we offer in our shop is adjustable
• All hot-air units in the shop have an air volume adjustment facility

TIP: STEINEL^® not only offers excellent customer service, but also a 48-hour repair service for the Professional-Series hot-air welding machines.

Which hot air blower is the right one?

Hot air blowers are extremely versatile in their applicability. While simple hot-air blow-dryers from the DIY store are hardly more suitable than to heat up the grill quickly or to shrink one or the other cable or to peel off stickers from sensitive surfaces, high-quality hot-air devices can be used for longer periods of time without subjecting them to excessive thermal stress. Depending on the model and design, however, a distinction must be made between the possible areas of application, as even professional appliances vary considerably in terms of performance, temperature and service life. It is not only the design that matters. Depending on the area of application and intensity of use, the technical features and adjustment options also play a major role.

Hot air blower in pistol shape

As an entry into the professional class, the pistol-shaped hot-air device also has an impact-resistant housing made of ABS plastic and a blow-out pipe made of stainless steel. As with all welding machines in the STEINEL^® Professional-Line, the air is heated by a hand-wound, durable ceramic heater that heats the air to the set temperature and directs it through the blow-out pipe. The low weight, combined with the optimised centre of gravity and the ergonomic housing, allows effortless working.

Pistol blowers are available in a wide variety of models with different capacities, but are usually not widely used in industry and trade. Only trades which only occasionally depend on the use of hot air units enjoy the easy handling, while the branches which work more intensively with hot air units tend to use rod units. For this reason, we offer only an entry-level device in our online shop, but one that can certainly convince with its performance features and functions and fully meets the requirements of a demanding do-it-yourselfer.

Examples of use of a hot-air dryer in pistol form
• Shrinking of cable ends, cable harnesses, damaged cable insulations or soldered joints
• Execution of foiling, vehicle lettering or gluing over decorative surfaces
• Removal of almost all oil- or solvent-based paints and varnishes on wooden surfaces
• soft soldering of copper tubes or desoldering of tubes and electronic circuit board components
• Repair of cracks in plastics such as bumpers, surfboards or floor coverings
• repairs and repairs of small welding seams in thermoplastics
• Easy removal of stickers, vehicle lettering and model markings on cars
• and many more

TIP: The heat gun is delivered in a practical transport case including accessories.

Hot air welding units in bar form

Hot-air welding units also belong to the hot-air blowers and are therefore also suitable for all applications for which the simpler hot-air blow dryers can be used. However, since the hot air guns in rod form are professional devices for continuous use, they can also be used in the commercial sector without hesitation. The special design of a rod blower not least has the effect of a comfortable posture with an optimised centre of gravity, but due to the flatter design it also enables better working when welding tarpaulins, floor coverings or when welding plastics with a quick welding shoe.

Our rod blowers from STEINEL^® are the two top models that prove to be unbeatable not only in terms of service life. As professional hot-air blowers aimed at industry, trade and ambitious do-it-yourselfers, the quality and functionality of the units are paramount. Both rod units in our online shop are suitable for construction sites and have the possibility to exchange the mains cable very easily, for example to replace the 3 meter long cable with a longer one. Furthermore, both blowers are equipped with a thermal fuse and a replaceable fine dust filter. As befits professional hot air blowers, the rod units have a receptacle for screw-on professional nozzles, which we also offer in our online shop at very reasonable prices.

The heating power of the hand-wound ceramic heater can be regulated in 9 steps or infinitely variable, depending on the model, and ranges from 50°C - 700°C on the top model HG 2620 E. The air volume of the powerful motor is also adjustable on both models. This makes the rod units suitable for innumerable applications, which go far beyond the possible uses of a hot air blower in pistol form.

Application examples for hot air welding equipment in trade & industry
• Industrial production of plastic containers Welding with welding wires and rods
• repairs and production of tarpaulins for truck bodies or trailers by overlap welding
• Hot forming of thermoplastic sheets, plastic rods and tubes
• Safe welding of plastic pipes in plant engineering, apparatus engineering or pipeline construction
• Welding of thermoplastic roofing membranes for the safe sealing of roofs and foundations
• Welding of plastic floor coverings and skirtings such as linoleum or vinyl
• Industrial shrinking of cables, wall bushings or cable harnesses in vehicles
• Adjustments of prostheses, spectacle frames or moulded parts made of thermoplastics
• Smoothing of leather surfaces e.g. in furniture upholstery or in the car upholstery industry
• and many more

TIP: The rod units are delivered in a transport case, which offers sufficient space for further accessories.

Which is the right attachment?

Hot air blowers can also be used completely without an attachment, for example to heat up the charcoal very quickly when grilling, or to smooth leather surfaces. Also when foiling vehicles, the so-called car wrapping, the foiler usually gets along very well without an attachment. Nevertheless, depending on the area of application, it can be very useful to use a suitable nozzle, as this can not only make the work easier and increase efficiency, but also have an effective effect on the quality of the work to be carried out.

However, the large number of nozzles can quickly lead to confusion, so we would like to explain the most common attachments in their effect and possible areas of application.

Standard round nuzzle

The round nozzle with a diameter of 5mm or even 10mm is the perfect attachment when spot heating is required. The slightly angled nozzle allows you to work in a targeted manner without obstructing the view through the hot-air welder or your hand. The slight angle also contributes to significantly improved ergonomics, as the welding device can be guided very easily and precisely, even with a natural hand position. For maximum safety when handling the hot-air units of the Profi series, they are placed on the holder and firmly fixed with a screw. The screw-on round nozzle is not suitable for hot-air units with a receptacle for plug-in nozzles.

Reducing nozzle

Reducing nozzles are available in different end diameters and are suitable for the less expensive hot-air units with a receptacle for plug-in nozzles. These nozzles are not only used for spot heating, but also serve as a receptacle for other nozzles where the diameter is smaller than the receptacle of the hot-air unit. Which reducing nozzle is required for which attachment always depends on the diameter of the nozzle to be fitted on the reducing nozzle. In contrast to the round nozzles for professional hot-air welding machines, reduction nozzles are only available in straight versions. However, as these are mainly used for gun-shaped devices, the straight design does not represent an ergonomic disadvantage.

Reducing nozzles are only available as pluggable versions and are therefore not suitable for hot-air welding machines with a receptacle for screw-on professional nozzles.

Fast welding shoe

The quick welding shoe is the ideal attachment for plastic welding, because this attachment not only enables spot heating, as is useful for plastic welding, but also has a separate feed for the welding wires. These are heated at the tip of the welding nozzle with pinpoint accuracy. Thus the welding wires and edges of the parts to be joined melt directly at the weld seam. This not only results in a much more precise weld seam, but also has the advantage that the welding wire is automatically fed.

Quick welding shoes are available in different versions. A distinction is made not only between the air slot, which is available in narrow and wide versions, but also the diameter of the welding wire feed. Here, the diameters 3mm, 4mm and 5mm are among the most common variants for the welding wire feed. In the case of the hot-air welding units with holder for screw-on professional nozzles, a round nozzle with a diameter of 5mm is required for the use of the speed welding shoe. For the plug-in nozzles, a reduction nozzle with 9mm diameter is required instead. However, the corresponding speed welding shoe must also be used for this as an attachable variant.

Flat nozzles

Flat nozzles, which are also very often called slot nozzles, have the effect of widening the air flow. Due to the narrow, wider opening of the air slit, a precise heating of surfaces is possible. The professional rod units are usually equipped with angled flat nozzles. The angle has no effect on the air flow, but is only intended to make work easier due to the natural position of the hand. With hot air guns in pistol form, pluggable flat nozzles are usually used which are not angled.

Due to the possibility of heating a material flat and yet precisely, flat nozzles are suitable for a variety of applications. The bending of plastic sheets by hot forming can be realised very well with a flat nozzle for smaller formats. In addition, flat nozzles are also ideal for removing old PVC or vinyl floor coverings or for removing varnish and paint at very high temperatures. Among the special designs are flat nozzles with holes on the top side. These are mainly used for overlapping welding of floor coverings and pond liners or for repairing tarpaulins on trucks, scaffolding banners or winter-proof awnings of caravans and mobile homes.

Reflector nozzle

Reflector nozzles are also available as clip-on and screw-on versions and are particularly suitable if a workpiece is to be heated all around. Reflector nozzles are not only available with round reflectors in various widths, but also as so-called shell reflectors in rectangular versions. Reflector nozzles are ideally suited for processing shrink sleeves, for example for the safe insulation of cables. The thermoforming of plastic tubes and solid plastic rods can also be best accomplished with a reflector nozzle. For soldering copper pipes, the circulating hot-air nozzles with reflector are also very often used.

Sieve reflector nozzle

Sieve reflector nozzles are comparable to the reflector nozzles already mentioned, but have the decisive advantage that the air flow is significantly optimised by the many small holes. This not only achieves a perfect result when shrinking cables, but is also very suitable for edge heating in order to join moulded parts together. The optimised air flow, which is evenly distributed over the entire reflector due to the sieve-like structure, also has a particularly positive effect when smoothing cut edges of thermoplastics.

Sieve reflector nozzles are also available as screw-on professional nozzles, as well as a plug-in version for the less expensive hot air blowers.

TIP: All our screwable professional nozzles are also suitable for the professional hot air welding machines of many other well-known manufacturers (e.g. Leister, Weldy, etc).

Care and cleaning of welding equipment

If the welding unit is to be cleaned to remove surface dirt and dust, you can clean the unit with a damp (not wet) soft cloth after it has cooled down. When doing so, make sure that the mains plug is disconnected. Do not use solvent-based cleaners, as the impact-resistant, robust plastic housing made of ABS can be attacked by solvents. Instead, we recommend just a little warm water and, if necessary, conventional household cleaning agents. The best way to clean the nozzles is to heat them with the hot air blower at a very high temperature. Due to the pyrolysis effect, dirt can usually be brushed off very easily after the nozzle has cooled down.

Heating allows both the nozzles and the stainless steel blow-out pipe, which serves as a receptacle for the nozzles, of the hot air blower to start. Such tempering colours, which range from white-yellow to reddish tones and blue-grey, are iridescent colourful discolourations of the metal, which occur depending on the temperature and duration of the heating process. However, tarnishing is not due to low quality and does not affect the functionality of the nozzle or the hot air blower. If a metal has tarnished due to heat, the discolouration cannot be removed by cleaning.

First-class support - without ifs and buts

If, contrary to expectations, something doesn't work the way you're used to with STEINEL^® high-quality hot air blowers, the manufacturer offers first-class customer service. STEINEL^® offers a 48-hour repair service for units in the Professional series, plus a post-purchase guarantee on spare parts.