Over on Instagram, the only place where Lowe’s tells anybody about new tools, Kobalt revealed a new 24V Max cordless heat gun, model KHG 124B-03.
The new Kobalt cordless heat gun features dual-temperature settings – 550°F at low, and 1000°F at high. It features a lock-on/off button for convenience.
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Lowe’s says that the Kobalt heat gun has side air vents that double as a stand for safe, hands-free use. It looks like this just means the heat gun can be placed on its back during use.
The heat gun also features an LED worklight at its base.
It’s bundled with reduction and reflector nozzle attachments.
Price: $99 for the bare tool
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Discussion
When Milwaukee first came out with a cordless heat gun, it was a bit of a novelty.
Now, quite a few power tool brands have cordless heat guns:
- Milwaukee Cordless Heat Gun Review
- Dewalt Cordless Heat Gun
- Craftsman Cordless Heat Gun
- Harbor Freight Hercules and Bauer Cordless Heat Guns
- Metabo Cordless Heat Gun
Even Ryobi also has a cordless heat gun ($79 via Home Depot for the bare tool).
Digging into Kobalt’s user manual, we see that the cordless heat gun has a 9 CFM max airflow spec, but there’s no mention of start-up heating time.
While this won’t make waves in the industry, it’s good to know that Kobalt is expanding their 24V Max cordless tool system with another useful addition. It’s also worth nothing that the max operating temperature – 1000°F – is higher than the Ryobi 18V One+ model is rated for, which is 875°F.
The Craftsman 20V Max cordless heat gun – also $99 for the bare tool at Lowe’s – has a max output temperature of 950°F and a heat-up time of 10 seconds.
Rog
I have the Ryobi cordless heat gun and its quite useful. I’m sure this will be a great addition for users of Kobalt.
Jared
My thoughts exactly.
Well, except I don’t have a cordless heat gun – yet. I’ve considered it multiple times, but I already own a couple corded heat guns and don’t find myself needing one away from my shop.
If I didn’t own a heat gun, I would jump straight to cordless though.
Rog
I didn’t think I would need a cordless either but I’ve taken mine on site to photo shoots and events. Its been much nicer than having a cord.
Plain grainy
Probably not going to jump to a different platform for it. As Rog mentioned, it will be welcomed by those on the Kobalt platform. Setting it on its side as a stand is a great feature.
Robin
I have the Craftsman Heat Gun. Goes through batteries quickly. It’s been on clearance for under $50 at two Lowe’s stores so far.
Fm2176
I have the Ridgid cordless heat gun that requires butane. I picked mine up on clearance a few months ago, and my local HD still has one or two at $65. Battery life is great, since the butane provides the heat, and the cooling function is outstanding. I don’t currently have any Kobalt tools (I had a 20v impact wrench I gave to my brother a few years ago), but this seems like a nice option for those invested in Kobalt 24v.
Aaron
I’m waiting for Milwaukee’s brushless “Fuel” version.
MM
I doubt they will ever make one. The motor which spins the fan in the heat gun consumes a tiny % of the power the tool uses as a whole. The heating element is the real culprit behind the power draw, and there is no way to improve that. Making the fan motor brushless would have a negligible effect on the runtime or performance.
Aaron
I was joking : )
I would like to see a faster “Fuel” transfer pump though.
Plain grainy
I was looking at those transfer pumps. Do you have one? Any good?
Plain grainy
Or was you joking again? I was talking Milwaukee M-18 version.
John
Arguably all heat guns are already 100% efficient. Normally we consider heat to be ‘waste’ but in this context heat is the desired output. As long as the heat from the motor is sucked in by the fan there’s no benefit to a more efficient motor.
Jim Felt
After ordering a set of Steinel heat gun nozzles for the Milwaukee heat gun I’ve found myself using it over all our corded ones.
Not at fast to heat up but I’m not on a production line.
Kobalt? Naw. Lowe’s? Naw.
Aaron
Stands on it’s back!
DRT42
I really wish Makita would make one of these.
Dom
Agreed, why does it seem like Makita’s always so late to the party? I waited a long time for an lxt inflator, now I’m waiting on a heat gun. I know I could run another brand with an adapter, but that’s an extra cost, may incapacitate the under voltage protection, and isn’t teal. Makita should work on the breadth of the lxt line instead of making yet another iteration of a tool they already multiple versions of.
Paul
I have the Milwaukee cordless and the Dewalt corded with nozzles. The Dewalt comes with a couple the Milwaukee doesn’t. With any heat gun without nozzles it’s a hair dryer on low.
With nozzles the Milwaukee can heat shrink and warm up glue but that’s about it. If you want paint stripping forget it. Run time on a 5+ Ah battery is surprisingly good. If I’m just doing some heat shrink electrical work the Milwaukee is convenient. But if I’m stripping off sticky backs I need the corded.
For those that don’t know a sticky back are those little squares that are supposed to be self sticking mounts for cable ties found all over inside electrical panels. I say supposed to stick because they often fall off because metal and plastic expand at different rates. Those that do manage to stick are best removed by warming them up until the plastic shrinks up into a ball of melted plastic and pulls the glue loose enough that a short thick putty knife knocks off most of the rest before the paint gives way under the heat. The Milwaukee just turns it all into a gooey mess that spreads and sticks worse instead of peeling loose.
SteveP
I use heat guns as shown (shrink tube) and the Ryobi cordless iI bought (used) is just enough heat for me. The jobs are small so it works out fine, but I still don’t see how a pretty good cordless drill is sold at about the same price? I suppose it is what competition there is and what the market will bear. I still think a corded heat gun is a better value and a more flexible tool – I won’t be stripping much paint with the Ryobi
Frank
How does this compare to the Metabo?
Matthew
I got the Ryobi instead of Dewalt since it’s a tool I wouldn’t be using all the time. The one feature I wanted was the lock on that Dewalt and Milwaukee have but a zip tie on the trigger works (and inserting the battery with the trigger depressed it still turns on).