[Yorkie]

Not a growing tool, but hopefully someone can offer some thoughts ...

I'd like to buy a heat gun for basic DIY work, mainly stripping paint but I gather some are versatile enough to be able to melt frozen pipes on lower heat settings.

Three options:

Earlex 2000

Bosch

De walt

The last one has a variable heat dial, I think, and the first one isn't a recognised brand I suspect.

What would you get?

[Gwiz]

I'd probably buy the first one. I have a steam stripper made by them which used to belong to Dad. It's still working well several years after he passed away. I needed some new nozzle brushes for it a while ago and found that the company couldn't have been more helpful.
I'd also buy it 'cos it's cheaper and I'm tight, and it comes with some useful attachments and a box to keep it all in.
Having said that, I was given a Black and Decker one years ago by Black and Decker and that is still going strong ( must be 26 years old now at least )

[arugula]

I would discount the Bosch as a basic machine and not the cheapest at that. Earlex is a good make and you seem to get a lot of attachments and a case to keep it all in, but the variable temperature feature of the DeWalt would make me buy it from this choice of three models.

[Yorkie]

Thanks both.

So, Earlex or De walt. Oh dear, no clear winner   

I'd never heard of Earlex so it's certainly useful to hear both of you mention it positively.

[Flatcat]

We have the DeWalt one at work, and I am very impressed with it and will be buying one for home

Having the ability to adjust the temperature is extremely handy

Haven't had experience with the other two, but the earlex looks like it could be good also.

[Lawrence]

I am just about to buy the DeWalt myself, (£32 on Ebay, inc p&p) I was looking for an alternative to the Steinel HG2310 LCD which I had been told was just about the best on the market.
I couldn't see myself parting with nearly £100 for a heat gun so I started searching, the Dewalt  seems nearly as good, and most of the tradesmen I know use DeWalt.
I hope this helps save you any more research.

[Yorkie]

Ta 

Have borrowed one from a friend in the short term as I wanted to get going yesterday.  I will get the de walt though, I think.