Hair dryer for welding linoleum: a set of accessories and methods of use

For a long time, linoleum is one of the most popular types of flooring. It is easy to install, aesthetically attractive and reliable. However, all its advantages are lost if the junction of the two bands is not done well. You can make the most durable and high-quality connection, which does not get dirt and dust, using a hairdryer for welding linoleum.

Description, modifications

The welding hair dryer differs in appearance from its construction and household counterparts. It has an elongated nozzle of small diameter, creating a narrowly directed flow of hot air. It can be manual, semi-automatic and automatic.

Hand-held devices are light and comfortable, ideal for hard-to-reach spots or for welding joints of complex shape.

Automatic models independently level the seam surface after it hardens, they are suitable for large volumes of work, but they can not be used in rooms with high humidity.

Sets, popular models

Hand held appliances are most often sold in completeIn addition to a hairdryer, which includes:

• standard 5 mm nozzle;
• nozzle for quick welding with a nozzle;
• cutting knife for flooring and sickle-shaped cutter.

Popular models:

• hair dryer Lesite LST 1600, 21 000 rubles .;
• Leister Triac ST - a kit for welding linoleum, which includes a light balanced hand dryer and other necessary tools, 32 000 rubles .;

• WELDY energy HT1600 - a popular kit at a more affordable cost, 24 000 rubles .;
•  QUICK-S Electronic hair dryer from FORSTHOFF (Germany), 19 000 rub.

Buying or renting the described tool will be of interest to masters involved in the professional laying of commercial linoleum. Unlike cold welding, a building hair dryer guarantees a really solid connection. The main thing is to choose a quality tool. When laying linoleum on your own in a small apartment, buying expensive equipment does not make sense: many companies offer to rent it on favorable terms.

Scope of use of the device

It is important to consider that the use of a hair dryer for welding is not allowed for all types of linoleum cloth. During operation of the tool, the polymer is heated to a temperature of more than 300 ° C (maximum - up to 700 ° C). Without deformation, only high-quality materials that are used primarily in public places and industrial facilities can withstand it.

To repair an apartment with your own hands, renting such a device is not rational, because there is a possibility of damage to the decorative layer of soft (foamed) linoleum. For such a coating, as well as for material based on felt, it is used cold welding, in fact, being ordinary bonding.

Hot welding tool kit

Before starting work, you should make sure that the necessary welding kit is available. It can be attributed to:

• Hair dryer (OKPD code 29.41.11.899). The WELDY Energy ht1600 mentioned above is quite suitable for the price / quality ratio.
• The necessary nozzle.
• V-shaped tool for preparing joints. It can be ordinary, similar to a tool for wood, or roller. The price of the latter is higher.
• Crescent knife for finishing the seam. Helps cut off excess polymer deposits.
• Soft PVC cord (filler bar) required to fill the space between the sheets.

Some technical aspects of choosing a device for welding

The main difference between such a building tool and the usual household hair dryers is the high temperature of air heating (100–700 ° С).

• A high-quality product has the ability to smoothly adjust the intensity of heating. After the user sets the required level, it is maintained automatically during the whole welding session.

Advice! Do not be tempted by the low price of budget Chinese models equipped with only two stages of temperature regulation. The required degree of heating can be achieved only by approaching / removing the device to the surface to be treated. If finances do not allow you to buy a device, the best option would be to rent a quality welded hair dryer, especially if you plan to use it once.

• The device must have significant power (about 1500 W or more), otherwise the welding process will be delayed.
• The device must be equipped with a cooling tube that protects against burns and a sensor that protects the heating element.

Using a hairdryer at work: step-by-step hot welding

Since the soldering of linoleum canvas seams, as a rule, is used in large areas, then before starting work, it must be fixed. Next, we follow the scheme:

1. We prepare the groove for laying the filler rod. To do this, in places of the future joint we cut off the chamfer from linoleum. It is almost impossible to do this manually; a special knife is required. As a result, we get a cone-shaped groove.
2. We put on a hairdryer a nozzle equipped with a nozzle and a guide through which a hot cord will flow. Do not forget about safety: the nozzle is very hot.
3. During the melting process, the polymer will gradually fill the equipped groove, so we slowly promote the hair dryer. We try to avoid deposition and exit of plastic beyond the seam. If the polymer layer becomes thinner, add temperature (this is present in the Energy hairdryers) and slow down the speed of advancement.
4. Excess polymer is removed with a sickle knife.

Hot welding process not so complicated, with the appropriate equipment, it’s easy enough to master. This improves the quality of laying linoleum, it is possible to get rid of unaesthetic seams. When deciding whether to rent or buy an instrument is preferable in your case, based on the planned frequency of use, your own financial capabilities.