Where can I get a good heat gun for removing surface mount?

[Drakon]

I've been doing surface mount stuff.  For removing surface mount chips I'd like to get a good heat gun which I assume is the easiest way to remove surface mount chips safely without damaging the solder pads.  I'm wonder what heat gun people recommend and where to get it.

[Game-Tech.US]

Dave at the eevblog uses a cheapie Atten 858D+ and he seems to think it works pretty good.
BTW anyone interested in electronics should check out his youtube vids and forum.
I bought an AOYUE 909, but only because it has an adjustable DC power supply and extra soldering iron all in one. I can't remember what I paid, but to be honest I like the iron on it better than my Weller. It heats up way faster, but I haven't tracked down different tips for it - if they exist. It is a 220 volt unit so I use a step up transformer, this may be why the iron heats up faster, not sure, but they do have 110V units.
Checking ebay it looks like $200 is average and that sounds like about what I paid two years ago.
Mine came with a few different nozzles, but it uses a standard nozzle type so buying other types is easy though not really necessary for hobbyist use.

[Drakon]

So the nozzles are important for targeting one specific area?  I bought a cheap 16$ one and it's great for heating stuff up enough to desolder.  I just have to be very careful otherwise I desolder everything in a certain area when I only want to desolder one thing.

[Game-Tech.US]

Yeah, look em up on ebay, they make crazy designs for like quad flat pack etc.
I use a fairly small maybe 1/2" tube nozzle for %99 of the work I use air for.

[Drakon]

Thanks a lot for all the great advice!

[thesteve]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290785996515

[vxbinaca]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290785996515

Only if you're doing speaker wire. I wouldn't use those on electronics. I'd get a FX-888 like dave says.

[thesteve]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290785996515

Only if you're doing speaker wire. I wouldn't use those on electronics. I'd get a FX-888 like dave says.

its all about know your tool.
dont use a heat source without practice.

[turbokon]

The atten looks like what I need. I ordered a bunch of smd caps, like the ones on the stock duo, but was having a hard time soldering them on with a soldering station.  Gonna order me one if these. Thanks for sharing. My goal is to make my repairs/mods work look stock as much as possible.

[thesteve]

using general heat on aluminum is likely to damage the caps.
your best bet is to preheat the board, and use an iron on those