: I've got a Makita - it has a thermocouple, so it maintains the same
: temperature regardless of airflow. Even if you completely block
: the end of it, it stays the same temp.

: Yep, it was more expensive than the cheap nasty overgrown
: hair-dryer variety, but I think the reliable temperature is
: worth it. There's an additional reducing tip I could get for it
: that would allow me to heat weld plastic.

: My advice once you get one is to grab a couple of scrap strips and
: experiment - you'll be surprised just how much you can torture a
: strip and have it stay there once cooled.

You might try a steam iron first, check out Nick's stripping videos as to how.

I modified an iron for my strip bending, and it worked well. I found the heat gun to be more difficult, especially with long strips. With my rig, the iron is anchored, so both hands are available to torture the wood. I wet the surface of the wood with a paint brush dipped in water first, then heat and bend. The strip goes into the space behind the extra aluminum plate, so both side get heated simultaneously. If you round the corners of the plates where the strips contact, bending will be neater.