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There is a mini tutorial on the use of the heat gun online.  I found it at http://www.imageworksstreaming.com/secrist/?urlVar=5

Ten seconds is the approximate time it takes to cure the paint with the heat gun.  As the video shows, you may be able to watch the paint cure as you use the heat gun because the heat produces a change in the shininess of the paint. 

The heat gun gets very hot very fast.  When you use it, it is important to keep it moving over the surface of the area and to keep it at least 2 or 3 inches away from the vinyl.

My (Russian) heat gun has 460 gradus celsium (not farengheit!). How far from vinil should I keep it and how long (3-5 seconds or more)?

Valentina, Secrist has a little video demonstration of how to use the heat gun on the website at http://www.imageworksstreaming.com/secrist/?urlVar=5

Is a hairdryer hot enough to set the paint? I haven't tried either so I was just wondering. I was thinking about a heat gun for touch=up and such

I like my heat gun. I bought it from Northern Tools for very inexpensively. It's a dual temp, but I forget the temps it reaches, but it is hot enough to cure HSP, if I was using those.

mactopolis wrote:

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I would not wish to buy one for $30-$35 and be afraid to use it to dry other things..not like spending $20 for a really nice powerful hair dryer that has more than one useage

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Thanks much Linda for helping to clerify this.
I know this same type of thing has been posted several times in forum and I will say, as will LInda, Secrist, Genesis and any other companies/people who know...

No hairdryer on earth will cure any of the heat-set paints to were they are cured enough to be permanent. I will GUARANTEE that none of the dolls you have done are cured permanently unless you use a heat gun, not a hair dryer.

Not even a professional hair dryer gets hot enough to "cure" any of the paints! We cannot stress this enough!
So if you are using ANY kind of hair dryer, no matter what, your babies are not cooked enough hun! The heat guns get to a minimum temperature of about 450 degrees Ferenheit. Sure you only need 3-8 seconds on any one spot to cure the paint but even that may be iffy when you consider the surface area and the actual target area the heat has to concentrate on.

So, all you reborners out there, this is for you... hair dryers DO NOT, WILL NEVER heat to a hot enough temperature to fully "cure" the heat-set paints you are using!

 If you have done your babies this way and sold them, just think of how someone would feel when they have paid good money only to have the paint come off/rub off/fade away, etc... on their new baby that they just love. And just think of the bad reputation you will get. I want all of you to succeed and be the best, and do the best you can, especially if you are selling these babies or even giving them to someone as a gift. Can you just imagine...?
I for one would not like to be in either position, would you?
So please, please, please... do not use a hair dryer to cure the paint on any of your babies!

Do please forgive me if I sound a bit crabby or out of sorts on this but...

it is very, very, very, much of the ulitmate importance that you realize this for your own sakes as well as your customers.
This issues is the top one even above not putting sand, rice, bean or any other foodstuffs in your reborns for weight. 
I think I may just do a sticky on the top issues never to do with reborns. So thank you for creating a top issue anyway. :) 

-- Edited by Buffington on Monday 26th of July 2010 07:59:52 PM

ronelhamaty wrote:

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I would like to know, if I am using the Genesis heat gun, for up  to 10 seconds will it give enough heat to cure the paint, Will the heat gun  reach the 130 centigrade in that short time.

Thank you in advance

Hugs

-- Edited by ronelhamaty on Tuesday 28th of July 2009 09:11:01 AM

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your heat gun gets up to 400 degrees........8 seconds per area is recommended to cure your paints.........