The glue gun has already firmly established itself not only in the life of every craftsman, but also in the “life” of housewives, schoolchildren and students.
On the American website familyhandyman.com, a review of the possibilities was made: what can be made from hot melt glue. But first, let's understand the terms: who is handyman and what is hot glue.
Who is handyman?
Handyman is almost as popular in America as Supermen. Just orientation - to different age groups. All American teenagers dream of becoming supermen in order to “save the world.” Many of them, having matured, become “handymen” and “save” their own home.
Handyman is a “jack of all trades,” a person who likes to do things with his hands (hand). A very popular activity in the USA.
Don’t believe it when they tell you that they are all “stupid”, they don’t know how to do anything with their hands... they can’t even screw in a light bulb. Perhaps the “office plankton” living in rented apartments in big cities is just that. But they are not the “real Americans.”
Every real American has his own house, which must have a basement ( ground floor, basement), in which, in turn, a workshop is equipped.
From our point of view, people become “handymen” by force. Unlike an apartment, when you can call someone and someone will do everything, your own house always means something needs to be nailed down, sawed off, etc. As for furniture, inexpensive mass-produced furniture has a lot of limitations and disadvantages. A custom production many simply “can’t afford it.” With basic skills and the appropriate tools, you can always customize finished furniture to suit your needs.
If we take into account the fact that all of America is “one-story” (see Ilf and Petrov) and most Americans live in own homes, the number of “handymen” is simply off the charts. They publish their own magazines, TV channels and online sites. Familyhandyman.com is one such resource.
What is hot melt adhesive?
Hot-melt adhesive is an adhesive substance that, when heated to a certain temperature, turns into a liquid state, and when cooled, returns to a solid state. Moreover, it can transition into these states many times.
Furniture makers know this type of adhesive as hot melt adhesive. In the molten state, the glue has high adhesive properties. In the solid state it forms a strong adhesive seam. The melting point is in the range of 100-200 degrees.
Hot-melt adhesive is made on the basis of thermoplastic polymers. Among the most popular polymers are ethylene vinyl acetate and polyamide.
Any hot melt adhesive consists of three components: the main polymer (about 50% of the volume), resins (30%) and plasticizers (20%). Resins give the glue high adhesion, and plasticizers reduce viscosity.
Hot melt adhesive is available in the form of solid adhesive sticks. The glue is heated using a special hot-melt (glue) gun.
Little tricks with hot glue from the site familyhandyman.com in our free translation
Can be glued without a gun
A hot glue gun powered by 220/110 V can only be used effectively if there is electrical outlet within reach... But what if there is no outlet nearby? For example, somewhere in the forest? Or if you don't have a glue gun? Do you really need to glue something?
The glue stick can be melted with an ordinary lighter or matches.
Temporary stop or guide
Sometimes, during work, it is necessary to install a temporary stop or guide. No problem - you can simply stick it to your desktop.
Anti-slip hanger
Cheap plastic or metal hangers have one significant drawback– things don’t hold on to them and can easily slip and fall.
Just apply a layer of glue to these hangers. Things will hold up well and will no longer fall.
Identical parts are easier to glue together
If you have several identical parts, it is easier to process them in glued form: cutting, grinding, drilling, etc. After processing, the parts can be easily disassembled. The main thing is not to use too much glue. Spot gluing allows not only to securely fasten the parts together, but also to easily dismantle the connection after processing. To disassemble, you can use a spatula, and to remove residual glue, you can use a chisel.
Template for curved parts
The classic technology of manufacturing parts using a template is simplified several times when using hot-melt adhesive to temporarily connect parts.
Magnets are easier to stick
Using magnets is convenient. The scope of application is limited only by your imagination: starting from fastening small metal objects, ending with the counters stopping. You can glue a magnet to any surface, including using hot glue using a glue gun.
Hot glue - dampers
As we know, in order to prevent furniture or other interior items from scratching the floor, it is necessary to use pads (dampers) made of some soft material: felt, rubber, silicone, etc.
Hot-melt adhesive does this job well. For example, you need to install a flower pot with an uneven bottom. Apply a few drops of hot glue and let them cool for a minute. Then place the pot on a flat surface while the glue is still soft. We get elastic supports of various heights, repeating the unevenness of the floor.
You can also use glue as a damper. As a “breaker” for a cabinet door, for example, or for a picture frame when hanging on a wall. Dampers not only prevent scratches, but also keep the frame in a given position.
Small parts processing
Sometimes it is simply impossible to process a small part using the standard method. The problem can be solved very simply - the part needs to be glued to massive base. Hot-melt adhesive allows you to obtain a strong connection with the possibility of subsequent dismantling.
Attaching the part to the table
If you need to secure a part to a table, and the clamps will interfere with processing, the easiest way is to simply glue it.
Fastening drawer fronts
A good alternative to double-sided tape when installing furniture drawer fronts.
Fastening glass or mirror
Traditional glass fastening furniture facades carried out using special plastic clamps. Sometimes silicone glue is used. Using hot melt glue is a good alternative. To remove the glass, simply soften the glue by heating the joint with a hairdryer.
Fixing wobbly furniture
A table with four legs has one significant problem - it wobbles. As a rule, the culprit is either an uneven floor or unprofessional furniture makers. The problem is noticed when the table is in active use and solved by placing folded pieces of cardboard under the leg. Unreliable and temporary solution.
You can get rid of the problem once and for all by simply gluing a few coins to the table leg with hot glue.
Gluing
And, you won’t believe it... hot melt glue can also be used for its intended purpose - gluing parts together....
Based on materials from familyhandyman.com
If you think that the transparent glue sold in small tubes called “Cyanopan” or some other fancy name is super glue, you are deeply mistaken. In fact, such adhesives are far from achieving this title - if you are looking for a representative for this title, it will be difficult to find something better than hot-melt adhesive. It glues almost everything - it’s easier to list those materials that it is not able to connect - these are concrete, polyvinyl chloride and some types of fabric. It sticks to everything else existing in the world so that, as they say, you can’t tear it off with your teeth. A tear or break will occur faster somewhere near the glued place - that is why it can be called super-glue with complete confidence.
Advantages of hot melt adhesive
In addition to the fact that hot-melt adhesive connects almost all materials to each other, it also has other useful properties:
- Firstly, high tensile strength. According to manufacturers, in order to break the materials connected by this glue, you will need to apply a force of 150 kg.
- Secondly, it dries very quickly. The polymerization process of hot-melt adhesive, depending on the temperature of the air and the surfaces to be glued, occurs within a matter of seconds. On the one hand, this is good, but on the other hand, it presents a certain problem when connecting long or large products - you will have to adapt a little and show all your ingenuity to glue them together.
- Third, long term services. Over time, the structure of this glue is not subject to changes or disturbances under the influence of various factors - neither frost, nor the rays of the scorching sun, nor an abundance of moisture can cause any damage to the hot-melt adhesive that could change its properties.
In addition to the above-mentioned main important properties of this glue, there are also less significant ones - there are quite a lot of them. These include the absence of shrinkage and plasticity - hot melt adhesive forms a fairly rigid connection. Do you think this is good? It depends on what material you are connecting. The point is that in modern construction many Decoration Materials have a high coefficient of thermal expansion - hot melt adhesive simply will not allow such material to expand, and it will all end with the connection being broken.
In addition, the cost of hot-melt adhesive can be highlighted as an advantage - depending on the gun you use, you can buy hot-melt adhesive in tubes that have different diameter and length. Depending on this, the cost of hot-melt adhesive is determined.
Types of hot melt adhesive
Among the variety of hot-melt adhesives produced, you can find transparent and opaque stickers, white, black and even multi-colored. All of them have their own special purpose and are designed for gluing a variety of materials.
- White translucent glue. Translucent adhesive has universal properties and is designed for joining a wide range of materials. It is suitable for almost everything, and this glue is used for both domestic and industrial purposes.
- Opaque colored glue. Such tubes also have a universal purpose - their color is not a marking. It is used to connect colored products - for example, when gluing two parts of a broken red plastic shelf, a red sticker makes this connection almost invisible.
- Opaque white rods. When purchasing such hot-melt adhesive, you should be careful. They may have different purposes– in one case it can be universal adhesive composition for connecting parts white, and in another case it may be intended for gluing glass. The exact purpose of the glue must be found out from the seller in the store.
- Transparent rods yellow color. The purpose of this glue is to use it to join wood, paper and cardboard. It should not be confused with yellow opaque glue - as a rule, this is a universal composition, and the color only plays the role of a filler.
- Black or gray glue sticks. This material has practically nothing to do with adhesives - most likely, it is a sealant and is intended for sealing seams and insulating electrical conductors. It is elastic and not suitable for rigid gluing.
And these are just the main differences between the sticks of this type of glue. In some cases, they may even differ from the parameters described above. There is no clear unification of products here - therefore, before you buy hot-melt adhesive, you should find out its purpose from the seller or read it on the packaging.
The issue of choosing a gun for applying hot melt glue must be approached based on its technical characteristics and capabilities. The main ones are the diameter of the rods used, the glue supply speed and the heating temperature.
- Diameter and length of the rods used. The most commonly used glue gun refills are tubes with a diameter of 7 and 11mm. There are thicker rods, but they are used on a production scale, and the gun for them is very expensive. The length of the rods used for gluing can vary from 4 to 20 cm; any gun can handle rods of this length equally.
- Heating temperature. As a rule, hot melt adhesive liquefies at temperatures above 80˚C, but at this temperature the process is quite slow. Most manufactured pistols have a heating temperature of 150-200˚C. It should be understood that the higher this temperature, the more productive the tool is.
- Glue supply speed. Depending on the temperature and speed of heating of the glue stick, the gun can produce from 5 to 20 g of liquefied hot melt glue per minute. There are models with higher productivity, but 20 g per minute is enough for normal operation.
You should also pay attention to other parameters of glue guns. The heating time of the tool, the power it consumes, the power source used, and even special capabilities are also important. There are guns with an independent power source (battery) - they allow you to carry out work away from power lines.
An interesting design option is a hot glue gun with a glue spray function - it greatly speeds up the work of gluing large surfaces. If we are talking about wall drapery, then you cannot do without it - with the help of this gun the glue is applied to the walls in an even layer. After that, the fabric is applied and gradually heated with an iron until it sticks.
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Hot melt adhesive for a gun is a substance that acquires a viscous structure when heated to a certain temperature. Solid state it receives after complete cooling.
Choice
A wide area of use, fast fixing time and versatility ensured the popularity of this product. Its release form can be any - pillows, blocks, granules and rods, which have become most widespread and have a variety of diameters and sizes. The main advantage is the ability to use glued elements within a few minutes. Before choosing a hot melt adhesive gun, the characteristics of which depend on the shape, you need to purchase the tool with which it is used. Of course, working with this product is possible without a special gun. For example, using heating with a candle or soldering iron. But this is at least inconvenient.
Size
Glue sticks are suitable for any material, including fabric, paper, cardboard, metal, wood, plastic and others. The exceptions are PVC, plaster and concrete. The tool provides a strong bond with all other materials. Hot melt glue gun is divided by diameter. The most common are 11 and 7 mm. There are many other sizes available. In this case, the choice of one or the other depends on the available pistol. Also, stickers can have different lengths: in the range from 4 to 20 cm.
Transparent glue
Hot melt adhesive guns, whose specifications may vary, are suitable for certain materials. It comes in many shades. All types of this substance differ in properties and component composition. The white transparent sticker has become most widespread due to its versatility. It can be found in any relevant store. It is suitable for working with any base. Therefore, this option is optimal for household use and creating crafts. The transparent yellow compound is used on cardboard, paper and wood.
Colored rods
The universal category also includes options with any shades, with the exception of black. A wide range of colors allows you to choose hot melt adhesive for the gun that matches the palette of parts. For example, when working with a red vase, in order to get invisible joints, you need to take a scarlet cartridge. Opaque white stickers are suitable for gluing a white base and elements stylized as metal or glass. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the properties. But, as a rule, the shade performs only decorative functions, and the adhesive mass is universal. Hot-melt adhesive for the 11 mm "Bison" gun, gray and black, can act as an insulating material and sealant. It is ideal for sealing joints and insulation.
Temperature
Is no less important characteristic. For some rods it is 150 degrees. For others, a lower temperature is enough to work. It is worth noting that for places characterized by slight heating, less fusible glue should be selected. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the heat gun and the materials used for the work. Hot melt adhesive for a gun can be applied using various tools:
- Glue roller or head.
- With a special machine or applicator.
- Foot pedal used for equipment of professional devices.
- Household glue gun.
Compound
Ethylene vinyl acetate compounds have become most widespread. They allow you to work with a variety of substrates, including fabrics, ceramics, certain types of metals, plastics, wood and paper. There is also a polyophinol hot melt adhesive for the gun, the use of which is necessary for items exposed to a wide range of temperatures. Chemical formula ensures cleaning of the bath, nozzle and the entire instrument system from the composition that was previously used. Products based on this type are more stable, which is why they have become widespread in the electronics, packaging and automotive industries. They can be used on light metal, foil, leather, hardwood and other materials characterized by the presence of synthetic and hard resins.
Classified as a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the adhesive maintains tack. The scope of application is wide. It includes difficult-to-glue planes. It is used in the construction, automotive and large surface areas. Hot glue gun (black or any other color) with medium pressure sensitivity provides a sticky surface for 5 minutes. This best option for connecting elements that are not resistant to heat and large surfaces.
What do you need to know?
There are many different characteristics. But, first of all, it is necessary to build on the intended materials. It can be polypropylene with the addition of aluminum, spunbond, plastic, laminated surface, paper and cardboard coated with ultraviolet varnish. The subsequent impact on the material must also be taken into account. For example, transportation, contact with food products and water, temperature regime.
To obtain reliable bonding, characteristics such as shade, hardening time, and structure viscosity play a special role. The feed rate of the mass can be different. The application method is divided into automatic and manual. At the same time, a different form of composition is suitable for each type of base: tablets, pads, blocks, pins. The speed of preparation of the mass and its fluidity directly depend on the melting rate of the rod. As a rule, a tool is designed to work with a certain type of composition. Some professional options have a temperature change function.
Features of application
Hot-melt adhesive for the gun, the photo of which is presented above, can have different viscosity, depending on the distribution method. Compositions with a dense structure are applied using a disk or roller method, and a nozzle or nozzle is suitable for low-viscosity material. Compliance with the operating cycle of the equipment and the setting time is required. Also, if there is a need to replace the gluing base, you need to make sure that you do not need to replace the glue itself. Rods from different manufacturers may have different component compositions. Therefore they should not be mixed. Otherwise, the structure and characteristics may change.
Safety precautions
Hot-melt adhesive for a gun, the melting point of which depends on the composition, belongs to the category of substances with a medium degree of danger. It is characterized by low toxicity. But vapors entering the respiratory tract can contribute to short-term depression of the central nervous system. Short-term use does not require equipment with protective tools. In this case, it is advisable to ensure ventilation of the room. It is also worth noting the damage that the working method can lead to. In particular, these are burns that occur when the molten composition gets on the skin.
A device such as a hot glue gun entered the power tool market only a few years ago, so this product can not be found in every home. However, on the other hand, in every household there is a task that can be easily solved by using a glue gun, since repairing certain things using gluing is quite a common occurrence.
The glue gun owes its “combat” name to its similarity with the weapon of the same name. Indeed, the body of the product is very reminiscent of a combat pistol - a similar shape, the presence of a trigger, and a barrel. And an analogy can be drawn with cartridges - the heat gun is “charged” with glue sticks.
How to choose a hot glue gun
The choice of this product depends on the type of work for which the heat gun is purchased. Getting to know the most popular ones will help you choose the right model. important parameters, functions and additional capabilities of the pistol.
Tool class
Like other power tools, various models of heat guns are classified into professional and household models. When choosing a product for home needs, you should not pay attention to professional and expensive models, because in this case we're talking about about tools for any production.
Enterprises operate in a continuous mode with automatic and constant supply of glue rods, or positions with an increased resource and high cost. Suitable for amateur use suitable tool household class, the cost of which usually does not exceed 1000 rubles.
Consumables
The main difference between glue sticks is the size of their diameter. It can have two indicators - 7 and 11mm.
Before use, you need to find out what diameter of rods this model of glue gun supports.
If you intend to use the tool occasionally, a pistol with a seven-millimeter rod is quite sufficient.
If we are talking about permanent repair work with a relatively high glue consumption - it would be optimal to purchase a model with an eleven-millimeter rod.
For example, the glue gun model PK 11/100 of the Stavr brand. The number 11 in the article indicates the diameter of the consumable element.
Melting temperature
Even a layman can intuitively guess - the higher the heating temperature, the greater the productivity of the tool.
For a household-grade tool, the temperature ranges from 105-200 degrees. This difference is due to the fact that some materials are sensitive to high temperatures (paper, cardboard, rubber) and when working with these things the minimum melting point is set, that is, 105 degrees.
However, not all models of thermoguns have the ability to adjust the temperature, and therefore the value of this parameter is constant (for example, only 105 or only 200 degrees).
Adjustable positions are available in the line of heat guns from the Dremel brand.
Important: Glue sticks of any type are capable of turning into a liquid state under extreme conditions. minimum temperature– 105 degrees. Increasing the temperature value only increases the speed of glue release!
Performance
Some call this parameter the speed of the pistol, which is not entirely correct. These values are measured in the mass of liquid glue that the gun is capable of dispensing per unit of time (grams/minute).
The characteristic is directly proportional dependence on heating temperature.
The standard range that includes the performance values of all household glue guns is 5-35 g/min.
When choosing such a tool, you need to pay attention to the fact that the glue turns from a liquid state to a solid state again in a short period of time (hardening within 1-2 minutes, final strength is achieved 10 minutes after application).
Don't have a glue gun? In vain - useful thing! Let's see what's inside, let's learn how to use this small but very powerful tool, let's deal with technical characteristics different models, let’s decide on the main selection criteria.
There is such an instrument that, without exaggeration and any reservations, can be called folk. The glue gun is just from that series. There is no need to campaign for it, it does not need intrusive advertising and cunning marketing tricks, since many masters have long appreciated all its advantages and have registered this device in their arsenal. Despite the fact that it is not an essential tool, has a simple design and a relatively low price, a hot glue gun does an excellent job of performing a wide range of tasks, and in most cases it cannot be replaced with something else.
Builders use a glue gun to fix engineering Communication, fill the seams, seal, glue. This tool is especially loved by designers, florists, as well as craftsmen of the popular “hand-made” trend, who regularly produce all kinds of souvenirs, one-piece items, and decorative elements. Radio amateurs, model designers, and ordinary home craftsmen were not left out. Even by itself, polyurethane melt can have some decorative value - artists use it to create frame mesh structures, paint with adhesive mass on objects, get original shot (balls, beads...) from colored or metallized drops, form stylized seals for decorating postcards, invitations tickets and festive bottles, create three-dimensional pictures.
Main advantages of a glue gun
A glue gun allows you to almost instantly glue various elements, since the heated polymer hardens within just a few minutes (from 1 to 3), after which the seam acquires almost maximum strength. There is no need to wait for hours for it to set, as when working with glue such as “Liquid Nails” or “Moment”.
The melt interacts well with most materials - wood, plastics, PVC, glass, leather, metal, ceramics, paper, rubber, fabrics... The hot glue gun is not friendly only with some mineral bases, for example, concrete and plaster. Certain difficulties arise when working with polyethylene parts. As with any other glue, when using a heat gun, the surfaces to be treated must be cleaned of dirt, moisture, and oil stains.
The connection is very reliable, not inferior in strength to mechanical fastening. It can only be disassembled by heating, and on many surfaces it does not leave marks after removal (useful if drilling/drilling/hammering is not possible). Exists interesting technology paintless removal of dents on a car body, when a fungus (piston) is glued to the front surface of a stamped part in a “crater”, and then special device(minilifter) clings to the piston and pulls out the dent on the metal, then the fungus is removed by heating.
The temperature factor is also a kind of limitation - you should not use a gun when making parts that will be exposed to high temperatures. If you need to glue metal elements, you will have to heat them up (for example, with a hairdryer), since due to the high thermal conductivity of the base, the melt cools too quickly and instantly hardens.
The glue fills voids very well, seals, and impregnates. Unlike most sealants, the melt, even with large layers, hardens completely, to the entire depth, and in a short time (10-15 minutes), although not as quickly as small strokes (1-3 minutes).
The glue of such a gun is non-toxic even in a hot, fluid state. The only thing you need to be careful of is burns and damage to heat-sensitive materials.
The finished seam resists moisture well. Spare rods can be stored for a long time without losing their performance characteristics.
The gluing process turns out to be quite economical, since spare parts are relatively inexpensive (50-75% less than liquid glue of comparable volume), and the mass is dosed very accurately, with a small amount of waste.
This tool is relatively safe, easy to use and very ergonomic; it is suitable even for children's arts and crafts.
The design and principle of operation of a hot glue gun
A hot gun is a hand-held tool in which polyurethane glue is heated to a fluid state, visually it strongly resembles a well-known type of weapon (hence the common name). The unit is charged from the rear, the “cartridges” for it are cylindrical rods various diameters(most often 7 or 11 mm). The spare passes the pusher bushing and enters a tubular rubber receiver, after which we drive the rod into the heating chamber, where the material melts, acquiring adhesive and penetrating properties. The initial heating of the instrument lasts on average 3-5 minutes. When the trigger is pressed, the spare wheel, acting on the principle of a piston, creates pressure in the heated reservoir and pushes the melt through the nozzle onto the surface being treated.
Heating unit. The thermal chamber is located in the barrel - this is a metal reservoir, near which (usually at the bottom) there is a heating element, a heating element. Some models use several heaters, which allows for more uniform, stepped heating (BOSCH GKP 200 CE). The size of the chamber and the power of the heating element determine the amount of mass ready for use and the melting speed - in other words, the productivity of the tool. The thermal unit, therefore, can be considered the main one, while it is the most reliable, and its resource is usually enough for the entire service life of the tool.
Feeding mechanism. This unit is a ring pusher (sometimes with an engaging tooth), which is activated by a lever connected to a carousel-type trigger (moves around its axis) or a slider type (moves along the barrel - STANLEY GR 90C). This is a relatively capricious design; serious breakdowns sometimes occur here, especially if you apply too much effort, wanting to get a lot of glue at the end. Often the feed mechanism is too clearly “tailored” to a specific rod size, and even small deviations in its diameter cause malfunctions (difficulty feeding a large one or slipping of a thin spare wheel).
Separately, it is worth mentioning the thrust guide coupling - this is a tubular receiver located directly in front of the thermal chamber. It is this that seals the “reverse direction” and prevents the melt from entering the cavity of the gun. In fact, this element turns out to be the weakest - the rubber ages and cracks; with frequent overheating of the melt, it begins to leak material, which stops the moving parts, destroys the insulation of wires and causes short circuit. Often the coupling is damaged when trying to rotate the charged rod or pull it back, say, for replacement. It is better to cut off the rod and pass the rest through the nozzle.
Nozzle (nozzle, nozzle) The heat gun is used to give the adhesive mass a certain shape, to dose the flow and to block the outgoing channel. The nozzle usually contains a shut-off valve (spring-loaded ball, nipple), which prevents unauthorized leakage of the melt. It is worth noting that it does not completely block the nozzle, this was done deliberately to relieve excess pressure when the mass overheats, so you need to place cardboard under the nozzle in any case. Direct-flow nozzles are also used, but the loss of material through them is greater.
The nozzles are made of metal (like the thermal unit), and are covered with a rubber or silicone casing on top to prevent burns. Many models are equipped with several nozzles of different shapes and lengths. They have threads for connecting to the thermal chamber and slots for open-end wrench However, you can only change them in a heated state, otherwise everything is firmly fixed with frozen glue.
At the end of the work, the nozzle should always be cleaned of glue by running it over a piece of cardboard several times.
Thermal gun body made of hard plastics, which reduces heat transfer from the heating chamber and ensures low weight for the product - 300 grams for a corded gun is considered an average. The handle is often equipped with anti-slip inserts; as a rule, it is empty inside - wires pass there and the carousel trigger moves. All the most important things are in the trunk.
An important option of the housing is the presence of an inspection window through which you can monitor the remainder of the rod or the appearance of leakage from the side of the guide sleeve.
Almost all products have a folding stand in the front part of the body, on which you can rest the tool with its nose down; at the end of the handle there is a special coin for these purposes. During a break in work, it is not recommended to put the gun on its side, since the body (and the inside) in this case overheats greatly, and the surface on which the tool was left may also be damaged.
Choosing the technical characteristics of a glue gun
The power of a glue gun is its power consumption. heating element. It is clear that the more watts under the hood, the faster the glue “melts”, but speed is not the main thing for performance. You will also need to take into account the capacity of the melting tank. If the heating element can provide the required operating temperature, and there is the required amount of glue in the thermal chamber, then the issue of its power can not be considered at all. In general, “pro” class pistols use 300 watts or more, while products for amateur use are content with power from 30 to 150 watts.
However, if maximum power turns out to be insufficient (for our needs), then we will have to make forced pauses to prepare the melt. How to understand whether it is enough or not? No way! Do not choose by power, this indicator is “for the passport”. Choose by performance.
Interestingly, some companies offer tools with automatic adjustable power. For example, for the initial melting, the device consumes 200 W, then switches to a standard operating power of 40 W, and in standby mode about 14-16 W.
Working temperature of the melt. Not all materials are equally resistant to high temperatures, some of them are very sensitive. To work with paper, textiles, and some types of polymers, low-temperature glue sticks with a melting point of 105 ° C are used; special guns operating in this mode or devices with controlled temperatures have been developed for them. For example, the Dremel 920 produces 105 degrees, and the Dremel 930 has dual modes (105 and 165 degrees).
Traditional, average guns heat the glue to 170-200 degrees. Interestingly, almost all rods flow at 105 degrees, and heat it just speeds up the process.
If you don't intend to use the gun regularly, then it may not make sense to buy an expensive model. If you decide to save money, don’t buy a tool with the maximum operating temperature, since due to the high internal pressure, issues with durability may arise. Give preference to a unit designed for 165-170 degrees.
Advanced models allow you to regulate the temperature over a wide range; its maintenance can even be monitored by a special microcircuit.
Pistol speed is not a completely correct term, although it is quite common. It is more correct to talk about productivity, data about which indicates the mass of the melt emanating from the nozzle per unit of time. You can almost always find similar information in the product passport. As a rule, this parameter is in the range of 5-30 grams per minute. For construction work, you need a lot of glue, so rods with a diameter of 11 millimeters will be the most suitable, but they will also require appropriate performance. Moreover, the fluidity time of the mass is limited, and relatively large areas have to be coated. For amateur creativity, where point gluing is important, you can pay attention to something simpler, paying several times less. If you look at it, it is performance that will form the basis for dividing glue guns into “professional/household”.
The glue gun is powered in different ways. The most widely used network devices are those with a permanently attached wire. A step forward has become guns in which the power cable is unfastened, and the operator has the opportunity to move away from the outlet and work autonomously for 10-15 minutes (Dremel 940). Here the thermal chamber works as a heat accumulator. A logical continuation of this theme are machines that are in standby mode in a special charger, glass, or docking stand, which also collects drops. For example, Steinel GLUEMATIC 5000 works on this principle; by the way, the cord can be connected to it directly.
A cordless heat gun will give you almost complete freedom of action. Steinel Neo 3 has the following characteristics: 45 minutes of operation on a single charge of a compact lithium-ion battery, which is restored in an hour and a half, heats up a 7 mm rod to 190 degrees in 15 seconds and weighs only 786 grams (including battery). The BOSCH PKP 7.2 Li pistol has almost identical performance - only Charger he has two hours. It’s interesting that the price of such (wireless) devices has noticeably decreased; it is no longer prohibitive - it’s around $100.
Select by additional criteria
If you have decided on the appropriate technical characteristics of a glue gun, then it makes sense to look at additional options that make our work more comfortable and productive:
- The switchable temperature mode allows the tool to be used for working with materials with special properties, including heat-sensitive ones. If the preset is carried out not only “minimum and maximum”, but in a wide range, then you have the most versatile device.
- There is electronic temperature control in automatic mode, which means you don’t have to worry about overheating of the tool or large melt losses. The machine itself goes into various heating phases - initial melting / working phase / standby mode. Many experienced users have noticed that if there is no smart electronics, then during breaks in work it is better to disconnect the device from the network in order to avoid premature failure of the gun.
- Ready status indication. The LED indicates that the camera has dialed desired temperature, and the user can safely press the trigger without fear for the integrity of the feed mechanism and take-up clutch.
- A push-button switch on the housing serves to conveniently turn off the power during long breaks in operation (especially important in the absence of control electronics).
- Backlight working area using LED - built-in flashlight. It seems like a small thing, but in some cases it really helps our brother out, especially when we work “on the spot”, in hard-to-reach places.
- Replaceable nozzles. Significantly expand the capabilities of the tool, as they allow you to obtain different quantities melt at the outlet, change the size of the glue strip, reach with long nozzles into blind spots.
- The presence of a nipple in the nozzle significantly reduces the number of drops of glue released in standby mode (Metabo KE 3000).
- Inspection window - allows you to control the remainder of the charged rod, helps to monitor the integrity of the receiving coupling.
- Leg stand. It is not always quite stable and practical, and is not always securely fixed when assembled. The best samples hot glue guns have a very wide support area, which can include the claw on the handle, and even the trigger (Dremel F0131200KA).
- Trigger design. The vast majority of users note that the most convenient option- This is a rotary trigger mechanism, since it is easier for them to control the dosage and less effort needs to be applied. It is very difficult to operate a pistol without a trigger, where the rod is fed by hand, but such a system is already very rare. Some models have a screw trigger travel limiter, which is designed to adjust the maximum dose of material (ELMOS EGG 400).
- The cord disconnect function significantly improves the ergonomics of the product and makes it possible to work in autonomous mode for 10-20 minutes.
- The equipment may include a case, a set of rods for various purposes, and a heat-resistant mat that can be easily cleaned from glue.
A little about glue sticks
A glue gun spare is also called stickers. They differ in diameter (usually 7 and 11 mm), length, color, and operating temperature.
With cross-sectional indicators, everything is more or less clear; it is difficult to get mis-graded, however, some pistols are very sensitive to diameter, so it is recommended to use only “original” rods. By the way, there are pistols that operate on oval rods.
As for the length of the spare tire, there can be options from 4 to 20 cm, this will not affect the workflow in any way, just if you use longer stickers, you will have to change them less often.
The color of the rod may vary depending on various reasons. Firstly, a colored sticker can be used to mask a seam (for a blue item we take blue glue, for yellow - yellow), or for a decorative effect (rods with glitter, multi-color). Secondly, manufacturers indicate by coloring the different purposes of the rods, for example, a transparent sticker is universal, black is for sealing, yellow is for glass. Note that there are no uniform standards; each company labels rods with different chemical composition, so you should carefully study the instructions before purchasing.
The melting point for most stickers is approximately the same and equals 100-105 degrees, do not worry that your heat gun heats up to two hundred - the glue does not lose its characteristics, it just melts faster. True, there are also high-temperature rods that will need 150 °C and higher. Obviously, not every pistol can handle such a reserve.
The range of glue guns is huge, but we are now well versed in theory and can easily make right choice. As you noticed, this tool has enough simple design, so even for little money ($7-10) you can buy a completely combat-ready device, just not burdened with optional options. This is a rare case when even a purely Chinese product will be worth the money, the main thing is to learn how to use it correctly glue gun. For $40-50 you can become the owner of a branded tool from European manufacturers with advanced capabilities and a good margin of safety.