What does a hot glue gun do? What does a glue gun glue?

A glue gun (hot glue gun) is an electro-mechanical device that supplies molten glue in a certain dosage. The glue gun allows you to apply an even, neat seam. They can be used to glue almost everything except concrete, plaster, several types of polyethylene and heating parts that will simply melt the glue.

What can a glue gun do?

Before starting work, you need to clean and degrease the surface to which the material will be glued. It can be leather, paper, cardboard, fabric, plastic, earthenware, metal or rubber. The device is not only used for repair work, it is also used in handicrafts, it is used to glue rhinestones and jewelry.

To know how to use a glue gun, you should study its structure and characteristics.

The mechanism consists of several elements:

• housings;
• stands;
• trigger;
• nozzles;
• thermoelement;
• glue stick;
• cord 220 Volt;
• glue.

The glue stick is placed in a special hole and the device is connected to the network. Within 5-10 minutes, the heating element built into the gun melts it, and a little later the glue begins to come out in hot drops.

When preparing materials for gluing, markings are made, surfaces are lined, and objects are installed in the required order. After heating the rod, always check whether drops of glue come out or not. Glue sticks come in 7 mm and 11 mm. They are selected depending on the planned types of work.

When the mechanism is ready, the glue is applied quickly, precisely, to the right places. It dries within 3 minutes. If necessary, the device is allowed to cool.

The mechanism is used to seal cracks in window frames ah, when sealing the seams between tiles. It is suitable for restoring book bindings and minor shoe repairs. It is used to glue products made of wood, chipboard, ceramics, glass, and plastic. Its use will allow you to make sound insulation quickly.

Photos of glue guns are widely presented in our gallery - you can clearly see all their varieties.

The best glue guns

• HAMER GN-06 – Glues large and wide surfaces, large objects. It is powered by both mains and battery.
• DEFORT DGG-50N-K – Glues almost all types of materials. The removable metal spout is very convenient for construction work.
• BOSCH GKP 200 CE Professional - cannot be replaced when working with hard to reach places, thanks to the narrow nozzle in the components.

Their characteristics include:

• power – 35-500 Watt;
• heating temperature – 200 C;
• heating time – 2-4 minutes.

One of best qualities: versatility.

Choosing a heat gun

Before you purchase a mechanism, you need to know how to choose a glue gun. Usually pay attention to the following characteristics:

• operating temperature (from 100 to 200 C);
• type of power supply: mains or battery, or mixed;
• rod diameter (7 mm is used for periodic work, and 11 mm for large areas);
• presence of a trigger;
• temperature regime must be switchable;
• power, which determines the speed of work. Can be from 30 to 150 watts. Builders use models with a power of 300 watts.

When choosing, it is determined which tool is needed: household or professional. In professional devices, the rods are fed automatically. Manual thermoguns are household ones. Their main difference is in the speed of operation and, accordingly, in productivity.

The choice is made depending on the diameter of the rods. For example, 7 mm for household work quite enough. There are mechanisms on sale without a trigger. For convenience, it is better to purchase a mechanism with a trigger.

How the device works

To understand how a glue gun works, you should study it in cross-section and understand what functions the components perform. The work is based on the “hot” principle. A rod is placed in a metal chamber (there are transparent, translucent and painted).

At the bottom of the chamber there is a heating element, thanks to which it melts the launched “cartridge”, after which the finished glue comes out in drops.

The uses of glue guns are varied. They are used to seal samples of handicraft work, while making do with low-power mechanisms that operate for a short period of time, after which they require cooling. Glue guns are used in everyday life, when repair work Oh.

Thermal guns are economical, the glue sets a lot quickly different materials, has high strength. Items can be used within 10 minutes after gluing.

It happens that a piece of stucco on the ceiling breaks off, or the edges of the wallpaper come apart. In such cases, the device is not replaceable, precisely because of the small amount of glue. Don’t use a full bucket for such small volumes of work.

If you do right choice, an easy-to-use glue gun will last for many years, will help you easily carry out complex repair work, or will help you out when you need to glue together broken favorite items.

Photo of a glue gun

From time to time, minor troubles occur in the household when minor local repairs are required. In this case, you have to take out a toolbox and perform many operations to bring the broken thing into a usable condition. However, very often in such cases, repairs can be carried out much easier. It is enough just to use a glue gun for these purposes.

Principle of operation

Externally, such a tool resembles a drill. Its design has a similar handle on which the start button is located. In this case, the glue gun is charged with special rods made of polyurethane glue.

The principle of operation is quite simple. The glue stick enters the receiving chamber, from where it is then pushed into the heating sleeve. The latter heats up under the influence electric current, which turns the solid glue into a thick liquid that is squeezed out through the nozzle.

Connecting different surfaces

Today the market offers a wide range of glue guns, which you can pick up, for example, at Foxtrot. Using a glue gun, you can glue surfaces such as wood, plastic, glass, ceramics and fabric. Its use is also effective for gluing rubber, paper, cardboard and even carpeting. It is impossible to glue with a glue gun except concrete, polystyrene foam and polyethylene. Difficulties may also arise when gluing metal.

Use in repairs and in everyday life

Using a glue gun, you can seal the cracks in the window frames; cracked seams of tile masonry and even ensure a tight connection when carrying out plumbing work. And this is not to mention such everyday concerns as restoring the binding of a book or repairing shoes.

During repairs, a glue gun is especially indispensable when it is necessary to connect materials on the surfaces of which, for one reason or another, it is impossible to use connecting fasteners, for example, self-tapping screws or nails. In this case, the glue helps solve the problem quite effectively and with less effort and time.

Handicraft use

Since a glue gun allows you to combine different textures, it is widely used not only for repairs, but also in handicrafts. It is used to glue fabric, genuine leather and artificial leather. It is also indispensable when it is necessary to glue various jewelry or rhinestones.

The main advantage of a glue gun is its very fast connection glued surfaces. As a rule, this takes from 40 seconds to 3 minutes. Thanks to the wide selection of color shades of glue sticks, the gluing area can be made quite aesthetically pleasing appearance. At the same time, the polyurethane mass provides high strength connections, regardless of whether homogeneous surfaces are glued, for example, wood to wood, or different ones, for example, glass and plastic.

What to consider when choosing a model

When choosing a glue gun, you should be guided by it technical characteristics. First of all, this is the power indicated in its passport. Thus, if you intend to use a glue gun only for needlework, an inexpensive device with a power of up to 150 W is quite suitable for you. If the pistol has a power of 150-250 watts, then these are already semi-professional models. At the same time, if you intend to have a glue gun as a serious aid in repairs, you will need a professional device whose power will be above 250 W.

One more important factor When choosing a glue gun is heating. Models with two heating modes will certainly be more convenient to use. However, if this option is not affordable, it would be preferable to use a glue gun whose operating temperature is 165–175°C.

What to look for when choosing a hot glue gun

The hot glue gun is a relatively new device, but it has rapidly gained popularity due to its versatility, simplicity and ease of use.

Hot glue gun device

The body of the glue gun is made of durable heat-resistant plastic, its handle (1) has anti-slip inserts or a relief pattern, and inside the handle there is a carousel mechanism for feeding the rod with a trigger protruding outward (2). For a stable position during a break in work, the device is equipped with a folding stand (3).

There is an inspection window (4) at the top of the gun, which allows you to visually monitor the remaining glue stick. Inside the barrel of the hot-melt glue gun there is a thermal chamber (5), in which the rod melts and the adhesive mass is then discharged out through the nozzle (6). Many gun models are equipped with a temperature regulator (7) for the heat chamber.

Professional and amateur

The choice between a professional and an amateur tool should be made based on the frequency of its use and the amount of work it performs.

Professional pistols are more durable, but also more expensive. The price of an amateur instrument is more affordable, however, their service life is significantly less.

Professional glue guns are capable of melting and dispensing up to 30 grams of melt in one minute, while for amateur tools this figure rarely reaches 10 g/min.

If a hot glue gun is needed to perform construction or repair work with a significant amount of glue used, it is better to choose it from the professional line of tools. In the case when the gun is used in creative activities to apply glue in the form of small dots, opt for amateur devices.

Glue stick diameter

Currently, glue sticks are widely used in 2 sizes, having a diameter of 7.3 mm and 11.3 mm. In everyday life, for simplicity, tenths of millimeters are omitted, calling the rods 7- and 11-mm.

It is clear that hot glue guns are designed to work with rods of a certain diameter, so the guns, in turn, are also divided into devices for 7- and 11-mm glue sticks.

7 mm rods, due to their smaller diameter (and volume), heat up faster and do not require much effort to apply glue. 11mm rods require more time to heat up, but they have more glue yield, and they will have to be recharged less often than 7mm ones.

Thermal chamber heating temperature

Depending on the heating temperature of the thermal chamber, low-temperature (from 1050 C) and high-temperature (from 1650 C) hot-melt glue guns are distinguished.

Low-temperature guns melt the rod into glue more slowly and cool faster, but you cannot do without them if you have to work with heat-sensitive materials such as polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam. These materials, if a high-temperature gun is used, will simply be melted by glue heated to temperatures above 1650 C.

To work with other materials, you can safely use a high-temperature gun, which quickly prepares the adhesive mixture and cools slowly.

Nutrition method

The most common thermal cooking devices today are glue mixture are pistols with electric cable, powered from a 220 V household network.

There are hot glue guns on the tool market, in which, after heating the thermal chamber to the desired temperature, you can unfasten the power cable and then perform glue work for about 10 minutes without being tied to an electrical outlet.

More advanced models are instruments equipped with a special base unit in the form of a stand. The heat gun installed in such a block receives power from electrical network through the contact group, and its thermal chamber remains heated all this time.

And they are completely independent of the source alternating current hot-melt devices equipped with batteries that last for 40-45 minutes of operation, after which they need an hour and a half recharging.

How to choose a glue gun? Thermal guns of different power and with temperature regulator.

Nozzle attachments

Inexpensive amateur models are usually equipped with one non-removable nozzle. The kit with a professional gun usually includes a set of nozzle attachments of various configurations.

By changing the nozzles, you can change the diameter of the glue strip, and using a long nozzle will make it possible to supply glue even to hard-to-reach places.

Useful options

Vybrat-kleevoy-pistolet07 The presence of a temperature mode switch will make the tool universal, suitable for working with heat-sensitive materials.

The function is very useful automatic adjustment temperature, which independently switches the gun from heating mode to standby mode and back.

The readiness indicator, which lights up when the thermal chamber reaches operating temperature, will help to avoid damage to the take-up coupling and the rod feed mechanism due to premature pressure on the trigger.

How to use a hot glue gun correctly. To make the glue gun last a long time

The service life of a hot glue gun directly depends on the quality of the tool and the correct use of it. Let's talk about the last factor in more detail.

Advantages of a glue gun

Due to the fact that it takes 1 to 2 minutes for the heated polymer to harden, a hot glue gun allows you to quickly glue the most various materials: wood, metal, all types of plastics, rubber, ceramics, fabrics and paper. It is not suitable for working with plaster and concrete; there may be problems when gluing polyethylene.

The strength of the adhesive joint obtained using this tool is almost as good as mechanical fastening, and it can be dismantled only after heating the glued parts.

The hot glue gun also impresses with its efficiency: waste adhesive composition are minimized through the use of a dosing device, and the cost of glue sticks is several times lower than the cost of the same volume of traditional liquid glue.

Preparing the tool for work

Select a glue stick required diameter(7 or 11 mm) and insert it into the special hole in the rear of the gun body until it stops. Don’t be confused by the fact that some part of the rod will remain protruding from the gun; this is completely normal and does not affect the workflow in any way.

Place the tool on a stand (folding or stationary), check the stability of its position and insert the fork network cable V electrical outlet, turn on the power button.

For the thermal chamber to warm up to operating temperature, it will take from 4 to 8 minutes depending on the power heating element.

A special indicator on the tool body will indicate that the glue gun is ready for use. If there is no such indicator on your gun, you can check the readiness of the thermal chamber by lightly pressing the trigger of the feed mechanism. A drop of glue emerging from the nozzle will unmistakably indicate that the tool can be used.

If the gun nozzle is not equipped with an anti-drip system, a drop of glue appearing from its nose will indicate the readiness of the tool.

Working with a hot glue gun

The volume of glue coming out of the tool is regulated by the depth and number of times the trigger of the feed mechanism is pressed.

Pull the trigger, squeezing it out of the gun nozzle required quantity glue, apply glue to the surfaces to be glued. The penetrating ability of heated glue is maintained for approximately ten seconds after leaving the nozzle. It is during this time that you need to have time to press the parts to be glued together and fix them within a minute.

If a large volume of glue is applied, its hardening time increases several times, and the required fixation time for the parts to be glued increases accordingly. Sometimes it can reach 5-10 minutes.

During even short breaks in work, place the tool on the stand with the nozzle down. This is necessary so that the molten adhesive mass does not flow into the feed mechanism and damage it.

During operation, the glue stick runs out sooner or later. The signal that it is necessary to insert a new rod into the gun will be the cessation of the supply of adhesive from the nozzle simultaneously with the weakening of the resistance of the trigger when it is pressed.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to replace an unused glue stick with another one. In this case, clasping the old rod with two fingers, carefully rotate it back and forth around its axis, and then remove it from the thermal chamber.

Having inserted a new rod into the gun, press the trigger to remove the remnants of the old adhesive composition and only then continue working.

Attention! To avoid damage to the thermal chamber and feed mechanism, all work on removing and replacing rods must be done with the gun turned on and warmed up to operating temperature.

Keep track of the time you use the tool. It is not recommended to keep amateur hot glue guns on for more than 20 minutes. U professional tool this time range is 1 to 2 hours.

When working with a glue gun, thin glue threads often stretch behind the nozzle, reminiscent of a cobweb. Don't worry, let them cool and then remove them by peeling them off or wrapping them around your hand.

How to use a glue gun

Don't have a glue gun? In vain - useful thing! Let's see what's inside, learn how to use this small but very powerful tool, and understand the 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.

Using a glue gun, builders fix utility lines, fill seams, seal, and 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 on my own polyurethane melt may be of some decorative value - artists use it to create frame mesh structures, paint with adhesive mixture on objects, obtain original shot (balls, beads...) from colored or metallized drops, form stylized seals for decorating postcards, invitation cards and holiday bottles, create voluminous paintings.

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). There is an interesting technology for 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 solidifies.

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 short time(10-15 min), although not as fast as small strokes (1-3 min).

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 for a long time can be stored without loss of 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

The hot gun represents hand tool, in which polyurethane glue heats up to a fluid state, visually it strongly resembles a well-known type of weapon (hence the generally accepted name). The unit is charged with back side, the “cartridges” for it are cylindrical rods of 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 reserve, 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, and with frequent overheating of the melt, it begins to leak material that stops the moving parts, destroys the insulation of the wires and causes a 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 is usually located stop 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 come with multiple attachments different shapes and length. They have threads for connecting to the thermal chamber and slots for an open-end wrench, however, they can only be changed in a heated state, otherwise everything is firmly fixed with hardened 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 the power consumption of its 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 automatically 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 have been developed for them that operate in this mode, or devices with temperature controlled. 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 high temperature simply 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. We decided to save money - do not purchase a tool with a 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 it is necessary to coat relatively large areas. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Ready status indication. The LED indicates that the camera has reached the desired temperature, and the user can safely press the trigger without fear for the integrity of the feed mechanism and take-up clutch.
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The presence of a nipple in the nozzle significantly reduces the number of drops of glue released in standby mode (Metabo KE 3000).
8. Inspection window - allows you to control the remainder of the charged rod, helps to monitor the integrity of the receiving coupling.
9. 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).
10. 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).
11. The cord disconnect function significantly improves the ergonomics of the product and makes it possible to work in autonomous mode for 10-20 minutes.
12. The equipment package may include a case, a set of rods for various purposes, heat-resistant, easy-to-clean mat.

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 intended to mask a seam (for a blue object we take blue glue, for a yellow object - yellow), or for decorative effect(rods with glitter, multi-color). Secondly, tinting manufacturers indicate different purposes 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 the 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 a glue gun correctly. For $40-50 you can become the owner of a branded tool from European manufacturers with advanced capabilities and a good margin of safety.

Useful tips

Regular glue gun with hot glue can be used not only for gluing various parts, but also for creating various patterns and crafts.

When working with hot glue, be careful and give Special attention child safety, because the glue gun heats up and the glue comes out very hot.

Here are some very interesting and extraordinary ideas on how else you can use a glue gun and hot glue:

Crafts made from glue. We use wax crayons.

You will need:

Glue gun

Wax crayons

* It is possible that after using wax crayons, your glue gun will deteriorate, so it is advisable to use an old or inexpensive gun.

*If children are working on the project, be careful when working with a hot glue gun and hot melted crayons.

1. Remove the labels (papers) from the crayons.

2. Cover your work area with an old towel.

3. Heat up the glue gun.

4. Carefully insert the chalk into the glue gun and gradually press it down. The glue gun trigger won't be able to push them through, so you'll have to do it by hand.

5. The wax will begin to melt and you will be able to use colored wax drops to create colorful blots.

Wax stamping is another way to use wax crayons and a glue gun to create vibrant images.

DIY glue crafts. Decorate a vase or candlestick with hot glue.

You will need:

Inexpensive, round vase or candlestick

Heat the glue and begin to carefully apply it to the vase, layer by layer, so that you end up with transparent lines on the walls of the vase.

If you want to make straighter lines, ask someone to help you - let them twist the vase for you while you apply the glue.

Unusual crafts. Hot glue corals.

You will need:

Thin wire

Hot glue gun

Acrylic paint

Brush

Piece of plywood

Nails and hammer.

Making red coral

1. Cut the wire into several pieces of different lengths. In this example, their length varies from 10 to 40 cm. Bend each piece in half.

2. Heat the glue and carefully cover all the pieces of wire with it.

3. Select the color you want to paint the coral, in this case red. Use acrylic paint to paint the glue on the wires.

4. When the paint is dry, you can assemble all the parts into one coral. Take 2-3 pieces of wire with glue and connect them together using another thin, clean wire (not covered with glue).

Add 2 more parts to the structure and connect them again with clean wire.

In order for the coral to stand on a flat surface, all ends of the clean wires must be twisted and bent into the shape of a stand (see image).

Making white coral

1. Cut 3 pieces of wire, each between 30 and 35 cm long, and twist their ends together.

2. Bend all the wires the way you like and place them on a flat surface to which hot glue will not stick - glass, for example.

3. Cover all the wires with glue. After this, you can add additional branches of glue to your design.

4. Once you have the coral in the shape you want, let the glue dry and paint it white acrylic paint.

5. To make the base for the craft, prepare a piece of plywood and attach the ends of the wires to it with nails.

6. Cover the ends with glue and paint with acrylic paint.

Unusual DIY crafts. Snowflakes made from hot glue.

You will need:

Hot glue gun

Nail polish or acrylic paint

Parchment paper (NOT waxed (wax) paper)

A drawn snowflake shape (if desired).

1. Print or draw a snowflake on a regular sheet of paper and place the design under parchment paper.

2. Using a glue gun and hot glue, trace the snowflake design. Wait a minute for the glue to dry.

If necessary, after the glue has dried, you can straighten the shape a little using a hairdryer.

3. Carefully remove the snowflake from the paper. The paper can be further used to create several more snowflakes.

4. Both sides of the glue snowflake can be painted with nail polish or acrylic paint.

Original DIY crafts . Rolling pin with a pattern.

You will need:

Any rolling pin

Felt pen

1. Draw any pattern on the rolling pin. It is advisable not to draw too many lines.

2. Heat the glue and start applying it to the lines drawn on the rolling pin. It is advisable to carry out the entire process on a flat surface covered with newspaper or cardboard.

3. Once the glue is dry, you can use a rolling pin to create a design on the clay by rolling it out.

The glue can be removed and a different pattern applied.

Original crafts. Glass holder for candle.

You will need:

Small glass vase or glass

Hot glue gun

Aerosol or acrylic paint

Spray oil or simple vegetable oil.

It is advisable to choose a wide vase so that the heat from the candle inside does not heat the glue, which may leak.

1. Wash and dry the vase, then wipe it with vegetable oil and a paper napkin.

2. Start applying hot glue to reverse side the bottom of the vase, drawing patterns with it. The main thing is that all the lines intertwine well so that it is easier to remove the glue from the vase.

Continue drawing patterns with glue on the sides of the vase.

It is advisable to wear glasses to protect your eyes, as the glue will heat the glass.

3. Once the glue has dried, carefully begin to separate the design from the vase. You may need to use a screwdriver, knife, or other tool to make it easier to separate the design from the glass vase.

4. Clean the vase from any remaining glue. Use dishwashing detergent.

5. Paint the glue design. If you are using spray paint, read the instructions carefully and act according to them.

Now you can insert a glass or vase into the candle holder and you will get an excellent interior decoration.

Interesting crafts for children. Multi-colored dots for various crafts.

You will need:

Hot glue gun

Acrylic paint or nail polish

Brush.

It will take a little practice to get these straight pieces, but eventually you will get the hang of it, and all these pieces can be used to make various crafts and cards.

Each dot can be painted with acrylic paint or nail polish.

Crafts for children: do-it-yourself printing (video)

* First, cover the table surface with a special silicone board or silicone oilcloth.

Crafts for the home: making a vase from glue (video)

Interesting DIY crafts. Makeup brush cleaning board