From the time of the first primitive tools to the creation of spaceships, a person as a creator constantly needs to combine simple elements, creating something more complex and functional. What people did not use to solve this difficult task: from ropes and nails to welding and glue. At the same time, the use of one method or another is a constant compromise between our desires and the capabilities of a particular type of fastener. After all, you really want to make the connection not only reliable, but also durable, aesthetic and not expensive, and the process itself is fast.
One stop solution for fast connection
If we don't talk about space technologies, then for the home there is a close to ideal way of connecting everything with everything, and it has a simple name - a glue gun.
Reviews about this device from both the male and female half of humanity are surprisingly the same - everyone recognizes its functionality and believes that it must be present amongtools of a home craftsman or needlewoman.
What's good about hot melt adhesive?
The fixing material in this connection method is hot melt adhesive, which is a plastic. More precisely, a thermoplastic polymer that melts at high temperature and re-solidifies during cooling, providing a strong bond between completely dissimilar materials. Although this method of fastening is not as strong as rivets or screws, it is the speed of gluing and the versatility of application that made the heat gun so popular: it allows you to securely connect wood and fabric, rubber and glass, plastic and … almost anything in minutes. In this case, the use of a glue gun for needlework and minor repairs opens up truly unlimited possibilities, and the bonding material has a number of undeniable advantages over other types of glue, namely:
- Long shelf life.
- Low (or no) requirements for disposal.
- Minimal waste.
- No VOCs.
- Quick dry.
- No loss of thickness during curing.
- Providing reliable isolation and protection of the junction.
- Consumables (applicators) for the glue gun are simple and inexpensive.
- Available in a variety of colors to make the connection virtually invisible.
There are glue sticks that guarantee almost instant fixation, and sticks witha longer curing period, which allows for accurate positioning of parts during assembly.
Adhesive with reagents, special additives or UV radiation provides extra bond strength. Some of them exceed the bonding strength of epoxy resin.
The most common glue sticks for fine and precise work are 7-8 mm in diameter (usually low-temperature ones), while high-temperature applicators with a cross section of 11-12 mm are used in repair and construction.
How to work with a thermal gun
The heat gun is not difficult to use, but knowing some simple rules when working with it will quickly achieve the desired result.
Before using the glue gun, you need to study the instructions well. Please read the safety tips carefully to minimize the risk of accident or injury while using the tool. The manual also tells you what size and type of glue sticks you'll need for the job.
Before connecting, carefully inspect the body and power cord of the glue gun for damage, as a faulty tool can be extremely dangerous.
Make sure the nozzle does not contain hardened plastic build-up from previous work, which may prevent the melted adhesive from flowing freely through the nozzle. If necessary, it must be removed and wiped with a piece of aluminum foil,removing dried material. You can use a toothpick to clean the feed opening. Always make sure that the glue gun is cleaned before starting work, as at best you will have to wait until it warms up and the cured layer evaporates, and at worst the device will fail.
Never use water for cleaning as this may short circuit the wiring.
A new glue stick is inserted by pushing it all the way into the round hole on the back of the gun. It is allowed to leave unused adhesive inside the device after completion of work. The next applicator can be installed after the previous one has melted.
Now the heat gun can be connected to a power source (electrical outlet for wired or battery base for standalone). After pressing the turning on toggle switch, which is equipped with the best glue guns, the heating element will automatically begin to melt the glue rod. In different models, the warm-up period is from two to ten minutes (most often 3-5 minutes). An indicator of readiness for work is the free flow of glue when the feed mechanism (trigger) of the thermal gun is pressed. Do not forget to take precautions, since the melting point of most rods is well over 100 ºC, so do not leave the power tool unattended and place it on a special heat-resistant stand.
Point the nozzle of the glue gun down and place it as close as possible to thematerials. Gently pull the trigger or (if not available) gently push the rod until the molten adhesive begins to flow out of the nozzle, covering the surface of the future connection. Before using the heat gun for work that requires high precision, it is recommended to practice on scraps of materials to be joined in order to get a feel for all the intricacies of working with the tool.
It is advisable to work with gloves to protect your hands from possible burns and contamination.
Work with a small amount of glue, empirically determining its optimal consumption - it depends on the type of glued material and the area of the treated surface. Too much glue can seriously ruin the look or make the parts being fastened unusable.
The adhesive cures within minutes, sometimes it is necessary to firmly fix the fastened materials with hands or clamps.
When finished, turn off the glue gun and clean the nozzle of glue residue.
Some usage restrictions
While no other adhesives can provide the versatility of hot melt adhesives, this bonding method is unfortunately not the best solution for all possible mounting options. The high melting point of the glue stick can damage delicate materials. These types of compounds break down when exposed to certain solvents and temperatures above the melting point of the hotmelt.
To solve these problems, useoptions other than a glue gun. Which is better to choose will depend on the specific conditions. Using hot melt adhesive, using low temperature compounds or protecting the fixation site from aggressive chemical influences and overheating, is a very reasonable solution.
Principal device of the thermal gun
Regardless of types, models and manufacturers, whether it is a BOSCH glue gun or a brand completely unknown to you, the basic principle of operation will be similar for all devices of this type.
The hot-melt gun is an ergonomic plastic housing that houses a heating element that melts hot-melt adhesive and a dispenser that delivers glue through a cone-shaped nozzle to the gluing site. This, in fact, ends the similarity between cheap crafts and a noteworthy instrument. Therefore, to choose the best glue gun for your home, read in detail the additional functionality of the product, which allows you not only to get the job done, but to make it as comfortable and safe as possible.
Today, manufacturers offer functionality designed for the most demanding user, but this inevitably affects the price. Asking the question of which glue gun is better to choose, you will not get a definite answer, since you first need to decide for what needs it will be used. This will allow you to choose the parameters of the device that can meet your needs. Let's analyze the degree of significance of the indicators that allowchoose a glue gun for home.
Hot power vs cool delicacy
One of the key indicators is the melting point of the rod. The operating range of high-temperature tools is +380 ºC and above, which means that children are not allowed to use them unattended. And adults are required to be especially careful when working.
This option provides better fastening of rigid materials (wood, metal, thick cardboard, plastic, thick fabrics), and such adhesives are resistant to chemical and thermal stress. All these factors determined the mass use of high-temperature adhesive in minor and major repairs, in construction, furniture production, interior cladding, etc.
The low-temperature mode is designed for a temperature range of +105…+250 ºC, it is often used in glue guns for needlework, as it allows you to connect very delicate materials (light fabric, paper, thin plastics) without damaging their structure and external view. In addition, it is much safer than its too "hot" counterpart, which allows you to involve children in work and creativity. True, you should not count on high bond strength and performance.
For those who like to get everything at once, the model that provides both heating modes will be the best glue gun option. They cost much more, as a rule, they are quite bulky, which creates additional difficulties when performing small tasks.works.
The more powerful, the faster
The melting speed and temperature of the glue stick depend on the electric power of the heat gun. For models designed for small jobs, it is 15-60 W, and for high-temperature heating it ranges from 100 to 500 W.
Many users lean towards the middle ground and use a 100 watt hot glue gun to ensure high bond strength. For gluing delicate materials, fusible rods are used, while reducing their heating time.
And to sit like a glove
The heat gun is a manual type device, and if you plan to use it often, pay attention to the issue of ergonomics: the weight of the tool, dimensions, handle comfort, the presence or absence of a feeder (swivel or sliding).
Small hot glue guns are easy to hold and allow you to easily reach the hardest to reach places. These are low power devices that use small applicators and are great for crafts and small repairs, but don't count on them for large projects.
Full-size hot air guns dispense adhesive in much larger portions, they are bulky, have more weight, which is associated with difficulties in applying with high requirements for the accuracy of the adhesive fit. These machines offer more power and are ideal for large projects that require high reliability and fast bonding.
As for the feeder, the mostinexpensive guns do not have it at all, or rather, these functions are assigned to your finger, which needs to periodically press the applicator to release the melted glue through the nozzle. Models like these are meant to be used infrequently.
Pay attention to the trigger version, which allows you to dose the adhesive material by lightly pressing the rotary mechanism (trigger or slider). High-quality models (for example, the Dremel glue gun) guarantee smooth control of the supply of the glue stick, which, in addition to direct savings in consumables, allows you to make the connection more accurate and does not tire your hand.
Weight and price are a worthy price to pay for mobility
There are situations where the use of a glue gun is justified, but not possible due to the lack of an electrical outlet nearby. In this case, the best choice, of course, will be an autonomous battery thermal gun. The disadvantages of this type of tool are heavy weight, the need to recharge the battery at the most inopportune moment and a rather high cost.
A compromise option are models with a detachable cord, which allow, after disconnecting the gun from the mains, to work for another 10-20 minutes, depending on the power of the device and the type of glue stick.
Such important little things
Before choosing a glue gun, pay attention to the presence of a non-return valve and anti-drip function in the model. This technology will protect the tool fromhot glue from getting on the trigger and into the contact compartment if it is used with the nozzle up, and also prevents glue from seeping through the nozzle when there is no pressure on the feeder.
Additional features to consider when buying a glue gun:
- The presence of a temperature mode switch and an overheating LED indicator.
- Possibility of automatic control of the heating amount.
- Ensuring visual control of the state of the adhesive element.
- Shape holder.
- Presence of local illumination of the working surface.
- The presence of a power control button on the case.
To a greater or lesser extent, we have considered the main pros and cons of different types of glue guns. Even having decided on what device parameters you need for work, you should not neglect the elementary inspection of the tool to make sure of the following:
- The body plastic has no pungent odor, chips or other damage.
- All structural elements are carefully fitted and do not dangle when touched.
- The cord and plug for wired models have a section corresponding to the power consumption of the gun and provide sufficient length for comfortable work.
- Feeding trigger is pressed easily, without snags.
- The holder provides a secure hold for the instrument.
- Heating when checking the tool is fast, no strong chemical smell.
There are many different types of adhesives these days.pistols, ranging from small hand-held (hook type) used in needlework and schools, up to powerful devices successfully used in construction and manufacturing. The main task when choosing them is to harmonize your needs with the offered opportunities.
