What is glued with a hot-melt gun?
The main task that this tool must solve is connecting parts using heated glue. Hardening of this material occurs within a few minutes. Its advantage with instant adhesive joints is that the worker has a small margin of time to correct mistakes. The use of a glue gun and compounds specially produced for these devices allows you to connect different materials together, for example:
- wood;
- metal materials;
- concrete;
- polymers;
- glass;
- natural and artificial stone and many others.
Using a glue gun
Solving everyday problems
A glue gun is an indispensable tool in the household. With its help you can prepare your apartment for a cold winter. If you have old wooden windows, through the cracks of which a large amount of heat escapes, then you can seal them using this glue.
If a piece of tile breaks off in the bathroom or kitchen, it can be easily fixed in place using polyurethane glue. Punched rubber boots can be easily repaired using such a gun. It will be enough to degrease the surface well and apply the composition to the surface. It will perfectly seal the gap, which will prevent water from getting inside again.
PVA glue was previously used to connect some parts of furniture products. But we had to wait quite a long time for it to gain strength. With a glue gun this happens much faster. It is enough to melt the rods to the required consistency and fill the holes with them. Some types of paper cannot be glued using this gun. This is due to the glossy surface, which prevents the adhesion of the molten rod from occurring.
Using a glue gun
Before using a glue gun in practice, it is advisable to understand how it works and what needs to be prepared for it to work effectively.
This device resembles a real combat pistol. In its manufacture, heat-resistant polymer materials are used - this reduces the weight of this equipment and the strength of the case. The product is equipped with a handle by which a person holds the device during operation. Some models have indentations for fingers. Most models of heat guns operate on AC power, with a voltage of 220 V. There are also models that operate on a replaceable battery.
The glue, made in the form of a rod, is installed in a hole located in the rear part of the device. To melt the glue stick, a heater is used, which heats it to the required condition. The time it takes to bring the rod into working condition can range from three to seven minutes.
Of course, before starting work, you must carefully study the operating instructions and safety rules for working with electric tools of this class.
The heat gun operates on electricity and is a high-risk device. That is, it is necessary to follow some rules, for example, there should be no cracks or damage on the body. In addition, you need to make sure that the gun nozzle is not clogged with glue residue. If this happens, then it needs to be cleaned. Otherwise, the passage of the melt will be difficult and gluing will require more time.
Thermal gun for handicrafts
By the way, when choosing a glue stick, you must be guided by the capabilities of the heat gun. In addition, when choosing an adhesive material, it is necessary to focus on the color of the parts being glued.
Additional features
When choosing a gun, you should pay attention to how the feed mechanism is made. It can be carousel or slider. The first type is more difficult to use, because it does not require pressing the trigger, but turning it, which can be inconvenient. Different types of rods may differ in melting temperature. To solve this problem, it is better to purchase a gun that has a built-in regulator. It makes it possible to preset the required operating mode. If you need mobility when making crafts, then you can get a battery-powered gun. It can function without a central power supply.
Direct operation of the glue gun
The glue stick is inserted into the hole, which is located in the back of the device. After this, the device can be turned on. Typically, you can use a switch to adjust the heating temperature of the glue. Before the glue comes into working condition, you need to wait some time, depending on the model, it can take from 3 to minutes. As soon as the device enters operating mode, the signal lamp on the housing will light up. In addition, as soon as the glue is ready to be applied to the prepared surface, droplets of molten glue will form at the end of the nozzle.
The surface to be bonded must be properly prepared. In particular, dirt, traces of oils and grease must be removed from the surface.
The volume of glue can be adjusted by pressing the trigger with different force. For gluing, it is necessary to use a measured amount of molten glue.
It should be remembered that excess adhesive will be difficult to remove after it has cooled. When heated, the glue retains its plasticity for about 10 seconds.
After applying the glue, you need to press the parts together. By the way, the more glue, the longer it will take to harden.
If you have to take breaks during work, then it is advisable to install the gun on a special stand. It is designed in such a way that the gun is in an inclined position.
Another. Professional devices can be operated for no more than 2-2 hours continuously, and household devices for no more than 20 minutes, after which the device must rest for some time.
Upon completion of work, it is necessary to clean the nozzle from traces of glue. To do this, you can use paper or soft material.
Thermal gun device
In fact, using a heat gun is quite simple; you just need to carefully follow the instructions in the instruction manual and follow the safety rules.
Problems and their solutions
The most common problem when working with a heat gun is that the glue flows uncontrollably, without pressing the trigger. There may be several reasons:
- The temperature is too high for a particular rod. It is optimal when the heat gun has a heating regulator to set the required melting degrees. Otherwise you will have to replace the rods. In a good gun, the nozzle has a ball valve - the so-called drip protection;
- The rod is inserted too tightly. Sometimes it helps to move it back a little;
- rod diameter mismatch. Some models require decimal sizes. For example, Sigma - 11.2 mm. If you put an 11 mm rod into such a device, a pressure difference occurs inside the heater, and the glue flows back. Using rods of the correct diameter solves the issue;
- low quality pistol. You can insert a toothpick into the nozzle during a pause in work. Or accept it and try to finish the work as quickly as possible: the contents flow out very quickly.
If the glue stops coming out, the gun may be clogged. It is disassembled and cleaned. To avoid this, do not allow glue to stick around the nozzle.
You can get excellent results and joy from work only with a working hot glue gun
For battery-powered models, the glue sometimes becomes viscous and has difficulty passing through the nozzle. You need to reheat the device in the charging station.
In cheap models, when there is a break in use for several minutes, the pusher gets stuck in the soft rod and cannot move it. You need to turn off the gun and let it cool.
If the glue stretches like a thread and you can’t apply a dot, craftswomen advise keeping the rods in the refrigerator. Most likely they are of low quality.
How to change the color of the rod correctly
To prime the gun, the rod is simply inserted into a special hole at the back. After finishing work, you don’t have to remove it. Then the next time you turn on the device will be immediately ready for use.
A little trick. Short glue sticks have to be added frequently during the process. Using a heat gun, glue 2-4 sticks together - you will get one large one, which will last for a long time.
Sometimes it is necessary to change the color of the coming out glue, for example, blue to transparent. If the gun has cooled down, turn it on for about 1 minute, then carefully unscrew the rod. Charge a new one, press the trigger to squeeze out the remnants of the old one until the desired color appears.
The new rod, after insertion, by smoothly pressing the trigger, completely pushes out the remnants of the old one
How to use glue sticks without a gun
How to use a glue gun correctly is described in detail in the instruction manual. But sometimes, there is a need to glue parts in places where a gun simply cannot be reached. In this case, you can use a glue stick without a gun.
Hot melt adhesive
The melting point of the glue is within 80 °C. This temperature can be obtained using a soldering iron, hair dryer, candle, etc.
Hobby Application
Modern needlewomen, whose crafts require quickly connecting various parts, cannot do without glue guns. With their help, it is easy to create intricate shapes and patterns that would be impossible to hold using traditional glue. Melted rods do an excellent job of gluing natural and artificial fabrics together and various components with them.
For example, it is easy to put artificial pearls or rhinestones on such glue. Manufacturers of glue sticks in some cases may add a certain dye to them. This makes the cured glue almost invisible on the finished craft. There is freedom in combining materials, because there are practically no barriers to the glue in the rods.
Power when choosing an electric heat gun
When choosing a glue gun, it is advisable to be guided by its power characteristics. You must understand that the higher the power of the heating element, the faster the glue will reach working condition.
Equipment used by professionals consumes from 300 W, devices intended for home use consume from 30 to 150 W.
There are often cases when the power developed by the device is not enough to solve the assigned tasks. In this case, there is a need for pauses necessary to create the required amount of melt. Based on the above, we can draw a simple conclusion: power consumption is an important parameter, but it is advisable to choose a device based on performance.
Some manufacturers are promoting variable power equipment on the market. That is, to obtain a melt, the heater mounted in the gun consumes 200 W, and as it reaches operating mode, it reduces it and consumes, for example, 35-40 W. The device consumes only 10-16 W in standby mode.
Professional heat gun MS200
Another subtlety regarding the technical parameters of glue guns is the operating temperature of the adhesive composition. We must always remember that it is not materials that withstand high temperatures. For example, to work with fabrics, paper and a number of polymers, it is necessary to use low-temperature compounds. Or the equipment must be equipped with the ability to select the temperature. On the market you can find equipment that can operate in two ranges of 105-165 °C. This engineering solution allows us to expand the scope of application of the hot glue gun.
Operating principle of a glue gun
Gluing with a heat gun is quite simple. It includes a heating device. A rod made of adhesive material enters the zone of its action. Sometimes it is called a cartridge. The gun operates from an electric current of 220 V.
Welding plastic with a glue gun
When the device is turned on, the heater is activated. The heating temperature reaches 100-210 °C. The glue melts and flows to the joint of the parts. Hot glue is applied to this place through a nozzle.
What is a glue gun used for?
What is a glue gun used for and what does it glue? It's easier to say what he doesn't like. Using this small and convenient device, joints are sealed and installation seams are filled. It allows you to speed up the installation of ventilation in the garage and ensures quick installation of sound insulation. It makes it easy to glue up loose wallpaper or a curved baseboard on the ceiling or in a hard-to-reach corner. A stick-on gun will quickly and easily attach ceiling moldings or wall appliques.
Many types of force majeure repairs are carried out using softened and carefully dosed glue, including gluing up a decorative plaster stone that accidentally flew off - do not dilute a bucket of mortar just for the sake of one bounced tile. Designers and radio amateurs resort to the adhesive tool; it is useful for modeling and design. There are craftsmen who are able to add design advantages to the adhesive mass itself, placing it in balls, elongated beads or colorful rain on walls, panels, postcards and souvenirs. So the capabilities of such pistols are not limited to repairs.
Photo of glue gun, e-ukrservice.com
Pictured is a glue gun, e-ukrservice.com
Photo of a cordless glue gun, e-ukrservice.com
Photo - what can be glued with a glue gun, e-ukrservice.com
Photo - how to choose a glue gun, e-ukrservice.com
