Glue Guns and Accessories

Glue guns operate by heating up hot-melt adhesive so that it can quickly bond to materials such as wood, plastic and fabric, making them ideal for DIY projects. However, they also have some professional use advantages, such as organising low-voltage cables together, and sealing boxes and packaging.

The hot melt adhesive that is used in a glue gun is a type of thermoplastic glue, which is fast-setting (often under one minute) and creates a strong bond as it cools back down to room temperature.

Glue guns are easy to use and generally require minimal maintenance, however there are a couple of tips to help increase the lifespan of the tool.

• Clean any glue off the tip with a heat-resistant cloth after the glue gun has been used. This will prevent glue building up, which in turn can affect the flow rate of the glue as it is dispensed from the glue gun.
• Check for any glue build-up around the housing of the glue gun and remove any residue once it has cooled down. This will ensure that the trigger and the glue feed continue to function as they should.

Yes, hot-melt glue can be used on metal surfaces but it is best used for temporary fixes, such as holding components in place. This is because metal is non-porous which makes it harder for the glue to create a strong bond.

To improve the likelihood of the glue setting and creating a bond on metal, it is best if the metal is clean, dry and slightly roughened but we do not recommend using it for structural or load-bearing applications, as it will likely fail under stress, heat or vibration.

The main thing to think about is that when a glue gun is operating, it is hot, especially at the tip where the glue is dispensed and can get to 200°C. This also applies to the glue as soon as it is dispensed, so avoid touching the glue at the end of the glue gun when operating the tool, and consider wearing heat-resistant gloves to enhance health and safety.

Ensure that the operator is working on a stable surface and use a stand or rest for the glue gun when it is not in use, as this will help to prevent glue from dripping onto surfaces.

The operator should never leave a glue gun unattended when it is switched on, as it may overheat and become a fire risk.

Finally, once the glue gun has been used, unplug it and let it cool down before it is stored away.

Hot glue typically sets much faster than other glue types, with the operator seeing an initial set within 30 seconds, which means the glue will be able to hold components in place, and a full set within a few minutes. There are a few factors that influence this though -

• Material type - Porous materials, such as wood or fabric, allow faster setting, whilst smooth surfaces such as metal or plastic, may take slightly longer.
• Glue temperature - High-temperature glue guns generally provide a stronger bond because the glue has improved penetration and better wetting, but will take a bit longer to cool.
• Amount of glue applied - Thicker beads of glue take longer to cool and set.
• Ambient temperature - Cooler environments speed up setting, whilst warmer conditions slow it down.

Yes, temporary fixes are probably one of the most useful things about glue guns and hot-melt glue. 

Hot-melt glue sets quickly and creates a bond which is best suited for light and medium duty gluing jobs, but the bond isn't so permanent that it cannot be removed at a later date, in order to put a more long-term fix in place.

If the bond isn't too strong then hot-melt glue can be peeled off in most instances, once it has cooled down.

Hot-melt adhesive is moderately strong but there are other adhesives that have a higher tensile and shear strength, such as -

• PVA, which is stronger when used on porous materials like wood.
• Epoxy, which is resistant to heat and chemicals.
• Super glue, which is very strong and more suited to precision gluing.

Hot-melt glue is good for use when the operator needs it for jobs other than structural or long-term bonds, such as for temporary fixes or holding items in place.

Wattage is important because it indicates how quickly the glue gun can heat up to melt the glue, and the ability for the gun to maintain heat whilst in use.

Lower wattage guns may struggle to maintain a consistent glue flow, especially if being used in industrial settings, so we would always recommend using a glue gun of at least 100W+ if it is being used on heavy duty gluing work.