Hot glue guns are beloved in various industrial and home settings. Crafters love hot glue guns for their versatility and how easy they are to use. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know how to work with a hot glue gun, but if you are running into problems with yours, it may help to first learn how they work before troubleshooting.
In this article, we will help you learn how hot glue guns work and give you some tips that can make it easier to work with a hot glue gun.
So, how do hot glue guns work? Hot glue guns work by melting cylindrical glue sticks, which are made of meltable adhesive. Usually, these adhesives are formulated with various elements such as wax, resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate, as well as some variation of polymer.
The wax gives the adhesive a thinner consistency, which allows it to be easily applied. The polymer adds strength and flexibility, while the resin adds a degree of hot-tack. This combination melts at a certain temperature and dries very quickly when heat is no longer applied, which is why it is perfect for a hot glue gun.
Note that this type of adhesive only works for non-porous materials such as plastic. Porous material such as wood or leather will not work with this type of adhesive, and you won’t get a strong bond as a result.
When a hot glue gun is activated, the glue stick is heated until it turns into its molten state. The non-hazardous liquid glue is then fed through the nozzle, where you can apply it to the surface that needs to be glued.
Hot glue guns come in a few different designs. You can buy those that feed the glue slicks automatically into the melting chamber, which is the most convenient. Alternatively, you can also manually push the glue stick into the melting chamber as you work.
When using a hot glue gun, safety is the first issue that you should note since this device requires heat to function properly. When your hot glue gun is resting in between uses, you should place it on a tray or foil to catch the molten glue that can drip from the nozzle when the glue gun is not in use.
How To Get The Glue Stick Out Of The Hot Glue Gun
Unless your glue gun is fresh out of the box, you should always have a glue stick inside your glue gun. If you forcibly remove a glue stick from a glue gun when it is still stuck inside, you can risk damaging the applicator. If you have some glue stuck in the nozzle, there are a few simple steps you can do to get it going again.
First, switch on your glue gun. When it reaches the functioning temperature, pull the trigger so that the glue stick is heated. If your glue stick is running out, simply insert a new glue stick into the applicator and push it through so that the molten glue that was stuck in the nozzle can be guided out.
Then, you can use a metal tool to scrape the glue from the nozzle and clean it off for the next use.
Tips For Working With A Hot Glue Gun
When you work with a hot glue gun, always follow the safety instructions and proper precautions so that you don’t hurt yourself and others. In addition, there are a few tips that can help the glue gun to work smoothly and properly without causing any issues.
As a best practice, you should always unplug your glue gun when it is not in use so that you won’t overheat the glue stick and have glue stuck in your nozzle. You should always clean the nozzle after each use so that the glue won’t dry and get stuck inside the nozzle.
You should also avoid laying the glue gun on its side since that can cause the molten glue to feed backward and get stuck in areas that you can’t clean later, thus damaging the glue gun.
Before applying hot glue, you should make sure that your materials are clean and dry. If there’s any water, oil, grease, or dust left on the surface, the adhesive may not work properly.
The amount of adhesive that you use also matters. If you apply too little, then the hot glue may dry too quickly, and the bond will not be secure. If you apply too much, then the hot glue may not cool down properly, and the materials may fall apart before you know it.
If you follow all of these tips, you will find that a hot glue gun is an excellent addition to your craft corner, as it can serve you in all kinds of projects for a long time to come.
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