From the time of the first primitive tools to the creation of spacecraft, 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 or another method is a constant compromise between our desires and the capabilities of a particular type of fastener. After all, one wants to make the connection not only reliable, but also durable, aesthetic and not costly, and the process itself is fast.
One-stop solution for quick connectivity
If we are not talking about space technology, then for the house a way close to ideal for connecting everything with everything now exists, and it bears a simple name - a glue gun.
The reviews about this device for both the male and female half of humanity are surprisingly the same - everyone recognizes its functionality and believes that it must be present among the tools of a home master or needlewoman.
Why is hot glue good?
The fixing material in this connection method is hot-melt adhesive, which is a plastic material. More precisely, a thermoplastic polymer that melts at high temperature and re-hardens during cooling, providing a strong bond between completely dissimilar materials. Although this method of fastening is not as durable as rivets or screws, it is precisely the bonding speed and versatility of application that made the thermal gun so popular: it allows you to reliably connect wood and fabric, rubber and glass, plastic and ... almost anything . 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 requirements (or their complete absence) during disposal.
- Minimal waste.
- Lack of volatile organic compounds.
- Quick drying.
- Exception of loss of thickness during hardening.
- Providing reliable insulation and protection of the junction.
- Consumables (applicators) for the glue gun are simple and inexpensive.
- Available in different colors, allowing you to make the connection almost imperceptible.
There are glue sticks that guarantee an almost instant fixation, and sticks with a longer setting time, which allow for accurate positioning of parts during assembly.
Adhesive with reagents, special additives or ultraviolet radiation provides additional adhesion. Some of them exceed the bonding strength of epoxy.
The most common glue sticks for fine and tidy work have diameters of 7–8 mm (usually low temperature), while high-temperature applicators with a cross section of 11–12 mm are used in repairs and construction.
The procedure for working with a thermal gun
The thermogun is completely uncomplicated to use, but knowing some simple rules when working with it will quickly achieve the desired result.
Before using the glue gun, you must carefully study the instructions. Carefully read the tips for safe use of the tool to minimize the risk of an accident or injury during use. The manual also indicates what size and type of glue sticks will be needed 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 that the nozzle does not contain solidified plastic layers from previous work, which may interfere with the free flow of molten glue through the nozzle. If necessary, it must be removed and wiped with a piece of aluminum foil, removing the remnants of 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 hardened layer evaporates, and in the worst case, the device fails.
Never use water for cleaning, as this may cause a short circuit in the wiring.
A new glue stick is inserted by feeding it all the way into the round hole on the back of the gun. It is allowed to leave unused glue inside the device after completion of work. The next applicator can be installed after the previous one has melted.
Now the thermogun can be connected to a power source (electrical outlet for wired or battery base for stand-alone). After pressing the switching toggle switch, which is equipped with the best glue guns, the heating element will automatically begin to melt the glue stick. 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 you press the feed mechanism (trigger) of the thermal gun. Do not forget about safety measures, since the melting temperature of most rods is much higher than 100 ºC, so do not leave the power tool unattended and put it on a special heat-resistant stand.
Point the glue gun nozzle down and place it as close as possible to the materials to be bonded. Gently pull the trigger, or (if there is none), gently push on the rod until molten glue flows out of the nozzle, covering the surface of the future joint. Before using the thermal gun for work requiring high precision, it is recommended to practice on the scraps of the materials to be connected in order to feel all the subtleties of working with the tool.
It is advisable to carry out the work with gloves to protect your hands from possible burns and dirt.
Work with a small amount of glue, experimentally determining its optimal consumption - this depends on the type of material to be bonded and the surface area to be treated. Excess glue can seriously spoil the appearance or render unusable elements.
Cures the glue in a few minutes, sometimes it is necessary to firmly fix the fastened materials with your hands or clamps.
Upon completion of work, turn off the glue gun and clean the nozzle of adhesive residue.
Some usage restrictions
Despite the fact that no other adhesives are able to provide universality, similar to hot-melt adhesive, this method of connection, alas, is not the best solution for all possible fixing options. The high melting point of the glue stick can damage delicate materials. Compounds of this type are destroyed under the influence of certain solvents and temperatures exceeding the melting point of hot melt adhesive.
To solve these problems, options other than a glue gun are used. Which is better to choose will depend on the specific conditions. Using hot-melt adhesive, using low-temperature compounds or protecting the place of fixation from aggressive chemical influences and overheating, is a very reasonable solution.
The principle device of the thermal gun
Regardless of the types, models and manufacturers, whether it be 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 thermogun is an ergonomic housing made of plastic, which houses a heating element that melts hot melt adhesive, and a dispenser that delivers glue through a cone-shaped nozzle to the bonding place. This, in fact, ends the similarity between cheap crafts and noteworthy tool. Therefore, to select the best glue gun for the home, read in detail the additional functionality of the product, which allows you to not just do the job, but make it as comfortable and safe as possible.
Today, manufacturers offer functionality designed for the most demanding user, but this inevitably affects the price. When you ask which glue gun is better to choose, you will not get a definite answer, since first you need to decide what needs it will be used for. This will allow you to choose the parameters of the device that can satisfy your needs. Let's analyze the degree of significance of indicators that allow you to choose a glue gun for the home.
Hot power versus cool delicacy
One of the key indicators is the melting temperature of the rod. The operating range of high-temperature tools is in the range of +380 ºC and higher, which means that children are not allowed to use them unattended. Yes, and adults need special care when working.
This option provides better fastening of hard materials (wood, metal, thick cardboard, plastic, thick fabrics), and similar adhesive structures are resistant to chemical and thermal stresses. All these factors determined the mass application of high-temperature glue in the performance of small and large repairs, in construction, furniture production, facing of premises, etc.
The low temperature mode is designed for the temperature range +105 ... + 250 ºC, it is often used in glue guns for needlework, as it allows you to combine very delicate materials (light fabric, paper, thin plastics) without damaging their structure and appearance. In addition, he is much safer than his too "hot" brother, which allows him to introduce children to work and creativity. True, you should not rely on high bond strength and performance.
For those who like to get everything at once, the model providing both heating modes will be an option for the best glue gun. They cost much more, as a rule, are rather cumbersome, which creates additional difficulties when performing small jobs.
The more powerful the faster.
The speed and melting temperature of the glue stick depend on the electrical power of the thermal gun. For models designed for small jobs, it is 15-60 watts, and with high-temperature heating ranges from 100 to 500 watts.
Many users tend to the golden mean and use a 100-watt glue gun in their work, which guarantees high bond strength. For gluing delicate materials, fusible rods are used, while reducing their heating time.
And to sit like a glove
The thermogun is a manual type device, and if you plan to use it often, carefully consider the issue of ergonomics: the weight of the tool, dimensions, the convenience of the handle, the presence or absence of a feed mechanism (swivel or slide).
Small glue guns are easy to hold, they make it easy to get to the most inaccessible places. These are low-power devices that use small applicators, they are great for needlework and minor repairs, but you should not rely on them in large projects.
Full-sized thermoguns dispense the adhesive composition in much larger portions, they are bulky, have a greater weight, which is associated with difficulties in applying with high requirements for the accuracy of the adhesive. These devices have higher power and are ideal for creating large projects where high reliability and gluing speed are required.
As for the feeding device, the most inexpensive pistols do not have it at all, or rather, these functions are assigned to your finger, to which you need to periodically press the applicator to release the molten glue through the nozzle. Similar models suggest infrequent use.
Pay attention to the trigger option, which allows a metered supply of 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 the hand.
Weight and Price - Decent Mobility Fee
There are situations where the use of a glue gun is justified, but impossible due to the lack of an electrical outlet nearby. In this case, the best choice, of course, will be a stand-alone battery thermal gun. The disadvantages of this type of tool are the large weight, the need to recharge the battery at the most inopportune moment, and quite a high cost.
A compromise option is models with a removable cord, allowing 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 check valve in the model and the function of protection against drops. Such a technology will protect the tool from getting hot glue on the trigger and in the contact compartment if it is used with the nozzle up, and also prevent the glue from seeping through the nozzle in the absence of pressure on the feed mechanism.
Additional functionality that you should pay attention to when buying a glue gun:
- The presence of a temperature mode switch and an LED indicator of overheating.
- The ability to automatically control the amount of heating.
- Providing visual control of the state of the adhesive element.
- Holder shape.
- The presence of local illumination of the work surface.
- The presence on the body of the power control button.
To a greater or lesser extent, we examined the main pros and cons of different types of glue guns. Even having decided which device parameters are necessary for you to work, do not neglect the elementary inspection of the tool to make sure of the following:
- The plastic of the case does not have a pungent odor, chips or other damage.
- All structural elements are carefully fitted and do not hang when touched.
- The cord and plug for wire models have a cross section corresponding to the power consumption of the gun and provide sufficient length for comfortable work.
- The trigger is pulled easily without hooks.
- The holder provides reliable fixation of the tool.
- When checking the tool, heating occurs quickly, there is no sharp chemical smell.
Today, there are many different types of glue guns, ranging from the small hand (hook type) used in needlework and schools, up to powerful devices that are successfully used in construction and production. The main task when choosing them is to harmoniously match your needs with the offered opportunities.