Which hot melt adhesive is better? Glue gun and hot glue
Often, during minor repairs in the house, not to mention serious work, it becomes necessary to glue something from materials such as plastic, wood, chipboard, ceramics, glass, insulate joints or connect electrical wires. All this can be done easily and accurately using a hot glue gun.
Also, they are convenient for gluing paper, cardboard, pieces of fabric or foil, etc., which is important for those who like to create various crafts, decorations, etc. And all this thanks to the melting at high temperature and quickly hardening hot melt adhesive. He will not be able to handle fluoroplastics and attempts to glue anything to concrete, plaster or polished metal.
Structurally, a hot glue gun consists of a thermal chamber located in the barrel, into which a solid glue rod is fed on one side, and molten liquid hot glue, ready for use, flows out on the other.
HEATING SOURCE OF THE HOT GLUE GUN
The source of heating is most often the release of heat during the passage electric current through heating element. Hot glue gun this type is classified as electric. In addition, the role of a heat source can be played by the chemical catalytic reaction occurring in the gas. Accordingly, the hot glue gun similar type will be gas.
A gas hot glue gun uses a piezoelectric ignition system and uses isobutane or a propane-butane mixture from an ordinary can to charge lighters. Refilling the special reservoir located in the handle takes about 10 seconds and is enough for autonomous operation from half to one and a half hours, depending on the model of the instrument.
Most of the hot-melt glue guns on our market are electric, which in turn are divided into mains and battery-powered. The latter provide unlimited freedom of movement, but their weight with the battery is more than half a kilogram, which is not very convenient when doing delicate work.
Cordless guns for working with thin glue sticks with a diameter of 7 (8) mm (Bosch PKP 7.2 Li or Steinel Neo 3) are equipped with a 7.2 V lithium battery. One charge is enough for 45 minutes of work, and subsequent full recharging takes about two hours. More reputable glue guns for an 11 (12) mm rod have an 18 V or even 36 V battery and can work continuously for more than an hour (Surebonder PRO700 or Snap-On CAG6850).
This year, Bosch began selling the GluePen cordless hot glue gun, which is announced as much as new standard in this area. This gun, or rather a pencil, weighing 152 grams is equipped with a 3.6 V battery, which heats the thermal chamber to a temperature of 170 C. One battery charge should be enough to melt six glue sticks with a diameter of 7 (8) mm for 30 minutes. Then the battery is charged for 4–5 hours using a USB device.
At network hot glue guns the wire inside the handle goes either directly directly to the heating element or through a microcircuit that controls the operation of the tool. The second option increases the cost of the hot-melt glue gun, but this allows you not to worry about overheating and more rationally control the power of the tool at the initial melting stage, in operating and standby modes.
If the glue gun is not equipped with a controller, then during long breaks in operation it should be disconnected from the network. In this case, models with a switch on the body will be more convenient to use.
Taking into account the limitation in mobility imposed by the length of the power cord, manufacturers began to produce models with a detachable cord or with a special plug stand from which the power cord comes. Such glue guns have a special thermal chamber design, which provides for heat retention for 10 - 15 minutes after the power is turned off.
ROD FEED SYSTEM
The glue stick is fed into the heat chamber from the back of the barrel, passing through the pusher ring and the thrust guide sleeve. Since hot glue sticks have different diameter, then for unification, some models of glue guns have a special “tooth” that presses thin rods, ensuring their advancement.
The pusher is connected to a trigger, when pressed, the hot-melt adhesive rod moves forward, squeezing out a dose of molten liquid glue from the thermal chamber. There are two types of triggers used in glue guns: carousel (rotary) and slider.
In the first case, the movement of the carousel trigger is a rotation around the axis located at the point of its attachment to the body. That is, by pressing with a certain force on the lower part, we set it in motion in the opposite direction top part trigger The entire slide trigger moves parallel to the barrel of the pistol, regardless of the point of pressure.
Regarding ease of operation, a carousel trigger is considered more comfortable. You can also find cheap Chinese hot glue guns in which the hot glue rod is fed manually, but it is not serious to consider them as a working tool.
At the entrance to the thermal chamber there is a thrust guide coupling (rubber tubular receiver). This design element is designed to prevent molten hot melt adhesive from entering the cavity of the gun body.
Due to the specific nature of the work, this guide clutch is often the cause of tool failure. Since the tubular receiver constantly experiences heating and cooling cycles, over time even the highest quality rubber ages and cracks form in it. Most often they appear at the place where the coupling is attached to the thermal chamber, under the compression spring.
As a result of violation of the integrity of the coupling, molten hot-melt adhesive gets inside the gun body, destroying the insulation of the wires and causing short circuit. Therefore, you should not twist or try to pull back the inserted glue stick. If it is not suitable for the job, then it is better to cut off the protruding part and melt the remaining part inside the body. Many models of hot glue guns are designed with a special viewing window, with which you can see the remainder of the rod being used and, to some extent, monitor the condition of the coupling.
NOZZLE OF THE HOT GLUE GUN
Molten hot melt adhesive is fed to the desired location through a special nozzle located at the end of the barrel. It is made of metal, and on top, to avoid burns, is covered with an insulating layer of rubber or silicone. The nozzle can be direct-flow or have a so-called “drip protection”. Structurally, such protection is a spring-loaded ball, which in standby mode blocks the hole of the glue gun nozzle.
However, it should be taken into account that in no model of hot glue gun the nozzle is completely blocked and a little glue will leak in any case. This is done specifically to relieve excess pressure in the thermal chamber. Therefore, when installing the tool on a stand, a piece of cardboard should be placed under the nozzle. Also be sure to wipe the nozzle on the cardboard when finished.
Speaking of the stand, the chosen instrument model must have one. If you put hot gun sideways, the dissipation of excess heat from the thermal chamber is impaired, which can cause overheating. In addition, the surface under the tool will also become quite hot.
The folding wire leg-stand in the front part of the barrel does not always securely secure the tool. When choosing a hot glue gun, you should give preference to models whose stand is wide enough for reliable support and includes body elements.
Manufacturers today offer a wide model range hot glue guns, which are equipped with replaceable nozzles. This can be useful when using a tool to deliver glue to hard-to-reach places (long thin nozzle), to spread a wide strip of glue (flat nozzle), etc. Of course, this increases the cost of such a glue gun, but it pays off if such work is performed regularly.
The nozzle and thermal chamber are combined via threaded connection. It is impossible to manually unscrew the nozzle of a cold tool due to its being stuck with cooled hot-melt adhesive, and for a heated one - due to the hot insulating layer. Therefore, replacement nozzles have a special slot for an open-end wrench.
PERFORMANCE OF HOT GLUE GUN
The vast majority of hot-melt adhesive rods used for work begin to transform into a liquid state at a temperature of 105 C. Further increases in temperature are intended to speed up this process. Therefore, when choosing a tool, it is best to focus on its performance, which is determined by the power and heating temperature. This parameter for the majority of hot glue guns is in the range from 5 to 30 grams per minute.
For various crafts and infrequent small repair work Around the house, a productivity of 5 g/min will be quite sufficient. These are, as a rule, models with a power of up to 100 W, a heating temperature of up to 170 C and a glue stick diameter of 7 (8) mm.
For construction or serious repair work, when it is necessary to apply a lot of glue quickly and large area, you should choose models with high performance. These are tools with a heating temperature of 200 C or higher, which use glue sticks with a diameter of 11 (12) mm, sometimes 15 mm and even 43 mm. In fact, it is performance that underlies the division of hot glue guns into household and professional tools.
Additionally, you should also pay attention to such an indicator as the heating speed. That is, how long does it take for the thermal chamber to heat up to operating temperature and you can start squeezing out the glue. As a rule, this indicator is 4 – 5 minutes. If possible, you should purchase a tool that warms up in 4 minutes. It would also be useful if the hot-melt glue gun has an LED indicator of readiness for use.
HOT GLUE RODS
To operate a hot glue gun, special hot glue rods (sticks) are used. They are made from polymer materials, which, with a change in temperature, can repeatedly transition through the phase states solid - liquid and vice versa (quite often this is ethylene vinyl acetate). The polymers used have high mechanical strength and are able to easily fill voids.
The vast majority of hot glue guns on store shelves are designed for the use of rods with a diameter of 11 (12) mm or 7 (8) mm. The length of the rod does not play a significant role due to its open feed. Hot-melt adhesive in such sticks can have different purposes and different melting points. Manufacturers use color markings for rods, but each of them has its own uniform standard does not exist.
In this regard, we can only point out the most common color markings for sticks. So, a transparent white rod will most likely be a universal hot melt glue. Its acquisition will be quite enough for minor repairs and making crafts from wood or paper.
Also, colored opaque rods will most often be universal, with the exception of gray and black. They are designed for gluing materials when it is important to have a certain color of the adhesive seam.
For crafts and decorations, these rods can even have glitter added to them. White opaque sticks can be universal glue and specialized for glass or metals.
Opaque gray and black rods often act as insulating material and sealant. They process electrical wires and insulate joints. Glue sticks specifically for gluing paper, cardboard and wood are often transparent yellow.
Based on the lack of certainty in color coding glue sticks, you should always familiarize yourself with their technical characteristics. Even clear universal sticks can be low- or high-temperature, and you can inadvertently purchase glue sticks whose melting point is higher than that of a glue gun.
A universal device you can't live without home handyman or a professional - glue gun. This product is new on the market construction goods appeared only a few decades ago. It is so convenient that it has become a favorite of many. Hot-melt adhesive can glue any materials, and work can be carried out in hard to reach places. It is easy to use, which makes work easier, allowing you to get a neat, reliable place for joining materials.
Hot melt glue and glue stick for the gun.
When choosing a heat gun, you need to consult with the seller, an experienced manager. Both can be done at the Electro-NIC store.
How to choose hot melt adhesive
- It’s easy to buy hot-melt adhesive; when choosing a product, pay attention to the diameter of the rods, which ranges from 6 mm to 12 mm. Each heat gun model requires the use of specific rods.
- An important material parameter is operating temperature melting. The most common option is from 120 to 180 degrees. Sometimes there are other varieties, mostly for special purposes.
- Glue gun rods are distinguished by their ability to glue certain materials. The most popular option is universal. It glues almost any surface and is transparent.
Apply the composition to a clean, dry surface, otherwise adhesion will be weak. After gluing, leave the joint to harden for 5-7 minutes.
It’s very easy to buy hot melt adhesive from us!
Finding an assortment of hot melt adhesives on the pages of the Electro-NIC store is an easy task. Here you can order and buy a compound for adhesion of parts made of wood, plastic, cardboard, leather. It glues surfaces made of plastic, metal, polystyrene.
Additionally, the store offers a wide range of tinted adhesives. Multi-colored rods are convenient for carrying out decorative and repair work on surfaces of certain shades. The quality of the goods meets all necessary parameters, which is confirmed by certificates.
High quality glue gun sticks
Glue gun refills high quality- this is only a small part of the products that are presented on the pages of the store. You can fill out an application, pay for your purchase, and leave a delivery request online. Such procedures greatly simplify the purchasing process.
Hot glue and hot glue guns. Features of the selection and use of hot-melt adhesive
If you compare a hot glue gun with similar tools wide application, it appeared quite recently in their arsenal of masters. It is difficult to classify such a tool as an essential item, but it is a fact that they significantly simplify some work processes.
Despite its primitive design and mechanical control, hot melt adhesive is best solution in terms of sealing, modeling and decoration. With the help of such glue, you can either put in order a torn book or carry out reliable professional engineering communications.
Hot melt adhesive for a gun price, which is available to people of completely different sizes social status, has an incredibly easy operating principle - it is based on melting a solid rod by heating. Using a feeding device, which can also be of various types, it moves into a metal chamber, where the melting process takes place directly. By pressing the lever, you squeeze out the heated part of the glue onto the item you need, and bring a new portion into the chamber for further use.
Nuances of choosing a hot glue gun
Hot-melt adhesive can be purchased at many construction stores. It comes in two types: household and professional. In fact, the border between them is very arbitrary, general principle work remains unchanged. Household models are designed for short-term work, often even one-time use, but professional ones are faithful assistants who can continuously perform their function of supplying hot glue for hours.
The main importance when choosing such a pistol is given to the power of the pistol. But don’t think that the more powerful the gun, the faster it will heat the glue. In reality, the only difference is how much time you can use it. As the power increases, the amount of glue you can get also increases, which means the time it takes to prepare the device for operation is significantly reduced.
Hot-melt adhesive for a gun, the price of which varies widely, also differs in diameter. The most common rods are considered to be products of 7-11 millimeters, and the latter are already used for professional devices. There are hot melt glue rods and 12 mm ones, but you need to think about where to buy hot melt glue of this diameter and the gun for it.
The difference between glue sticks lies in their operating melting temperature. Most of them belong to one of the types - 120 or 180 degrees. Moreover, you can choose hot melt adhesive depending on the purpose of its use. Regardless of the variety modern market The most popular remains the universal option - transparent glue. With its help, you can achieve excellent bonding quality on virtually any material. But it is worth making sure that this object is not too dusty or dry.
If it is necessary to solve highly specialized problems and you need to glue certain categories of materials, then “colored” adhesives are used, which are presented on the market in the widest variety, which means that everyone can find something they like. Colored rods are usually used for decorative works, which explains the widest range of colors, which does not carry any semantic load.
If you want to buy a pistol for home use, infrequent use, then it makes no sense for you to overpay for additional features, which means that absolutely any inexpensive model can suit you, the main thing is that the product is certified. A low-quality product can be not only an irrational purchase, but also a potential danger for every person. There are versions of the pistol when, instead of a trigger, the rod must be pushed manually - this is not only more labor-intensive, but also quite dangerous.
When purchasing, it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the type of trigger mechanism. If you buy a gun with a rotating type, the force is transmitted by turning the lever around the axis, so it is very easy to control the flow of glue, unlike models where the trigger moves parallel to the barrel .
An important point is whether the nozzle has a special valve that prevents any glue from leaking out during heating. A quality mechanism will ensure that once you stop pulling the trigger, the glue will stop coming out of the gun.
If we talk about additional amenities, then some models have an additional button that allows you to turn off the power without pulling the plug out of the socket, which is very convenient, but occurs in very rare cases.
On models in the higher price range, there are replaceable nozzles various shapes, backlight for working in dark places, device readiness indicator, and also switch temperature conditions, which allows you to use various types glue, and also adjust the intensity depending on the work being performed. Electronic control of work allows you to carry out active work without being distracted by adjusting the temperature, waiting for the gun to cool down, etc.
Hot melt glue will become an indispensable assistant when it is necessary to lay the cable along the baseboard so that it does not get in the way underfoot. You don't need to use staples and nails, which took more time and is also far from in the best possible way affected the aesthetic properties of the work performed.
Complete drying of such glue takes approximately ten seconds, depending on the portions that were used. During these 10 seconds you need to press the objects tightly against each other, but at this time be extremely careful, because... Such glue adheres very well to human skin, leaving significant burns.
General tips for gluing objects using hot glue:
Before work, it is imperative to clean and degrease the surface.
You should not glue parts that will subsequently be subject to heating, even slightly.
You should not use such glue for polyethylene and PVC parts.
When working with petroleum products, hot melt adhesive is subject to destruction.
Model AK-1 is an OLFA knife designed for artistic work. Thanks to its unique “handle” shape, it easily performs precision work. The OLFA knife handle body is made from recycled and reclaimed plastic.
The standard OLFA blade angle is 32.8 degrees.
The AK-1 artistic knife comes with 25 spare blades. Changing the blade is easy and quick.
The AK-4 model is also an art knife that can be used as a professional tool. This model has a rubber anti-slip handle that prevents the knife from slipping in your hand and hand fatigue during operation. This model comes with 3 different blades for various kinds works, and there is also the possibility of installing 2 types of saw blades.
The OLFA SAC-1 knife model is a knife with break-off segmented blades. Acute angle The blade angle of this model is 30 degrees. In cases where you need to constantly keep control of the cutting edge, this model fits better everything. The case of the SAC-1 model is made of stainless steel.
The OLFA OL series of knives is handy tool for processing and cutting carpets. To prevent the blade from oscillating during cutting, a special holder is provided. The end of the handle has a blunt protrusion for holding the carpet.
The SK-4 model is a knife of increased safety, due to the fact that if contact with the cutting surface is lost, the blade automatically returns inside the body. This knife is widely used for cutting various packaging, cardboard or vinyl.
The CMP-1 knife is a convenient knife for cutting circles on various materials. Thanks to the regulator, it is possible to cut circles from 1cm to 15cm. In order not to leave a mark in the middle of the circle, you must use a special lining for the pin.
Model CMP – 1/DX is a knife with a compass and ratchet. The cut circles can be from 1.6cm to 22cm in size. To avoid leaving a mark in the middle of the circle, you must use a special lining for the pin.
The CL knife model is designed for cutting cardboard, removing staples (using special fittings), and guides. This knife has a cutting depth regulator.
The RTY-2/P series has high-quality original round blades. This blade can cut any type of fabric, paper, rubber, film, etc.
The RTY-2/DX also has round blades and is easy to cut various materials. A special feature of this model is that the blade extends when the handle is held in the hand. It is possible to use additional round shaped blades.
CMP-3 is a knife with a compass and a blade that allows you to cut circles from 4cm to 22cm on paper and fabric.
The CHN-1 knife is designed for cutting quilted fabric, and has guides for various types fabrics. When dull cutting edge, you can change the edge by turning the knife wheel (there are 24 cutting edge positions on the blade).
The cutting mat RM-30x30 is designed to protect the table surface. In addition, the mat rotates 360 degrees, which allows you to work from different angles. The mat has markings in the form of a coordinate axis and different angles.
The P-800 knife model is designed for cutting acrylic, vinyl chloride and other plastic sheets.
The MC-45/DX knife is designed for making linings for illustrations and photographs. This knife can cut bevel edges on thick paper. For this knife model in included ruler with anti-slip side. With this knife you can easily cut out various frames.
If you think that the transparent glue sold in small tubes called “Cyanopan” or some other fancy name is super glue, you are deeply mistaken. In fact, such adhesives are far from achieving this title - if you are looking for a representative for this title, it will be difficult to find something better than hot-melt adhesive. It glues almost everything - it’s easier to list those materials that it is not able to connect - these are concrete, polyvinyl chloride and some types of fabric. It sticks to everything else existing in the world so that, as they say, you can’t tear it off with your teeth. A tear or break will occur faster somewhere near the glued place - that is why it can be called super-glue with complete confidence.
Advantages of hot melt adhesive
In addition to the fact that hot-melt adhesive connects almost all materials to each other, it also has other useful properties:
- Firstly, high tensile strength. According to manufacturers, in order to break the materials connected by this glue, you will need to apply a force of 150 kg.
- Secondly, it dries very quickly. The polymerization process of hot-melt adhesive, depending on the temperature of the air and the surfaces to be glued, occurs within a matter of seconds. On the one hand, this is good, but on the other hand, it presents a certain problem when connecting long or large products - you will have to adapt a little and show all your ingenuity to glue them together.
- Thirdly, long service life. Over time, the structure of this glue is not subject to changes or disturbances under the influence of various factors - neither frost, nor the rays of the scorching sun, nor an abundance of moisture can cause any damage to the hot-melt adhesive that could change its properties.
In addition to the above main important properties There are also less significant ones of this glue - there are quite a lot of them. These include the absence of shrinkage and plasticity - hot melt adhesive forms a fairly rigid connection. Do you think this is good? It depends on what material you are connecting. The point is that in modern construction many finishing materials have a high coefficient of thermal expansion - hot melt adhesive simply will not allow such material to expand, and it will all end with the connection being broken.
In addition, the cost of hot-melt adhesive can be highlighted as an advantage - depending on the gun you use, you can buy hot-melt adhesive in tubes of different diameters and lengths. Depending on this, the cost of hot-melt adhesive is determined.
Types of hot melt adhesive
Among the variety of hot-melt adhesives produced, you can find transparent and opaque stickers, white, black and even multi-colored. All of them have their own special purpose and are designed for gluing a variety of materials.
- White translucent glue. Translucent adhesive has universal properties and is designed for joining wide range materials. It is suitable for almost everything, and this glue is used for both domestic and industrial purposes.
- Opaque colored glue. Such tubes also have a universal purpose - their color is not a marking. It is used to connect colored products - for example, when gluing two parts of a broken red plastic shelf, a red sticker makes this connection almost invisible.
- Opaque white rods. When purchasing such hot-melt adhesive, you should be careful. They may have different purposes– in one case it can be universal adhesive composition for connecting parts white, and in another case it may be intended for gluing glass. The exact purpose of the glue must be found out from the seller in the store.
- Transparent rods yellow. The purpose of this glue is to use it to join wood, paper and cardboard. It should not be confused with yellow opaque glue - as a rule, it is universal composition, and the color just plays the role of a filler.
- Black or gray glue sticks. This material has practically nothing to do with adhesives - most likely, it is a sealant and is intended for sealing seams and insulating electrical conductors. It is elastic and not suitable for rigid gluing.
And these are just the main differences between the sticks of this type of glue. In some cases, they may even differ from the parameters described above. There is no clear unification of products here - therefore, before you buy hot-melt adhesive, you should find out its purpose from the seller or read it on the packaging.
The issue of choosing a gun for applying hot melt glue must be approached based on its technical specifications and possibilities. The main ones are the diameter of the rods used, the glue supply speed and the heating temperature.
- Diameter and length of the rods used. The most commonly used glue gun refills are tubes with a diameter of 7 and 11mm. There are thicker rods, but they are used on a production scale, and the gun for them is very expensive. The length of the rods used for gluing can vary from 4 to 20 cm; any gun can handle rods of this length equally.
- Heating temperature. As a rule, hot melt adhesive liquefies at temperatures above 80˚C, but at this temperature the process is quite slow. Most manufactured pistols have a heating temperature of 150-200˚C. It should be understood that the higher this temperature, the more productive the tool is.
- Glue supply speed. Depending on temperature and heating rate glue stick, the gun can produce 5 to 20g of liquefied hot melt glue per minute. There are models with higher productivity, but 20 g per minute is enough for normal operation.
You should also pay attention to other parameters of glue guns. The heating time of the tool, the power it consumes, the power source used, and even special capabilities are also important. There are guns with an independent power source (battery) - they allow you to carry out work away from power lines.
An interesting design option is a hot glue gun with a glue spray function - it greatly speeds up the work of gluing surfaces large sizes. If we are talking about wall drapery, then you cannot do without it - with the help of this gun the glue is applied to the walls in an even layer. After that, the fabric is applied and gradually heated with an iron until it sticks.
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