Are all hot glue guns the same?
All glue guns dispense melted glue, but depending on the crafts and repairs you most often tackle, one model might be better suited to your use than another. Evaluating features such as how hot the unit actually gets and how much glue it dispenses will help you make the right choice.
Low temperature, high temperature and dual temperature glue guns are three main types of hot glue guns based on their temperature range. A low temperature glue gun will heat up the glue around 250°F that is suitable for light-duty projects or child-friendly crafts.
High-wattage glue guns are hotter and usually larger than lower-wattage guns. The more heat the glue gun uses the longer it will take the glue to set, but the stronger the bond will be. This means that high-wattage glue guns are better for household repairs, while low-wattage glue guns are better for crafting.
Consider any extra features the hot glue stick may have to offer. The Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks, Pack of 45, for example, can be sanded and painted. It's also five times more durable than other brands. That makes it a better choice for important home repairs.
I made several different projects with this glue gun. The first, was a Dollar Tree DIY snowman using leftover Halloween pumpkins. The glue gun worked fine. I wasn't doing anything super intricate or time sensitive, so the globing and stick refilling was fine.
- 1 Gorilla Dual Temp Glue Gun – Best Overall.
- 2 WORKPRO Cordless Hot Glue Gun – Best Automatic Option.
- 3 AdTech Industrial Glue Gun – Top Professional Choice.
- 4 Gluerious Mini Hot Glue Gun – Great for DIY.
- 5 Mr. Pen Hot Glue Gun – Most Multipurpose.
Anytime you complete a project with delicate material it's important to make sure nothing is damaged during the glue process which a low temp gun can help prevent. A high temp gun will provide a strong but tougher bond for heavier material such as; metal, wood, plastics, ceramics, magnets and all non porous material.
Because of the thermoplastic nature of Glue Sticks, the strength of a bond will vary with both the amount and rate of load at different temperatures. Bond strength will vary with the amount of adhesive applied. Larger amounts of adhesive cover a larger area and so increase overall strength.
No. A glue gun is designed to accept and feed the correct size sticks only.
Full-size guns are optimal for heavy-duty projects. They are larger and less easy to store than a mini hot glue gun, but they are a must-have for heavy-duty crafts. Like mini hot glue guns, a full-sized glue gun can include adjustable temperature control such as dual temperature.
What is the difference between hot glue gun and cool glue gun?
Hot melt glue guns are handheld and disperse hot melt adhesives at a high temperature. Typically, cold glue guns use a lower temperature to distribute industrial glue evenly. That's why the difference lies in the temperature when it comes to glue guns!
Please take note that each type of glue gun is tailored for the temperature it provides. For you to use a low-temp glue gun, you need to use a specific glue stick made for this type of glue gun and vice versa.
The biggest thing to look for when choosing a 1/2" glue stick is making sure your hot melt gun and stick temperatures match up correctly. Unless you are using an adjustable temperature hot melt gun, you must use a high temp glue stick with a high temp gun and a low temp glue stick with a low temp gun.
Black – The black glue sticks are used for all types of weather. Black is our universal glue. It pretty uch works in any average weather conditions (extreme hot or cold and you are better off using one our other glues to save more time though). Yellow – The yellow glue sticks are for colder climates.
Dollar Tree Recalls More than One Million Hot Glue Guns Due to Fire and Burn Hazards.
Seek medical attention immediately. Plunge the skin into cold water straight away until the burning sensation subsides – usually for around ten minutes. Don't attempt to remove the molten glue. This could pull away layers of skin and leave a raw wound.
Cordless High Temp Glue Gun | Hobby Lobby | 759837. FREE SHIPPING* on orders of $50 or more.
Three thermoplastic elastomers are commonly used for making glue sticks: EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), APAO (Amorphous Poly Alpha Olefin), and PA (Poly Amides). Various tackifiers are also incorporated in these hot melt glue sticks.
Low temperatures cause the adhesive to become more brittle (reduced strain to failure), while high temperatures cause the adhesive to become more ductile, but make it less strong and more liable to creep.
The high temp setting melts glue to a liquid consistency to deliver maximum bonding for heavy-duty projects. The low temp setting allows glue sticks to melt at cooler temperatures to protect fragile materials with low melting points.
Is Gorilla hot glue stronger than regular hot glue?
Consider any extra features the hot glue stick may have to offer. The Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks, Pack of 45, for example, can be sanded and painted. It's also five times more durable than other brands. That makes it a better choice for important home repairs.
Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks can be used with both high and low heat glue guns.
Professionals use apparatus which clamps test strips that have been glued together and slowly pulls them apart. A machine then measures the force needed to tear the glue joint apart. This measuring principle can be reproduced by hanging progressively heavier weights on a glued test strip until the glue joint tears.
| Glue Stick Size | Application | Size comparison showing 1/4", 1/2" and 5/8" General Purpose Glue Sticks |
|---|---|---|
| 7/16" or 1/2" x 4" | Standard 1/2" Glue Guns Household or Hobby Use | |
| 7/16" or 1/2" x 10" | Standard 1/2" Glue Guns Commercial or High-Volume Use | |
| 5/8" x 10" | Commercial and Industrial 5/8" Glue Guns |
Best Cordless Hot Glue Gun
It's not cheap, but the light weight of the Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Compact Hot Glue Gun Kit makes it worth the investment. It can process 100 mini-glue sticks per charge, making it useful for large projects.
Never point the gun in the direction of another person. Do not leave your glue gun plugged in and unattended – this can be a fire hazard and be dangerous for pets, children or other people who may come in contact with the hot appliance.
Hot melt glues liquefy at temperatures ranging from 250 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If there is too much moisture or humidity in the air, it can prevent glue from drying and impacting bonding.
What is a low temperature glue stick? A low temperature glue stick simply has a lower melting temperature. This means instead of becoming liquid at 380 Degrees like standard hot melt, it usually hits liquid form around 250 Degrees.
You can choose between universal glue, which is suitable for bonding most materials, and coloured glue for decoration. There are two different dimensions glue stick: 7 mm diameter glue sticks provide a low glue flow and a thin glue jet for extra precision.
White glue and yellow glue have about equivalent bonds after they have cured. White glue remains just a bit more elastic than yellow after curing. Yellow glue sets up faster and resists moisture better than white glue.
Is yellow glue stronger than white glue?
Yellow glue is very similar to white glue but forms a slightly stronger bond. It is also slightly more water resistant than white glue. Clamping is required for about 30 minutes until the glue sets; curing time is 12 to 18 hours. Yellow glue dries clear but does not accept wood stains.
WIDE APPLICATION: Black color glue sticks is suit for relatively soft on car. The hot melt glue sticks suitable for plastic, wood, paper, glass, fabric. Perfect for arts crafts, DIY, general repairs, crafting projects, holiday ornament.
Unless you are using an adjustable temperature hot melt gun, you must use a high temp glue stick with a high temp gun and a low temp glue stick with a low temp gun.
Incredibly tough & versatile, Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks provide a long term hold even on hard to bond surfaces. The clear adhesive works with both high and low temperature glue guns and features an extended working time for added convenience for all types of projects.
- GLUN Hot Melt Glue Gun.
- Stanley Glue Gun.
- Aptech Deals Max Glue Gun.
- Fadman Mini Plastic Holt Glue Gun.
- SPARTAN Glue Gun.
- CROWN Hot Melt Glue Gun.
- Themisto Hot Melt Glue Gun.
- Ketsaal Hot Melt Glue Gun.
The Surebonder 739 is a high strength adhesive with a long open time. Primarily, Surebonder 739 strongest bonds to wood. The 739 hot melt sticks have great adhesion to metal, plastic, ceramic, coated papers, and other non-porous materials.
There are Glue Sticks called Multi-Temperature Glue Sticks that work in either Hot or Low melt glue guns. Clear glue sticks, coloured glue sticks and glitter glue sticks are available with the range.
Never tilt a hot glue gun upwards – or for gluing overhead items. Never remove a part melted glue slug/stick through the back of the gun. Never leave a hot glue gun unattended, especially while plugged in. Unplug the glue gun if you're not going to use it for over 40 minutes.