Glue Guns and Glue Sticks

Glue guns are available in low temperature and high temperature hot-melt versions. Low temperature glue guns heat up to about 120º C and are more suitable where a high temperature is undesirable. High-temperature guns heat up to around 195°C and produce a stronger bond. Also available are dual glue guns which feature a switch so that both low and high temperatures can be used for different applications.

For industrial applications, there are a broad range broad range of heavy duty glue guns available which are designed to optimise production efficiency. These range from sprayable pneumatic glue guns to multi temperature units.

Glue sticks are available in several different diameters for different types and sizes of glue guns. The commonest size has a diameter of 11mm. Glue sticks are also available in various lengths, from about 10cm upwards. However, most glue guns will accommodate glue sticks of any length. Hot melt and low temperature glue sticks are available for the different types of glue gun. Hot melt adhesives do not contain and solvents or water. They set when they lose temperature and this means that they can set quickly.

For industrial uses, various types of glue sticks are available for specialist purposes. The most common diameters are 12 and 43mm. For domestic use, there are only a few types of glue stick that are available. Glue sticks have different open times, i.e. the time taken to make a bond. This can vary from a second or two to several minutes.

A glue gun should be switched on at least five minutes before being used to give time for the heating element and glue to warm up. As the glue stick gets hot it melts and then it can be used to glue various materials together. Care should be taken when using hot glue guns as hot glue can be dangerous. Always be sure to keep your fingers away from the glue as it comes out of the nozzle, otherwise you could suffer burns to the skin.