Hot glue gun also called a glue gun, is a type of thermoplastic adhesives that are commonly sold as cylindrical strips of different diameters shaped to be attached with a hot glue gun to paper, plastic, or other materials. The adhesive is extremely hard and is a common component of arts and crafts tools used for crafts and hobbies. There are many uses for hot glue guns such as joining pieces of art, building model cars, or completing a decorative item. The glue gun can even be used to temporarily hold parts together. Here are some important things you should know about hot glue guns and what they can be used for.
Hot glue guns use a special type of chemical called dipylene borate which bonds the two ends of an elastic strip together. The hot glue gun uses a small nozzle (nozzles can vary according to the product specifications) which allows it to apply a thin layer of glue on the object while keeping it cool. The nozzle can either be placed near the end of an elastic strip or at the center of a strip to allow for a uniform application or it can be placed at a different angle to allow for a varied amount of application thickness. Either way, the nozzle ensures that hot glue won’t leak out and be wasted.
Different hot glue guns have different nozzle types including tube feed, line feed, continuous flow, and manual roller feed. Tube-feed guns deposit the glue on one end of a strip while continuous flow machines deposit glue on both ends of a strip simultaneously. Line feed machines deposit glue continuously onto the material being worked on but can be limited by poor access to an area or a low temperature. Manual roller feed glue guns are very popular and are usually found in home-repair shops, craft stores, and most modern industrial equipment and instruments used for bonding purposes.
Another type of hot glue gun is called a continuous looping glue gun. It resembles a small, hand-held spray paint gun. Because continuous looping machines can be controlled manually to reach a fine tip or to apply small areas of glue at a time, they are ideal for use on delicate items such as costume jewelry. Also, because hot glue sticks are made of flexible nylon or other similar material, they can be used on objects that can easily bend or compress when pressed. For example, hot glue sticks can be used to craft metal and plastic components such as buttons and handles. They can also be used on fabric components such as draperies, tablecloths, and napkins.
Another use for industrial hot glue guns is for packaging and/or labeling purposes. Glue guns can package and label individual parts of an assembly or multi-piece assembly at very high speeds. This process, called open time, can speed up the process of setting up the proper labeling or packaging of a product in a large warehouse or production facility. This saves a company valuable time that would otherwise be spent preparing labels or packaging materials for a part that will not be used until several days later.
Hot glue guns are typically powered by electricity or a permanent magnet motor. Depending upon the type of glue gun purchased and its intended application, one type of nozzle may be preferable over the other. The best choice for creating a strong, stable bond between two pieces of hard plastic is a slow-setting, thermally fused nozzle that contains either a heat range of 150 degrees F and above, or a cold air setting. The higher the temperature of the melted plastic applied in a certain area, the weaker the bond that will be created. Therefore, the lower the melting point of the material the stronger the bond that will be formed. The most common temperature range of a heat-fused nozzle is “between fifty and one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.”
A great option for creating a strong, clean, professional-looking bond when applying a wide variety of sealants or varnishes is the vented spray nozzle. This product, which is available in both small and large sizes, has a large, perforated hose that allows it to be used in a manner similar to a large paintbrush. The nozzle is attached to a separate trigger that can be pressed while the glue gun is in use. When this trigger is released, the spray jet of the glue gun is directed through the hose and into the desired application area. Because it is heated, this option is great for creating a variety of textures and colors of adhesive. It is also great for sealing and spraying parts that are extremely thick, such as the coverings and coverlets of fiberglass products.
When selecting a vented hot melt glue gun, it is important that one is purchased according to the application that it will be used for. Large applications, such as those that cover a wide variety of products, will require a larger gun that has an adequate supply of melted glue. Because the cost of heating the glue to the appropriate temperature will depend on the type of application and the amount of the application applied product, the cost of each application will also increase. For smaller applications, such as those that will be used for the purposes of sealing and applying vinyl or other materials, it is advisable to purchase a product that uses a small, open-time bulb to ensure consistent, open-time application. When purchasing a glue gun, it is important to consider the various features that the glue gun offers, and select the one that meets your specific needs.