Glue guns

[Jronn65]

So who is using a glue gun to put their projects together?  I recently tried one and used the glue that came with it and the project fell apart.  If you use a glue gun what glue do you use? Any pointers? 

[Denny Knappen]

I don’t use a glue gun.  I pour glue in a small plastic cup and brush the glue on the project.  I use Titebond 111.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I do not use glue guns for that reason because they are not designed to securely hold wood together. You are better off using wood glues that re liquid and can get into the pores and grain of the wood such as Titebond II which is the one I use.  

[Wichman]

2 hours ago, Jronn65 said:

So who is using a glue gun to put their projects together?  I recently tried one and used the glue that came with it and the project fell apart.  If you use a glue gun what glue do you use? Any pointers? 

High temp gun or low temp? Are you using a glue designed for wood?

High temp guns with the right glue work fine, I don't like them myself but they will work. I don't like the strings that seem to get everywhere, and I really don't like burning my fingers

 

[Jronn65]

23 minutes ago, Wichman said:

High temp gun or low temp? Are you using a glue designed for wood?

High temp guns with the right glue work fine, I don't like them myself but they will work. I don't like the strings that seem to get everywhere, and I really don't like burning my fingers

 

I had a friend talk me into trying it. I’ve never had used one at all so I thought I’d try it.  It says on the package it is for wood but I’m not buying it at all.  I was using high temp.  I don’t like the strings either, which made me think I was doing something wrong.  That’s why I’m asking. When in doubt, ask the more experience folks! I appreciate everyone’s feedback. 

Edited December 25, 2019 by Jronn65

[teachnlearn]

My son had a college design project to create a 3D stage out of heavy cardboard. Bought a glue gun and bought the various packs of glue sticks. They range from general purpose to wood to fabric to wood. Major hot glue guns come with a general purpose pack of glue. Need to match the glue. Here is one site. RJF

https://www.gluegun.com/collections/glue-sticks

[planeur]

When I fixed most of the part of my Blue Heron, I had used that gun  https://www.rona.ca/fr/pistolet-a-coller ,

with those glue stick  https://www.rona.ca/fr/arrow-batons-de-colle-tout-usage-10-transparent-12-pqt-ap10-0012055

Some parts were already glued with kind of crasy glue , and I put the hot glue to add some strengh, and it is working very good!

 

planeur

[OCtoolguy]

I've used hot glue for years but never knew there were different glues. I just used the sticks that came with the heat gun. Been using the same glue gun for 40 years. Never gave any thought to the "strings" from the glue process. 

[tgiro]

First you need a high temp gun. The little craft guns, you buy at Walmart, for $15-$20 don't cut it.  Go to a craft store or hardware store and get a high temp gun. I, personally use any low-temp glue. I don't pay attention to whether it's good for any specific material. Be Warned - that glue will run out of the gun and it will be hot - like in third degree burns hot, so be very careful.

Having said all that -- I never use hot gun glue as a permanent glue on any project. I use it to hold things temporarily. I use it to glue up cardboard boxes for some of the weirder shaped projects. I'll, sometimes, use it to make a quick throw-away jig I need for some one off project.

To glue wood permanently, I use Titebond II & III. For some smaller projects or models I'll use medium or thick CA glue. IF I need a really tight filling glue, I'll mix some epoxy.

[teachnlearn]

Hot glue guns and 'hot glue dispensers' are part of industry. On assembly lines there are box makers that run hot glue on the box lids and fold them. Load them, with the products and it hits another box folder down the line that hot glues it shut. I worked some summers on factory lines. Drove me nuts standing doing the same thing over and over and over and over. Depends on the industry, but between epoxy, cynoacrylic and hot glues they want to put the products out in minutes. The general purpose sticks are the cheapest and work for paper, card board and temp hold on wood. Industry has also moved to permanent tape. Its so strong they use it on aircraft sheet metal. RJF

Edited December 25, 2019 by teachnlearn

[Jim McDonald]

I use my glue gun on the edges of stacks and very little else.