Hot glue gun how to use. Time to create beauty with a hot glue gun: how to choose a hot glue gun and learn how to use it. How to use a glue gun - design and principle of operation

If you have not yet acquired such a useful tool as a glue gun, you should seriously consider buying. This is a multi-purpose electrical appliance designed for melting polyurethane rods. The melted material perfectly sticks together various materials, providing a reliable and durable seam, resistant to water and various liquids.

Due to the properties of polyurethane, the molten mass can be used for gluing plastic, metal, wood or for creating various decorative products, designing, modeling. Such tools are widely used by builders, designers, florists, a thermal gun is also suitable for children's creativity.

What can be glued with a heat gun?

The wide scope of the glue gun is due to the versatility of polyurethane. The composition melts at a temperature of 105 ° C and can glue almost any material that is resistant to such heating. True, there are also high-temperature polyamide rods that melt at 150 ° C - they should be used if the parts to be joined can be exposed to elevated temperatures, for example, they are located near a heater or battery.

After polymerization, the composition does not lose its properties and can be re-melted under the influence of appropriate temperatures - this should be taken into account before working.

What materials can be bonded with polyurethane adhesive?

Textiles - leather, cotton fabrics, silk, linen and others, with the exception of synthetics, which may be susceptible to high temperatures.
Wood of all types - commercial, semi-commercial, firewood, as well as various materials made from wood waste.
Rubber, many types of plastic, dense polyethylene (including reinforced), polymers.
Some types of ceramics, faience, glass.
Metal products.
Paper, cardboard.

However, when working, you should take into account the features of the material itself. When gluing metal, the composition must be additionally heated with a hairdryer, since the base has a high thermal conductivity, the applied sticker instantly polymerizes. When working with ceramics, it is recommended to treat the glued area with sandpaper, removing the top layer of glaze.

How to use a glue gun?

In fact, using a glue gun is very simple - the main controls are the trigger key, temperature controller (if any), pusher sleeve, pistol-type handle.

In the gun, the polyurethane adhesive rod is loaded from the back, the key acts on the pusher sleeve, moving the rod into a two-component thermal chamber made of metal and plastic, where it is heated. After about 3-5 minutes, the mass is ready for use.

With the help of a trigger, the rest of the sticker advances, creating pressure, to the thermal chamber and squeezing out liquid glue through the nozzle. Thus, the entire rod is gradually heated, after which a new one should be installed.

Operating rules

How to use a glue gun correctly? The general rules are simple.

It is necessary to prepare in advance all the necessary materials, outline the connection points of the parts.
Clean the materials to be bonded from dust, technical fluids or other contaminants.
Turn on the device or connect it to the mains by placing it on a special stand.
Insert the glue stick into the gun. Even if a nipple is installed in the nozzle, the melt will still come out, so you should put a piece of cardboard under it.
Do not apply force when pressing the trigger, the performance of the thermal gun depends on its power and the temperature in the heating chamber. Excessive mechanical impact can lead to an early breakdown.
The glue intensively comes out when you press the key, it is applied pointwise or over the entire plane, the main thing is to take into account the polymerization time, which rarely exceeds 15 minutes.
After applying the composition, quickly connect the glued elements.
Upon completion of work, the nozzle should be cleaned of adhesive residue.

During the break between work, it is recommended to disconnect the glue gun from the mains - this will reduce the consumption of the adhesive composition.

Using the device in construction

With the help of a thermal gun, you can perform various construction and repair work. For such purposes, powerful models with a large diameter glue stick are best suited. They can quickly distribute a large amount of adhesive on a vertical or horizontal surface.

What construction and repair work can be done with a glue gun?

Fill cavities, cracks and even holes of small or medium diameter.
Fix wires or utilities.
Connect glass parts or glue glass elements to the base.
The polyurethane composition qualitatively glues wooden and plastic skirting boards, lightweight polymer structures that will not be heavily loaded, plastic panels, hooks, decorative ornaments.

The polyurethane composition adheres well to almost all surfaces, but you should know when working with which materials its properties are useless:

concrete;
brick;
silicone;
drywall;
Styrofoam;
low density polyethylene.

The universal polymer composition is very convenient to heat up and make various piece products from it, make decorative works or draw with a molten mass of different colors. Often a glue gun is used in modeling, making frames and other structures.

If the device is purchased for needlework, special attention should be paid to its configuration - some models have a number of different nozzles with different nozzle diameters or an elongated feed spout, which is convenient when working in "blind zones" or recesses.

How to choose a thermal gun?

The widest choice of various models and modifications of thermal guns is presented on the market. To determine which one is best suited for certain tasks, you need to clearly define the purpose of the acquisition.

If the device is needed for needlework, then it is better to choose a tool for small diameter stickers. For repair or construction, productive models are suitable - they are able to produce a significant amount of melt, which is required for gluing large areas.

Before choosing a suitable glue gun, you should understand its main technical parameters.

Power.

For amateur-class pistols, the heater power rarely exceeds 150 W, professional devices are an order of magnitude more powerful and consume 300 W or more. However, this characteristic is only important when buying a tool for construction work, when the speed of glue supply plays a decisive role.

Performance.

The parameter indicates how much composition comes out in one minute. The average value is from 5 to 30 g.

Temperature regime.

Standard rods melt at a temperature of 105°C, but most models heat up the composition at a temperature of 170-190°C. A technological solution is being introduced to reduce the time of the initial heating of the sticker, as well as for convenience - such tools melt any rods, including high-temperature ones, with high quality. There are also low-temperature guns with a limit value of 105-110°C.

Functional and design features

Structurally, all thermal guns are quite similar to each other: compact dimensions, mains power supply, trigger key. However, if you plan to frequently work with the tool and perform various operations with it, pay attention to its option.

By the way, the functionality of a seemingly simple tool is impressive.

Temperature control - it can be smooth or stepped. A wide range of temperature settings is certainly a great advantage, but such devices are more expensive.
The presence of automation - sometimes the microprocessor “monitors” the temperature, which independently sets the optimal temperature at different stages of work (warming up, application, standby mode).
Indicator - will tell you when the mass has melted and is ready for application.
Power button - in between use, the gun does not have to be disconnected from the mains.
Viewing window - allows you to control the rest of the adhesive mass, as well as monitor the integrity of the coupling (the coupling retains the melted glue, but over time, the rubber parts wear out and the composition penetrates into the body, which leads to more serious damage).

Among the design features, it is worth noting the possibility of disconnecting the power cable, this will allow you to use the glue gun autonomously for 15-20 minutes.

There are also models according to the type of power supply: mains and battery. Battery operation greatly expands the freedom of action, but in this case, the use of the tool is limited by the capacity of the battery. On average, cordless guns can be operated for no longer than 45 minutes, after which recharging is required.

What you need to know about glue sticks?

The glue gun is designed to melt polyurethane rods, they are also called stickers. The adhesive composition is classified by diameter, length, color and purpose. The dimensions of the rod are mostly standard: diameter - 7 or 11 mm, length - from 10 to 30 cm. There are other, less common types.

The purpose of the glue is conventionally indicated by color:

transparent - universal application;
black - for sealing;
red - high temperature.

However, this is not a strict requirement, each manufacturer may deviate from the basic rules. The detailed composition and scope of the sticker should be indicated on the packaging.

Compositions of universal application are produced in a wide range of colors, there are also metallized and shiny stickers. Thus, the glue gun can be used for creativity and the popular “hand-made” direction today, for repairing, sealing and gluing products of any color.

Among the permanent connections, the most common in our daily life is gluing. This procedure must have been performed at least once by every person. The need to glue all kinds of things at home arises quite often, and causes additional troubles associated with finding the most suitable glue. A universal tool in this regard is a glue gun, which makes it possible to facilitate and automate the gluing procedure. This small, electrically powered device will help in many situations where you need to glue different materials.

The device and principle of operation of the adhesive thermal gun

Of the wide variety of electric tools presented on the modern construction market, the adhesive thermal gun stands out for its originality. With a fairly simple and uncomplicated design, it helps to cope with gluing a wide variety of materials using an adhesive composition melted to a liquid state.

In appearance, the hot glue gun resembles its prototype - a hand weapon, from the resemblance to which it got its name. It consists of the following main elements:

The main structural elements of the hot glue gun

housing made of heat-resistant plastic with a pistol grip and a viewing window;
a thermoelement used to heat up the adhesive composition;
a thermal chamber, which includes an adhesive cartridge, and its melting occurs;
a nozzle used for metered supply of molten glue;
guide sleeve;
hinged rod feed mechanism with trigger and pusher;
supports, for installing the tool in a vertical plane during technological breaks or for cooling.

Some modern models of glue guns can be additionally equipped with a switch and operation indicator, built-in backlight and temperature control. They can be powered both from a 220 V household electrical network through a power cord, and from batteries.

This model of glue gun is convenient for working in places where there is no way to connect to the mains.

Naturally, battery models will cost much more.

The principle of operation of the thermal gun is also quite simple:

A polymer hot melt stick is inserted into the hole on the back side of the glue gun, getting through the pusher and the guide sleeve into the heating chamber.

When electricity is supplied from a network or battery, the thermoelement heats up and the rod melts. In different models of glue guns, this will take 5 - 8 minutes;

When the trigger is pressed, the pusher presses on the rod and delivers the adhesive melt into the nozzle, which simply needs to be directed to the surfaces to be glued. They must first be cleaned of dirt and degreased, as is always done when gluing.

How to choose a device for needlework and other needs

A hot glue gun may be needed for gluing a wide variety of materials. To choose the most suitable model of such a device, you need to know what operating parameters and other characteristics you should pay attention to when buying a thermal gun. The main criteria for choosing this tool are:

In addition to the main ones, there are also a number of additional criteria that may affect the choice of a suitable glue gun model. Among these options are:

On sale you can find a wide variety of models of hot glue guns from inexpensive Chinese-made devices of the simplest design to sophisticated devices manufactured by well-known manufacturers of electric tools like Metabo, Steinel or Bosch. According to customer reviews, the rating of hot glue guns can be represented by the following models.

Bosch PKP 18 E

It has a long and narrow nozzle with glue leakage control

Power 100 W and output 20 g/min. Equipped with a thin and long nozzle and a valve against glue leakage. Ideal for bonding all materials and sealing voids.

Personally, I have known him for almost 4 years, but the thermal gun itself is already about 7 years old ... because it is a worker and, accordingly, was purchased before I appeared in this company. The gripping and feeding of the glue stick is organized very firmly and reliably. There are no backlashes or meetings. The main thing is to work out the old rod completely before you "charge" the new one ... The gun has a fairly strong rest-stand, fixed in two positions, which provides fairly good stability. I think that in its history this glue gun has worked out more than one hundred glue sticks 😉

Iluxa1988
http://otzovik.com/review_4243054.html

Steinel Gluematic 3002

Has a power of 200 W and a productivity of 16 g / min

The power of the model is 200 W and the productivity is 16 g/min. Designed to work with rods with a diameter of 11 mm, it can be used for construction and repair work, as well as for applied art.

The daughter is engaged in the arts and can no longer do without him in her applied art (glues rhinestones to fabric, etc.). I resort to his help when it is necessary to glue the joints of linoleum, glue the fallen off tiles (quickly and reliably), seal a hole in a metal or plastic dish, glue a broken ceramic vase, etc., etc. In general, the scope this tool is very wide, it can be listed for a long time ...

seniorforeman
http://otzovik.com/review_4559773.html

Metabo KE 3000

Ideal tool for construction, repair work and handicrafts

It has a heating temperature of up to 200 degrees and a glue supply rate of 18 g / min, designed for the use of rods with a diameter of 11 mm. Such a heat gun is ideal for small home repairs that require gluing various materials, as well as for needlework.

An irreplaceable thing! The parquet falls out, the decorations on the sandal come off, the handle of your favorite cup breaks off, the water coupling leaks - a gun will help you. It sticks tightly, you can't tear it off with your teeth. It costs about 1000 rubles, "cartridges" (plastic rods) - 200 rubles ... By the way, when you buy, pay attention to the shape of the spout - sometimes it is elongated, and sometimes it is short.

http://otzovik.com/review_232529.html

Dremel Glue Gun 910

Has two operating temperatures

Ideal for light crafts, with 7mm diameter rods up to 165 degrees, it features two temperature settings, anti-drip control and a detachable cord for when you need to tape something away from an electrical outlet.

Adhesive "melt" does not spontaneously flow out. The supply of glue is done by pressing the trigger and gives out as much as necessary. The glue hardens very quickly, which makes it possible to continue working and not wait several hours to continue. I glued glass, wood with a gun ...

gennady r
http://otzovik.com/review_2997390.html

Bison 06850–60–12 ZO1

Ideal tool for crafts and creativity

A thermal gun with a working temperature of 195 degrees and a power of 60 W is a good helper for needlework. Uses glue sticks with a diameter of 11 mm.

I liked everything about this device: lightweight, comfortable to hold, small, stable, heats up and cools down quickly. It heats up for 5 minutes to a temperature of 193 degrees. I picked it up right away and started using it right away. I can say that it is safe. Even if it falls from the handle on which it stands, it will not leave any burn on the surface, since the spout is located higher and does not come into contact with the work surface.

berezaPK
http://otzovik.com/review_3170645.html

Glue sticks for hot air gun, selection criteria

To work with a glue gun, a special thermoplastic glue is used, which is available in the form of rods (sticks) of various colors. As a rule, the composition of such an adhesive includes polymeric materials that are capable of repeatedly changing from a liquid state to a solid state, and vice versa. The basis of most adhesive sticks is a substance such as ethylene vinyl acetate. Hardening in 40 - 120 seconds, this adhesive provides almost instantaneous adhesion of the surfaces to be glued to each other. It can bond a wide variety of materials except plaster, concrete, PVC and some fabrics.

The main criteria for choosing glue sticks for a thermal gun are:

Rod diameter. Most of the glue guns produced today are designed to use sticks with a diameter of 7 and 11 mm, but there are models of this tool and under slightly different sizes, rods - 8 and 12 mm. You should choose glue cartridges for the diameter of which your gun is designed;
Stick length. It can be from 4 to 20 cm, and does not really matter when choosing. The main thing is that it should not be less than the minimum length recommended by the glue gun manufacturer.
Melting temperature. This is one of the important parameters that you need to pay attention to in the first place. The composition of the glue stick can be different, and it can melt at a higher or lower temperature. Choose sticks whose melting point is no higher than the working temperature of your glue gun.
Color of glue sticks. This parameter is not strictly regulated, but there is still some regularity in the dependence of the color of the rod on the type of materials for which it is intended to be glued.

Very often, a glue stick of its color corresponds to a certain type of work. This does not mean that other materials cannot be glued with sticks of this key. It's just that the best quality and adhesion of parts will be if they are glued together with sticks of the corresponding color. The most common are glue sticks of the following colors:

white transparent sticks are universal, they can glue a variety of materials - glass and porcelain, ceramic tiles and metal, leather and plastic, fabrics, rubber and other materials in any combination with each other;
Designed for bonding any materials
white opaque rods can be universal, as well as designed for gluing white parts or glass and metal;
The main purpose is the bonding of glass and metal. Can be just universal for white parts
colored rods of an opaque structure, in addition to black and gray, most often also contain universal hot-melt adhesive, designed for gluing parts of the corresponding color or creating crafts (for arts and crafts, glitter can be added to the glue);
Relate to universal adhesive
opaque black and gray rods are used to fill voids, seal joints and electrically insulate conductive elements, they are used in electrical, construction and plumbing work;
Used as a sealant and for insulation
yellow transparent hot melt adhesive is designed for gluing wood, paper and cardboard.

Among the wide variety of adhesive rods, the most popular are products from brands such as Matrix, Master Hand, Fit or Best Price. Of course, it is best to use cartridges of the same brand as the heat gun. But it is not always possible and time to look for sticks on sale. The hot-melt adhesive of the listed brands, according to consumer reviews, is in no way inferior to branded cartridges.

Naturally, when buying a pistol, they immediately began to look for suitable rods on the shelves. We bought Matrix glue sticks. There are 12 of them in the package, diameter 11 mm. Just what we needed. They themselves are quite long - 20 cm. You can glue a lot of things with them - fabric, wood, plastic, glass, leather, paper, and probably what else you can think of yourself. My daughter used them to glue coffee beans and cotton pads to cardboard. Everything is holding up well.

SsvetlankaS
http://otzovik.com/review_2731189.html

These rods quickly begin to melt, adhere well, and therefore are economically consumed. I recommend to buy a set of Master Hand glue sticks and put a solid five, they never let me down.

Katerina Lis
http://otzovik.com/review_4316420.html

How to set up a hot glue gun

Usually, in more sophisticated models of the glue gun, a switch is already provided that allows you to turn off the electricity supply to the heating element after the glue stick is fully heated, and a temperature regulator, and even the ability to automatically turn off the tool when the thermal chamber overheats above a certain temperature. You will not find any such excesses in the simplest and cheapest models.

It is quite possible to set up some functions and operation parameters of an inexpensive model of a glue gun with your own hands by slightly modifying the design of this power tool, especially since it has enough free space inside.

Extending the Power Cord and Installing the Switch

Most often, cheap models of glue guns come with a short cord (about 80 cm) and do not have a switch. This creates inconvenience in work, and often leads to overheating of the tool. To fix this manufacturer's defect, you must:

Disassemble the heat gun by unscrewing a few screws.
Cut off the wires of the power cord and strip their ends.
Take a new cord of the required length, which you can make yourself by buying a cable of the required diameter and a plug on the market, or use a cord from another non-working electrical device.
Solder one of the wires in the heat gun with one strand of a new power cord. The remaining free ends of the wires must be connected through a switch. First you need to choose a compact and convenient switch that could freely fit in the handle of the heat gun.
Drill a neat hole in the tool handle for the switch output, and install it on the glue. You can use hot glue sticks for this.
Assemble the glue gun by setting the trigger and pusher in the desired position and twisting both parts with screws.

Installing a switch on a thermal gun (video)

How to increase the power of the heat gun

It often happens in inexpensive and simplest design glue guns, especially from unknown manufacturers, that the declared power of the tool does not correspond to reality. As a result, the rod warms up for a long time, and a lot of extra time is spent preparing for work. You can correct the situation by increasing the power of the gun.

In hot melt guns, a ceramic heating element (3) is used to heat the heat chamber, similar to that used in modern soldering irons. The ceramic plate is located between two conductive plates (1 and 2) to which electricity is supplied. The whole structure is wrapped with a heat-resistant film (5) and is held under the thermal chamber with a clamp.

The main elements of the heat gun heater: 1 and 2 - conductive plates, 3 - ceramic heater, 4 - 4 and 6 - aluminum plates, which are a radiator, 5 - heat-resistant film

There are two ways to increase the power of the thermal gun - by replacing the ceramic thermoelement with a new, higher power one, or by installing a nichrome spiral instead of a ceramic heater. In the first case, everything is solved quite simply. All you need is:

To replace a ceramic thermoelement with a nichrome spiral, you must:

Remove the gun cover by unscrewing the screws.
Disconnect the ceramic heater with current-carrying plates;
File the seat under the ceramic heater with a file so that only the tube of the thermal chamber remains;
Wrap the tube with a heat-resistant film from the baking sleeve, and wind a nichrome spiral around it. You can take it from an old soldering iron or buy it.
Attach one outlet of the supply wire to one end of the nichrome thread, and the other to the second, soldering a capacitor with a capacity of 1 microfarad, designed for a voltage of at least 250 volts, into the circuit in series. The capacitor will protect the coil and heat gun from overheating.
After placing the capacitor in the gun body, assemble the entire device in reverse order.

Replacing a ceramic thermoelement with a spiral to increase the power of the glue gun (video)

The hot glue gun has a fairly simple design and a minimum number of parts, which makes it a fairly reliable device. And yet, as a tool operating in a high temperature zone, it is subject to some characteristic breakdowns. The main ones are the following:

burnout of current-carrying wires;
failure of the mechanism that feeds the glue rod;
burning of thermoelement contacts.

The weakest part of this tool is the pusher plate in the hinged glue stick feed mechanism. It is located between the trigger and the pusher itself, and transfers force from the first to the second. To eliminate such a malfunction, it is not at all necessary to contact the workshop, since, as a rule, such a breakdown is inherent in cheap models of pistols, and it will be much more profitable to buy a new tool of the same kind than to give money for its repair. But to repair such a breakdown with your own hands will be free. For this you need:

Disassemble the heat gun by unscrewing all the screws on it.
Disconnect the broken plate from the hinge mechanism.
There are two options to restore the operability of the stick feed mechanism - to make a similar part from a durable material, or to glue a broken plate with glue.
Putting the plate in place, you need to assemble the thermal gun.

Repair of the pusher plate in the hinge mechanism of the glue gun (video)

In the case of wire burnout and burning of the thermoelement contacts, it will be necessary to restore the integrity of the network by stripping the contacts and soldering.

Restoring burnt thermoelement contacts (video)

Instrument care

A hot glue gun is a very necessary and useful tool for home use. In order for it to work without failures, it requires some care, which is as follows. When working, you need to ensure that the body of the gun does not overheat. It is ideal for this purpose to install a switch if it is not provided for by the design.

Bonding must be carried out in accordance with the instructions attached to the gun, maintaining the recommended temperature. After work, the tool must be allowed to cool, and wipe it with a dry cloth. If there are frozen drops of glue on the body of the heat gun, you need to carefully remove them by heating them with a soldering iron through the foil. It is not recommended to clean the nozzle from hardened glue. When reheated, it will melt and flow out by itself..

Today, more and more people are coming to understand the need to have a glue gun at home. Such a device will not be superfluous in the household, where there is a constant need for repairs, in which something needs to be glued together. With the help of a thermal gun, any bonding is easy and neat. Such a tool is useful for both men and women who love to do needlework.

The hot glue gun is a tool that has become popular due to its simple design, while its bonding strength is top notch and does not take much time. This device is called folk without reservation, as it is in almost every home.

What is a glue gun and where is it used?

The main advantage of this device is simplicity and ease of use, and consumables cost a penny. And the device itself is not expensive, but it opens up a lot of opportunities. The thermal gun is in the arsenal of builders, it helps to fix engineering communications, seals, glues, fills the seams. It is used by needlewomen, florists, designers, making it possible to glue various accessories, to make various kinds of designs.

Radio amateurs actively use glue guns when repairing microcircuits and wiring. Even artists saw decorative value in the polyurethane melt, creating drawings from the adhesive mass. In household use, this thing is indispensable; with the help of such a gun, even broken dishes can be restored.

Glue gun connects various parts almost immediately, since the polymer, heated to a certain temperature, hardens in just a few minutes; the bonding is strong and does not make you wait for setting, unlike other types of glue. The hot gun is used on wood, plastic, leather, glass, metal, paper, ceramics, fabric, PVC, rubber, foam.

It is not recommended to use it with concrete or plaster, although this is a controversial issue, tests show that a metal hook glued to a wall can withstand a relatively large weight. In work with polyethylene, it is rarely used, since at high temperatures it melts and deforms. Polymer adhesive is not used in places with a temperature equal to the melting point of the adhesive itself. And most importantly, if you need to remove glue from almost all surfaces, this can be easily done.

The cured polymer is elastic and resistant to moisture. Polymer glue is harmless.

You need to work with such a tool carefully, adhering to safety rules, since burns are possible, the melting point of the glue reaches 200 degrees.

Working principle of a hot glue gun

A thermal gun is a hand tool, much like a weapon. It also needs to be loaded, but not with live ammunition, but with cylindrical rods of polyurethane glue of various diameters. The gun itself is made of heat-resistant plastic, which makes it lightweight. Operates from a 200 W socket, some models are equipped with a built-in battery. On the back of the device there is a hole into which the glue stick is inserted, the diameter of the tube depends on the model.

Spare glue enters the pusher sleeve, falling into a special pipe- a rubber receiver, and from it the edge of the rod rests against the heating chamber, in which the polyurethane melts, turning into an adhesive mass. It will take no more than 5 minutes to heat up the tool after turning it on. On the handle of the unit, like a real pistol, there is a trigger. With its help, the piston is started, creating pressure in the heating chamber, which allows you to push the already liquid adhesive through the nozzle to the surface of the material to be glued.

The performance of the tool directly depends on the thermal chamber, which is located in the barrel of the thermal gun. The size of the chamber and the power of the heating element affect the amount of melted adhesive mass and the melting rate of the polymer.

When choosing a tool, be sure to pay attention to the feed mechanism, as this is a capricious design and often breaks.

The nozzle of the hot gun shapes the glue and doses the flow of the molten mass. It is made of metal. Some brands produce tools with different nozzles that differ in length and shape.

It is important not to forget to clean the nozzle from glue after each use of the unit.

The latest models of glue guns are also equipped with a backlight, which is important when working with it in a room with poor visibility or even in the dark.

There is a viewing window on the body of the glue gun, this is an important option for monitoring the rest of the rod. Almost all devices are equipped with a folding stand to support the tool with the nozzle down, since it is not recommended to put the gun on its side, the body can overheat.

The power of the thermal gun is an indicator of the speed of "melting" of the glue stick. The higher the power, the faster the glue melts. Professional hot guns from three hundred watts, and amateur up to 150 watts. Some devices are equipped with a power regulator. Heating indicator - a light on the body of the gun, will show when you can start working, and the glue melts to the desired temperature. The melt temperature of the adhesive is also of great importance, as some materials cannot withstand high temperatures.

There are tools for a certain material, but it is more profitable to purchase a unit with a controlled temperature. Any rod will melt at 105 degrees, and higher temperatures simply speed up this process.

Spare hot gun refills are available in different diameters, colors and operating temperatures. Stickers can be of different lengths (from 4 to 20 cm). The diameter of the rod is selected according to the configuration of your gun.

Colored rods are intended for masking seams or for decoration. Transparent adhesive universal, black is for sealing, yellow is used for glass. There are even glitter rods on the market, opening up more options for decorators.

Preparation for work with a thermal gun

The principle of operation of hot glue guns is the same and you need to know how to use it step by step. This is an electric tool, so safety precautions are required. Before each use, you need to inspect the device, there should be no damage to the body of the gun. Any unnoticed, even the smallest crack, can lead to problems. Next, inspect the nozzle, it should not be clogged.

The rod is inserted into the slot until it stops, a new sticker is added only after the first one is completely used up.

Straighten the cord before plugging it into an outlet. Often the length of the cord does not allow you to freely use the tool, in which case you need to use an extension cord. There is a switch on the body of the gun that allows you to adjust the temperature of the glue heating. The thermal chamber does not melt the glue after a while, as it needs to warm up. The indicator will show the beginning of work with the device.

Hot gun algorithm

When the inspection is over, proceed to work with the device. If you use the tool correctly, then an excellent result will be guaranteed.

The polymer heats up over time, so do not rush to pull the trigger immediately after turning it on. While the device is warming up, the material is being prepared for work. The surface of the material must be clean and free of grease. The desired amount of polymer is adjusted by pressing the trigger. You need to squeeze out only the amount of polymer that you need.

The polymer in the molten state holds the temperature for a few more seconds. During this time, it must be applied to the material and pressed against each other. You need to melt slowly. A large amount of polymer will take longer to bond.

During a break in work, the device must be placed on a stand so that hot glue does not flow into the gun.

Do not exceed the use time of the included tool specified in the instructions for it. The professional heat gun can be used for 2 hours, the creative guns need to be turned off after 20 minutes. During a break in work, a thin cobweb can form, which is not difficult to remove in a solid state. After finishing work, you should wipe the tip from the remaining glue.

Advantages and disadvantages of a thermal gun

The benefits are numerous. This hot gun provides instant bonding. Bonding strength is high, good adhesion of the same materials to each other, and combinations of materials with each other. The appearance of the glued surface has an excellent appearance. There is a large palette of glue sticks, you can choose the color for any surface. This tool is indispensable for fixing work, where you need to do without mechanical impact. It is believed that it is environmentally friendly and absolutely safe.

There are few drawbacks to the thermal gun. It does not adhere well to polyurethane with concrete, plaster and cement. And you can not use this device in a place where the part glued with such glue will be subjected to further heating. For needlework, this unit is ideal. With it, you can make unique things.

For more information about glue cartridges, see the following video.

Glue thermoguns are increasingly used in everyday life. The tool won its popularity due to its lightweight design, which allows you to achieve a strong connection in a short time. Ease of use together with cheap consumables make the device indispensable.

To achieve the maximum effect from the application, it is necessary to use the glue gun correctly. This will ensure not only good performance, but also extend the life of the tool.

How to use a glue gun - design and principle of operation

Before you start using a thermal gun, you must clearly understand how the device works and what is necessary for its operation.

The shape of the device resembles a pistol, from which it got its name. The case is made of heat-resistant plastic, which facilitates the weight of the device.
The design includes a handle for which you need to hold the device. Depending on the size of the model, there are recesses for the fingers.
Powered by a standard 220W socket. Can be connected to a generator. Some brands of tools have a built-in battery.
Glue is inserted into the device through a special hole on the back of the tool. It has the form of a tube of different diameters, depending on the model of the glue gun.
Inside the body is a heating element that melts the rods.
The heating time of the glue is different for each individual type of device, and ranges from 3 to 7 minutes.

How to use a glue gun - preparation for work

The principle of operation of such devices is the same, but it will not be superfluous to look into the instruction manual. Perhaps your model has a number of features.

Since this is an electrical appliance, inspect the case for damage. Even a small crack in the plastic can lead to trouble.
Also pay attention to the nozzle. If it is clogged or there are other contaminants in it, then clean it. Otherwise, the adhesive will not be able to pass through the channel.
Purchase glue sticks of the required size for your device. There are also different lengths. This will not affect the operation of the device. If the tuba gives you discomfort, then cut it off.

Advice. There is glue of different colors. Pick it up to match the surface you are going to glue.

Insert the adhesive into the slot on the back of the instrument until it stops. Add the next rod after you have completely used up the first one.
Pull out the stand located on the tool body. Or buy separately. Be sure to check the stability of the location of the heat gun on the table.
Straighten the cord, plug the tool into an outlet. If its length does not allow you to freely use the device, then use the carrier.
Turn on the switch on the case. This element allows you to adjust the degree of heating of the glue and the time of work on different elements.

Important. The thermal chamber heats up the glue immediately. She will need time, which depends on the power of the heating element.

The indicator will tell you that the device is ready to use. If this is not in your model, then lightly press the lever. The device can be used if there are drops of glue on the nozzle.

How to use a glue gun - workflow

When all the preparatory steps are completed, proceed to the operation of the tool. The correct use of technology guarantees an effective result.

Since the glue does not heat up immediately, therefore, you should not pull the trigger when turning on the device.
While the heat gun is heating up, prepare items for gluing. Clean their surface from dirt and grease stains.
Adjust the amount of glue by pressing the lever. You will find it on the handle. Squeeze out exactly the required amount. Excess glue is difficult to trim when cured.
Hot glue retains its temperature for 10 seconds. During this time, apply it and press the parts together. The more glue, the more time it will take for it to solidify.
If you work with short breaks, then install the device on a stand. This will keep the glue gun tilted to prevent hot glue from flowing into the mechanism.
Keep track of the time when the device is turned on. Do not exceed the specified duration of continuous use. So professional models can work up to 2 hours, and creative equipment - 20 minutes.
When it is necessary to fix several objects intermittently, a thin cobweb appears during gluing. It is easy to remove when frozen.
After finishing work, wipe the tip of the glue residue. Use paper or a soft cloth for this.