Glue, one of mankind’s greatest inventions. They come in stick, pellet, chip, pillow, and block form. Whether you’re working on a hobby or using it for industrial applications like packaging, a brand of glue may have been used.
Hot glue sticks are a better and more efficient way of glue applications. Glue sticks, available in various sizes of hot glue sticks, are one of the most used materials in the world.
In this simple guide, we will offer you lots of wealth of information to provide clear answers to your questions on hot glue sticks application so you can visit a craft store, decide well while making a purchase of glue sticks and take on your next project with confidence and accuracy.
Glue Gun Compatibility
During application of hot glue sticks, the glue gun is an essential tool. It heats up the glue stick to its melting temperature and also allows the user to point the hot melt glue accurately to its intended location. This is made possible by the nozzle and trigger mechanism.
The nozzle comes in many sizes and is interchangeable depending on the type of project being worked on. The trigger maintains the pressure, resulting in a consistent, controlled flow rate. The adhesives gun heats up the hot melt stick to the best temperature, holds that temperature, ensuring the melted glue’s strength is at its best.
These features make the gun indispensable for both professionals and hobbyists, especially when working with wood and hot glue sticks to date.
Every glue gun is built for certain glue sticks, so it’s crucial that you check your glue gun’s requirements before buying hot melt sticks.
For example, mini glue guns have been built to be as simple and comfortable for the user as possible and work at low temps. They are best for applications in executing a number of small hobby projects, fixing household items, and doing arts and crafts.
They are small and lightweight, making them perfect for long sessions of use and can heat up to the required temp in minutes. Most mini glue gun brands built them to be compatible with mini glue sticks of about 0.28 inches in diameter. They work best for low temp glue work, such as binding delicate matter like lace.
For more professional and high-volume tasks, 3M glue guns are an example of a better option for experienced crafters and high-volume applications. These glue guns work with larger hot melt sticks and come built with adjustable temperature controls to allow for the use of various glue formulations and types.
They are designed to last, being able to withstand the extreme temperatures and not break from regular use. They are compatible with woodwork, electronics, packaging among a number of other options. 3M has developed a wide array of hot melt glue sticks specifically designed for high volume applications.
In general, glue guns provide users with the flexibility of controlling temperature, which is essential when working with a number of stuffs and glue sticks of differing temperature requirements.
The low temp version (~121°C) of glue sticks is perfect for foam and fabric, while high temperature hot melt glue sticks typically dispense between 350-410 degrees Fahrenheit (~204°C), perfect for wood, metal, or glass and a lot other stuffs.
Glue Stick Sizes and Applications
There is a wide variety of diameters, lengths and temperatures (low temperature and high temperature) when it comes to the sizes of hot melt and your choice will be dependent on the task you’re working on and the type of glue gun you’re going to use. Common glue stick sizes are usually either mini or full size glue sticks.
In diameters, mini-size hot melt glue are typically about 0.27 inches in diameter and mostly 4 inches in length, while the hot melt glue for full size glue stick applications is approximately 0.44 inches in diameter and mostly 4-10 inches in length.
5/16″ X 4″ mini glue sticks are used in typical craft store glue guns while 5/8″ glue guns offer higher output for more demanding applications and dispense more adhesive with each trigger pull.
For arts and crafts, making scrapbooks, home decor, or simple repairs, low temp glue guns with smaller low temp glue sticks match the requirements. Low temperature hot melt glue sticks are used on sensitive substrates to prevent damage.
The full size hot melt sticks with a larger diameter will allow for a steady flow of hot melt glue while also cutting down on the frequency of reloads when working on large scale tasks. This is why many industrial users favor larger hot melt adhesive sizes for high volume applications.
It is important to note that the stick size of the glue stick affects how it performs in penetrating the material’s surface. Full size glue sticks release high volumes of adhesive per trigger pull, resulting in better bonds for tough surfaces.
The speed at which the glue solidifies is also dependent on the diameter of the hot glue stick. Also note that using glue sticks smaller than 11.3mm in diameter risks glue meltback.
Hot Melt Adhesive Properties
Hot melt glue is a type of thermoplastic synthesised by mixing resins, waxes and a host of other chemicals to allow it to adhere. The thermoplastic is able to soften at high temperatures and, if mishandled, can burn when solidifying as it cools.
The hot melt glue’s formulation includes tacky resins which allow it to rapidly wet and bond surfaces. The waxes provide the viscosity so it can be used in a variety of conditions and also helps the glue easily go through a glue gun. These formulations vary depending on what the hot melt glue is to be used for.
Choosing the Right Size of Hot Glue Sticks
To make the right choice when buying glue sticks from craft stores, you first need to know your glue gun’s capacity. Standard glue guns can take either mini or full sized sticks.
There are a few manufacturers such as Surebonder and AdTech who sell proprietary glue stick sizes and specific materials that work with certain glue guns so as customers,watch out for those. To answer this, get from only manufacturers that sell more generally usable sticks and adhesives.
The size of your project can also determine the glue stick size to purchase. For larger tasks or heavy duty projects, larger sticks are essential to reduce reloading frequency while smaller projects will be fine limited to mini sticks.
| Glue Stick Size | Recommended Use | Compatible Glue Gun |
|---|---|---|
| 0.27 inch (Mini) | Crafts, light repairs | Mini glue gun |
| 0.44 inch (Full) | Heavy-duty, industrial work | Full-size glue gun |
| 5/8 inch | High-volume industrial use | Heavy-duty industrial gun |
High Temperature Glue Guns and Safety
Using high temp glue guns can offer powerful binding features, they need to be dealt with carefully due to the higher risk of injury. Reaching temperatures as high as 204°C, they can easily burn skin if handled carelessly.
Protective equipment such as safety gloves and aprons should be worn when handling high temp glue guns and never leave a fully hot glue gun unattended.
Conclusion and Future Use of Hot Glue Guns
Whether you are working on a school project or working with glass, there’s a hot glue stick option for you. As new technologies arise, only manufacturers committed to quality will keep making better glue guns and specialised formulations for hot melt glue.
To ensure you’re getting the best out of your hot melt glue, ensure your glue stick sizes and type fit your glue guns capabilities, and if you’re using a high temperature glue gun, ensure you observe all safety precautions.
