In this product group, we have included three types of guns that are used in construction and repair work: for hot glue, for polyurethane foam and for silicone.
Hot glue guns are hand tools that are loaded with cartridges - glue sticks. During operation, the cartridges are placed in the body and pushed forward with a thumb or by means of a mechanical device connected to the trigger of the gun. The inner part of the cartridge falls into an encapsulated melting chamber with different melting power and is fed to the nozzle (the metal cone-shaped working end) of the tool. In professional models, the melting temperature can be controlled electronically, and the tools can also be used cordlessly thanks to heat accumulation.
WHAT ARE HOT GLUE GUNS USED FOR?
In addition to bonding surfaces, hot glue guns can be used to fill joints or cavities. Another relatively new technology allows the application of an even layer of molten filler by spraying it like a spray. In this, pressurized air pushes the molten material through a special nozzle. This technology allows the application of glue to an area of up to 2 sq.m., overcoming one of the major disadvantages of these tools - the difficulty of applying it to relatively larger areas. However, due to the rapid bonding of hot glue, the strength of hot glue guns is when working with small surfaces and details. The surfaces to be glued must be clean, dry and degreased.
HOW DO YOU WORK WITH A HOT GLUE GUN?
The glue stick is inserted through an opening at the rear end of the gun until it reaches (or enters) a heating chamber. Here, the glue melts, heating it to a temperature of 210–220 °C. By pressing the trigger of the gun, the stick is pushed forward, which in turn pushes the liquid glue in the chamber through the nozzle. Depending on the pressure applied to the trigger and the diameter of the nozzle, the amount of glue is easily dosed and applied to the surfaces to be glued. The objects are pressed together and held for about 2 minutes until the glue cools and hardens.
HOT HOT GLUE HAS A NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES OVER CLASSIC ADHESIVES
In many cases, gluing with hot melt adhesive has its advantages over the use of classic liquid adhesives. For example, just two minutes after gluing, the object is ready for use. Hard glue is practically eternal – only as much as is needed for gluing is used, and the rest of the stick, as well as the remaining spare sticks, can be stored for years. The glue remaining in the gun is also used up completely during the next gluing. The gun is not cleaned of the glue in it. In short, one always has a usable product on hand that is used up to the end. The difference in this respect with liquid adhesives is obvious, because many of them quickly gel, harden and become unusable after opening the tube. Hard hot melt adhesives do not contain solvents that are harmful to health to one degree or another. They are not flammable and do not emit an odor when gluing. The amount of liquefied glue can be dosed precisely. Last but not least, gluing with hot melt adhesive is up to about 75% cheaper compared to other types of adhesives.
HOW TO CHOOSE A HOT GLUE GUN?
The models available on the market differ in several characteristics - the way the fillers are moved and the power, as well as additional options such as temperature control, glue injection, and cordless operation.
When using hot glue guns at home, working with children or on delicate materials such as paper, textiles or foam, it is advisable to choose a model with a relatively lower melting temperature - up to about 120°C. In workshops, low-temperature guns are also used to reduce the risk of burns to the surfaces being treated, as well as to the tool operators.
Guns designed for thicker materials such as wood and metal reach significantly higher operating temperatures, in the order of 200°C. In professional models, the melting temperature can be adjusted, which complicates their internal architecture and consequently increases their price. Specially designed adhesive fillers are also usually used for high-temperature work.
Another main feature is the way the magazine is advanced. Some models are powered by pulling a trigger, while others are powered manually by pushing the magazine with your thumb. The second method is simpler and more economical, but practice has shown the first to be significantly more convenient, especially for frequent use and professional work. The productivity of the tools, which is measured in grams per minute, is also related to the magazine advancement.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH A GUN BESIDES GLUEING?
In addition to gluing, hard adhesives can also be used to fill joints and cavities - to restore the original shape of an object.
Hot melt adhesives can bond a variety of materials: cardboard and paper, wood, flooring, leather and textiles, electrical cables, PVC pipes and fittings, ceramics, glass, stone, metals, some types of plastics, etc. They are not suitable for highly heat-sensitive materials such as polystyrene, thin polyethylene sheets, etc.
Obviously, the most typical area for their use is decoration. They give rise to great freedom for creative expression and creation of compositions from a wide variety of materials - dried flowers, roots, twigs and in general parts of plants, decorative papers and textiles, shells of mussels and snails, glass beads, etc. Their typical application is some carpentry activities, as well as various types of modeling. They are successfully used to restore broken ceramic vessels, glass objects, to strengthen dowels that do not hold in their holes, etc. They are very successfully used to glue cardboard, carpet flooring, heat-insulating hoses for pipelines, etc.
WHAT MODELS OF HOT GLUE GUNS ARE OFFERED?
Hot glue guns are available in both compact amateur-grade sizes for home use and industrial tools with serious dimensions and weight. Some manufacturers offer battery-powered models, as well as stand-mounted heat-accumulating guns. Cordless gas-powered models are also available. The obvious advantage of these options is the convenience of operation and the ability to use them in remote places and places without electricity. However, cordless operation limits the time of use and is more typical for guns with a low operating temperature. That is why most models available on the market are traditionally powered by a cable connected to the mains.
ADVANTAGES OF HOT GLUE GUNS
Without a doubt, one of the main reasons for the extreme popularity of these tools is their versatility. They can be used equally well for hobbies, home repairs or professional tasks in the construction, packaging and furniture industries.
Another advantage is the quick and convenient application, as well as the rapid bonding of surfaces. The polyethylene adhesive applied with the gun remains hot and workable for about half a minute - enough time to position it correctly and adhere another surface. It is elastic, which is an important quality in determining the strength of the bond - the more brittle the bonding agent, the weaker the bond. This explains the somewhat surprising bonding strength of otherwise compact hot glue guns.
HOW DO I LOAD THE HOT GLUE GUN?
Buying a hot glue gun inevitably leads to choosing glue cartridges. The standard sizes of cylindrical rods are 100 mm or 250 mm long and 11 mm or 12 mm in diameter, with less common options available with a thickness of 7 mm or 15 mm. Some models - mainly those with injection - work with more compact cartridges with a length and diameter of 43 mm, which are designed for continuous operation with higher melting temperatures.
Fillers are manufactured in a wide variety of materials according to their specific applications and differ mainly in viscosity - the density or internal resistance of the molten material. Other essential characteristics are water resistance and resistance to high temperatures. For some applications - for example, bonding elements exposed to strong sunlight - a high-temperature adhesive is recommended. However, for others, such as the assembly of machine or other metal parts, low-temperature resistance is a sought-after feature - the element to which it is mounted is glued in a stationary state and after the assembly of the other element, the adhesive melts and the assembled parts can move freely.
Most adhesive fillers are clear or opaque, ranging from colorless to white-yellowish. However, when used for covering or filling, color matters and pigmented fillers are applied.
BE CAREFUL WITH THE MOLTEN GLUE!
Safety when working with hot glue guns should not be underestimated, despite the lightness and compactness of the tools. The molten glue that flows down the metal tip of the gun, even in models with a lower operating temperature, is very hot. In contact with the skin, it can cause at least discomfort, and in more severe cases, serious burns. It is good to keep this in mind and keep the metal tip at a safe distance. The already applied glue is also not touched until it cools down, which usually takes up to a minute.
FOAM GUNS ARE PREFERRED BY PROFESSIONALS AND AMATEURS
Polyurethane foam is supplied in two types of cans. One is designed for direct injection of the foam. Professionals prefer the second type of cans, designed for spraying with a special foam gun. This method of work has actually become accessible to amateurs, because models are now available on the market, the price of which makes them completely acceptable for home use.
Pistols with a detachable design are preferable, which allows for easier cleaning and repair if necessary.
HOW DO YOU WORK WITH A FOAM GUN?
The foam bottle is screwed onto the inlet fitting of the gun, with its nozzle with the valve pushed inwards, allowing the foam to flow out. A rubber ring is fitted over the nozzle, which seals the fitting seat and prevents the foam from flowing out to the side. At the bottom of the fitting is a ball valve that lets the foam through when the trigger is pressed and closes the opening when the foam flow stops. When the trigger is pressed, the needle is pulled back, the nozzle opening opens and the liquid is pushed out. The flow rate of the sprayed liquid can be precisely dosed depending on the degree of pressing the trigger and the tension of the adjusting spring with the screw located at the rear end of the gun.
THE GUN KEEPS THE FOAM FROM HARDENING FOR UP TO 4 WEEKS
Another very significant advantage of working with a gun is that the contents of the can can be used up completely, because when screwed onto the gun, the foam in it is protected against hardening. This allows work to be interrupted for a longer period of time (up to about 4 weeks) without the risk of the foam hardening in the gun or can.
THE EXPIRED VIAL IS IMMEDIATELY REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE
When the can is used up, it is immediately unscrewed and replaced with a new one, by spraying a little foam from the new one. The goal is to fill the inside of the gun with fresh foam. If the empty can is left for a longer period of time, the foam around the ball valve hardens and this most often leads to the gun being scrapped.
When work is interrupted for a longer period of time (more than 4 weeks), the gun must be cleaned of the remaining foam. For this purpose, a special cleaning agent is used in 500 ml bottles. It is screwed onto the gun and by pressing the trigger several times, the solution is introduced into the gun, while a container for collecting the foam and solvent is placed in front of its nozzle - a paint can, for example. Wait 1-2 minutes for the liquid to dissolve the remaining foam in the gun, then spray once more by pressing the trigger again. The contents of one bottle are enough for about five cleanings of the gun. It is necessary to bear in mind that the solvent only affects fresh foam.
USE GLOVES, MASK AND GLASSES!
Foam that has fallen on the floor is best left until it hardens, and then it is easier to remove, leaving fewer traces. Tools contaminated with it must be cleaned with a special solvent. Once the foam hardens, cleaning it becomes almost impossible. Therefore, protective gloves must be worn, and if it gets on the skin, hands must be washed quickly with warm water and soap. Once it hardens, a hard, firmly adhering crust remains on the fingers, which becomes very difficult to clean, and the solvent no longer helps. The final cleaning of the skin takes place over several days after vigorous rubbing with abrasive agents or even on a sheet of sandpaper. To protect the eyes and face when working with foam, goggles and a mask must be worn.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
With us you will find a variety of hot glue guns, polyurethane foam guns and silicone guns. In addition to the differences in the characteristics that are described in the technical data sheets of the models, in our store you will find products from a dozen brands, so you can choose the one you prefer. Prices also range widely, according to the quality of the guns.
Of interest are Teflon mounting foam guns, which are extremely effective and will certainly do an excellent job.
