Glue Guns: The Facts
Whilst not as exciting as nail guns, glue guns are a quick and convenient way of sticking a wide variety of materials together with a minimum of fuss.
They are typically inexpensive – costing no more than a few dollars – and work by squeezing a pre-loaded stick of solid glue past a heating element. The melted adhesive is then pushed out of the nozzle, flowing into the joint between the surfaces and solidifying as it cools, which happens almost instantly.
The glue stick is fed into the element either by a trigger mechanism or by simply pushing it with the thumb. Unlike many other types of adhesive, the surfaces can be pulled apart again by the application of heat, which re-melts the glue. (A hot air gun or domestic iron can be used to achieve this.)
Glue guns can be used for craft projects or DIY, and even outside as the plastic glue is waterproof. Most glue guns work off mains electricity, though there are some battery-powered ones around.
Uses for glue guns
Smaller, ‘low temperature’ guns (around 120 Centigrade) are best suited to craft projects, for sticking together fabric or lighter materials which might be damaged by high temperatures. Higher-temperature models (200 Centigrade) produce a stronger bond and are best for sticking heavier materials like wood.
Some glue guns have a variable temperature setting, though they tend to be a little pricier as a result. In either case, bear in mind that glue cools and hardens quickly, meaning that you have little time to correct mistakes. In terms of safety, its worth noting that the melted glue is extremely hot and sticky, and can cause nasty blisters.
Sometimes the trigger-feed mechanism allows glue to be pushed into the element after you have released the pressure on it, meaning the nozzle can drip melted glue.
Pic credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/noii/
