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What is a glue gun and how to apply it?

If you have not acquired such a useful tool as a glue gun, you should seriously think about buying. This is a multi-purpose electrical appliance designed for melting polyurethane rods. The molten material adheres well to various materials, providing a reliable and durable joint, stable in water and various liquids.

Due to the properties of polyurethane, the molten mass can be used for gluing plastic, metal, wood or to create various decorative products, design, modeling. Builders, designers, florists are widely used such tools, the thermal gun is also suitable for children's creativity.

Bonding cardboard with a thermal gun

What can be glued with a thermogun?

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 practically any materials 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 connected can be subjected to elevated temperatures, for example, located near a heating device or battery.

Important!

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 performing work.

What materials can be joined with polyurethane adhesive?

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

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

Glue gun

How to use a glue gun?

In fact, using a glue gun is very simple - the main controls are the trigger key, temperature control (if any), push sleeve, pistol grip.

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

Using the trigger, the remainder of the sticker advances, creating pressure, to the heat chamber and squeezing the liquid glue through the nozzle. Thus, a gradual heating of the entire rod occurs, after which a new one should be installed.

Mom with a child glue crafts with a thermal gun

Terms of Use

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

  • It is necessary to prepare all the necessary materials in advance, outline the connection points of the parts.
  • Clean bonded materials from dust, industrial fluids or other contaminants.
  • Turn on the device or connect it to the power supply by installing 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 pulling the trigger; the performance of a thermal gun depends on its power and temperature in the heating chamber. Excessive mechanical stress can lead to rapid damage.
  • The glue comes out intensively when a key is pressed, it is applied pointwise or over the entire plane, the main thing is to consider the polymerization time, which rarely exceeds 15 minutes.
  • After applying the composition, quickly connect the elements to be glued.
  • Upon completion, the nozzle should be cleaned of glue residue.

In between work, the glue gun is recommended to be disconnected from the mains - this will reduce the consumption of the adhesive.

Using a heat gun in construction

Use of the device in construction

Using a thermal gun, you can make various construction and repair work. For such purposes, powerful models with a large diameter of the 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 the glass parts or glue the glass elements to the base.
  • The polyurethane compound glues wooden and plastic skirting boards, lightweight polymer structures that will not be heavily loaded, plastic panels, hooks, and decorative ornaments.

A good polyurethane composition sticks to almost all surfaces, but you should be aware when working with what materials its properties are useless:

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

The use of a heat gun to create decorative products

The use of a heat gun to create decorative products

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

Tip

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 elongated feed spouts, which is convenient when working in blind spots or indentations.

Two thermoguns

How to choose a thermal gun?

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

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

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

  • Power.

In amateur-class pistols, the heater’s power rarely exceeds 150 W, professional devices are much more powerful and consume from 300 W and more. However, this characteristic is relevant only when buying a tool for construction work, when the feed rate of the adhesive plays a decisive role.

  • Performance.

The parameter indicates how much of the composition leaves in one minute. The average value is from 5 to 30 g.

  • Temperature condition.

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

Glue gun design

Functional and design features

Structurally, all thermoguns are quite similar to each other: compact dimensions, mains power, trigger button. 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 simple tool is impressive.

  1. Temperature adjustment - it can be smooth or stepwise. A wide range of temperature settings is certainly a great advantage, but such devices are more expensive.
  2. The presence of automation - sometimes the microprocessor “monitors” the temperature, which independently sets the optimum temperature at different stages of operation (heating, application, standby).
  3. Indicator - will tell you when the mass has melted and is ready for application.
  4. Power button - in between use, the gun does not have to be unplugged.
  5. A viewing window will allow you to control the remainder of the adhesive mass, as well as monitor the integrity of the coupling (the coupling holds the molten glue, but over time the rubber parts wear 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 using the gun for glue autonomously for 15-20 minutes.

Models are also distinguished by type of power: mains and battery. Battery operation significantly expands freedom of action, but in this case, the time of use of the tool is limited by the battery capacity. On average, cordless pistols can be operated for no longer than 45 minutes, after which recharging is required.

Sticker glue gun loading

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 the color:

  • transparent - for universal use;
  • black - for sealing;
  • red - high temperature.

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

Compositions of universal application are produced in a wide range of colors, metallized and shiny stickers are also found. Thus, the glue gun can be used for creativity and the popular “handmade” trend, for repair, sealing and gluing of products of any color.

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