A hot glue gun is an indispensable tool to crafters and DIYers alike. Hot glue guns come in high and low temperature varieties, which are designed to work with a wide variety of materials. Capable of bonding materials such as wood, plastic, glass, cardboard, fabric, and more, hot glue guns are ideal for lightweight work or quick fixes. While it may not have the strongest hold, hot glue dries quickly and works with a greater variety of surfaces than most other glues.
Our range of glue guns at Koch & Co are of high quality and high temp; commonly referred to as hot melt guns. A hot melt glue gun runs at approximately 195°C and can be a highly effective tool for bonding surfaces made of different materials. The adhesives used in a hot melt glue gun create stronger bonds for heavier materials than a low temp gun will. Read below for more information about the kind of gun you may need, based on your materials.
Our Koch & Co hot glue sticks are designed for use with our hot glue guns. These glue gun refills have been formulated to have strong high temp hot glue bonds at a lower melting point. This means that our glue gun sticks melt more quickly and set at a faster rate than other high temp hot glue gun sticks. Not only are they time saving, but are more energy efficient.
Our Koch & Co craft hot melt glue gun and hot melt glue sticks are designed to bond more effectively to a greater number of surfaces than low temp counterparts. Examples include rubbers, ceramics, metals, plastics, glass, and wood. The range of possible applications extends to a number of industries. Our glue gun products are particularly popular with crafters and florists, who need quick, precise, and reliable adhesive solutions.
At Koch & Co, we are a trusted Australian brand for the best hot glue gun supplies. Whether you need bulk hot glue guns for your business, hot glue gun refills, or just need to buy hot glue gun-related equipment, we offer quality products at wholesale prices.
Steps on how to use hot glue guns:
If items do not fuse securely enough, add more glue and repeat steps 5 and 6.
Some tips for safe hot glue gun use:
Before turning on your glue gun:
While hot glue guns are in use:
After use:
When selecting a craft glue gun, it’s important to consider the materials you need to bond. The two key options are a hot melt glue gun and a low temp glue gun.
How to distinguish a hot glue gun from a low temp glue gun:
To discern whether your glue gun is a high temp or a low temp glue gun, check the wattage.
Evidently, it’s important to choose the best glue gun for the job to assure personal safety, as well as to prevent damage to your materials.
Hot melting glue from a glue gun sets at room temperature. Given the vastly different temperature ranges of high temp glue guns versus low temp glue guns, the period of time it takes for these glues to set varies. High temp glue guns can get as high as 195°C and low temp glue guns get as high as approximately 130°C.
Hot glue guns are fantastic for lightweight glue activities or as a quick and temporary DIY fix. Easy to use and inexpensive, glue guns can be used in a number of ways. Unsuitable for heavy-duty fixes, take note that glue gun adhesives are susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. The efficacy of the hold provided by hot glue is also contingent on the thickness of glue application, as well as the material/s of the surfaces which are being bonded. In general, hot glue is better at bonding porous (e.g. wood) and non-porous (e.g. metal) materials together.
When discussing strong glue gun glue, please note that this is referring to hot melt glue gun glue. These hot glue sticks are made from thermoplastic adhesive, which means that the bond is stronger and can bear greater weight.
Hot glue has been shown to be able to bear approximately 1kg in weight, but as aforementioned, this is dependent on a number of factors. Keep in mind; though versatile and fast drying, hot glue is not as durable as superglue and epoxy, for example. It will not hold up to heavy stress or strain in the same way that these alternative glues will. Hot glue is better suited to crafting and small DIY work.
It is possible to apply hot glue onto glass, but it is necessary to adequately prepare the glass in order for the bond to work. First, clean the surface with glass cleaner, soap, or isopropyl alcohol. Allow glass to dry. Then, lightly roughen the bonding surface of the glass with an abrasive. Examples include 120-200 grit sandpaper, steel wool, or emery cloth.
Consider using a low temp glue gun, as high temp glue can overheat and thus, crack or shatter delicate or thin pieces of glass.
It is possible to use hot glue guns when creating wax seals for envelopes. Both high and low temp glue guns are capable of melting specialised wax seal hot melt glue sticks. Make sure to check with the supplier prior to purchasing to see if your gun is compatible. This is important because using a hot melt glue gun for a low temp sealing wax stick can result in bubbles and burnt patches.
Another option is to make wax seals from glue sticks for hot glue gun use. Just like melted wax, a round circle of melted glue can easily take the shape of a wax seal stamp. To colour, apply acrylic paint once the glue has set. Adhere to envelopes with a dab of hot glue or double-sided tape.
If you’re considering some hot glue craft to affix something onto fabric, hot glue can be a solution, but is usually a temporary one. If this fabric is exposed to lots of movement or flexing, the bonds in hot glue can break. Likewise, if the fabric is exposed to the elements, the bonds may break due to humidity or heat. As such, sewing is a sure fire way to secure something to fabric, but if your fabric is not designed to be moved around or kept outside, hot glue can be a great option.
Unfortunately, it is not advisable to use hot glue on styrofoam (a.k.a polystyrene). Hot glue exceeds the melting point of styrofoam, and as such, if directly applied, styrofoam tends to melt.
High temp glue guns can reach temperatures of approximately 195°C and as such, may be able to melt plastics like polystyrene, PVCs (like vinyl), Nylon 12 (used to make plastic films for food packaging, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies), and ABS (which is commonly found in printers, children’s toys, kitchen utensils, and vacuum cleaners). To melt other plastics, an industrial glue gun might get hot enough as these have more wattage than conventional high temp glue guns.
Hot gluing can be messy, and it’s easy to get glue on the wrong part of your material, or on another material by accident. Fortunately, rubbing alcohol is capable of breaking the bonds in hot glue. With rubbing alcohol, the higher the concentration of alcohol in the solution, the more effective it’ll work. A popular method for applying rubbing alcohol to dissolve glue is with a cotton bud, worked from the outer edges, in. When sufficiently lifted, peel off the glue. If your glue has gotten into the carpet, place a hot iron (don’t move the iron back and forth, only stationary) over a clean, dry rag. Melt the glue into the rag.
To unclog a hot glue gun, you can try a number of strategies, but take great care.
Note: replacement pieces for glue guns are usually only made for top range models. Economical models may be compatible with replacement parts from other brands.
To clean a hot glue gun, aluminium is a great aid. Below, we’ll outline three simple methods to remove melted glue from around your hot glue gun using household supplies.
Method 1: Aluminium foil
Method 2: Blow dryer and aluminium foil
Method 3: Acetone