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Hot Glue Guns

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. 

Looking For The Best Hot Glue Guns For Your Next Project?

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. 

High Quality Hot Glue Gun Sticks

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. 

Craft Glue Guns Formulated For Most Surfaces

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. 

Trusted Australian Brand For Your Hot Glue Gun Craft

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. 

 
How to use a hot glue gun?

Steps on how to use hot glue guns: 

  1. Assess whether your glue gun requires more glue before turning on. A glue stick will be visible in a loaded gun, and a near-empty gun can be loaded with another glue stick sitting behind it, to create a continuous feed. 
  2. Plug in your glue gun (and switch to ‘on’ if your gun has an on/off switch). 
  3. Wait patiently for your glue gun to heat up and melt the glue near the nozzle. This will take a few minutes. To test if your gun is ready, press on the trigger lightly. The glue should ooze out easily. If you need to press hard on the trigger, or the glue comes out in a stiff noodle shape, it needs more time to heat up. 
  4. Aim the nozzle downwards, to avoid mess and risk of injury. 
  5. Glue directly onto the surface of the item you wish to bond. Start with a small amount of glue, which should set quickly. 
  6. Set down your glue gun in a designated safe space, and hold together bonded items carefully with hands or a clamp. 

If items do not fuse securely enough, add more glue and repeat steps 5 and 6.

How to use a hot glue gun safely? (i.e. tips)

Some tips for safe hot glue gun use: 
Before turning on your glue gun:

  • Look for signs of damage before use: Check that your electrical cord is not frayed and that there are no cracks in the gun or nozzle. If there are any signs of damage, refrain from using. 
  • Set up a well-ventilated area. If working with an industrial strength glue gun, also wear a mask. 
  • Set up a safe space where you will place your glue gun when not actively in use. This should be covered with inflammable material. Examples include a ceramic tile or plate, or aluminium foil on a baking pan. This will be a safe space for drips to fall from your gun while hot. 
  • Ensure your working area is close to a power point outlet, to avoid use of extension cords, which is a trip hazard that could cause quite serious injuries. 
  • Ensure your working area is a safe distance away from the reach of children and animals. Alert other adults close to the working space of your activity, to prevent accidents. 
  • Hot glue is messy, so place something inflammable directly under your workspace to catch stray drips and glue strands. 

While hot glue guns are in use: 

  • Never leave a hot glue gun unattended. 
  • Never touch the hot nozzle or hot glue. 
  • Only use hot glue sticks that are compatible with your particular glue gun. Know the specifications of your glue gun when purchasing hot glue sticks. Conveniently, most hot glue sticks are compatible with most glue guns. 
  • To avoid mistakes, get a feel for your glue gun by first practising on throwaway material. 
  • When the glue gun is not in active use, set it down on your safe, inflammable surface upright, or the metal stand provided with your gun. 

After use: 

  • Always wait until your glue gun is completely cooled before storing. 
What is the best hot glue gun for crafts?

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.

  • High temp guns work well for heavier materials like metal, wood, plastics, ceramics, thick leather, and magnets. Though powerful in creating tough bonds, high temp guns will damage, melt, or burn more delicate materials.
  • A low temp glue gun is well suited to craft bonding of paper, cardboard, polystyrene, fabric, and foam. 

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.

  • 10-20 watts is common for a low temp glue gun,
  • 20 -100 watts is the range for a high temp glue gun.

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. 

What temperature does a hot glue gun set?

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.

How strong is a hot glue gun?

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. 

Can you use a hot glue gun on glass?

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. 

Can you use a hot glue gun for wax seals?

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. 

Can you use a hot glue gun on fabric?

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.

Can you use a hot glue gun on styrofoam?

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. 

Will a hot glue gun melt plastic?

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. 

How to remove hot glue gun glue?

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. 

How to unclog a hot glue gun?

To unclog a hot glue gun, you can try a number of strategies, but take great care. 

  • Slightly increase pressure on the trigger while the gun is hot to push out the blockage from the nozzle. 
  • Put on leather safety gloves, and unscrew the nozzle from the hot glue gun using a nozzle wrench or pair of pliers. Attempting this while the gun is cold could be extremely difficult and damage the gun itself. Screw in a new nozzle till snug (read: not overly tight). 

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. 

How to clean a hot glue gun?

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

  • Wear leather gloves.
  • Wrap aluminium foil around the glue gun.
  • Plug in your glue gun.
  • When the glue gun is hot, remove foil and scrub off glue from the gun’s exterior using foil. 

Method 2: Blow dryer and aluminium foil

  • Wear leather gloves. 
  • Cover glue-encrusted areas of glue gun with foil. 
  • Set your hot glue gun on its side, working on one side at a time. 
  • Rub foil onto the glue gun (take care not to burn yourself). The objective is to get the glue to adhere to the foil. 
  • Using a blow dryer, heat up the foil. 
  • Peel off foil. Repeat if necessary. 

 Method 3: Acetone

  • Completely cool your glue gun. 
  • Pour acetone onto a folded (and clean) household wipe. 
  • Rub your glue gun with a wipe. 
  • Continue rubbing your glue gun, and reapply acetone to wipe where necessary.
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