This type of soldering iron has gained popularity due to the fact that it is used in many industries. The glue gun is simple. It is lightweight and costs little. In many cases it is irreplaceable. Builders use it for fixing structures, filling seams, and gluing. The device is often used by designers, florists and craftsmen who do handicrafts and crafts. Without it, it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to create memorable gifts or make repairs in a house or apartment.
Radio amateurs, model designers and craftsmen also need the device. Without it, it is difficult to fix wiring and microcircuits. Polyurethane alloy is suitable not only for finishing crafts. They use a gun to build frame structures from wire, paint on things with colored glue, and create unusual balls from drops. A pistol is used to give a certain shape to stylized seals for decorating cards, invitations and souvenirs. You can make molds from a glue gun. There are even people who tape their shoes.
Particularly well-known devices are “Brauberg”, “Dexter”, “Dremel”, “Gluepen”, “Metabo”, “Pkp” and “Stayer”. Chinese devices are bought because of their low prices.
The design and principle of operation of a hot glue gun
You need to know how the device works so that you can make it at home with your own hands.
The design of the pistol is simple. The mechanism is a manual device where polyurethane glue is heated to the desired temperature. The device is charged from behind using cylindrical rods of different calibers. The rod passes the pusher bushing, the rubber receiver, and then it ends up in the chamber, where, under the influence of high temperatures, it acquires adhesive and penetrating ability. The process lasts 3–5 minutes. When you press the trigger, the rod begins to function like a piston. It creates pressure in the melting tank, and, using a nozzle, displaces the glue onto the surface to be finished.
Features of hot glue
In the gun, hot melt adhesive is exposed to temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius, melts and is applied to the desired part. On the surface, the solution dries in a matter of minutes, providing strong adhesion. Bonding strength is achieved due to the fact that the liquid glue penetrates into all pores of the materials being joined, and the seam is flawless.
The features of hot melt adhesive include the following factors:
- Drying speed. This takes several minutes, or seconds at higher temperatures.
- Seam strength. It can be compared to metal fasteners. The efforts of an ordinary person will not be able to break the glued parts.
- Price. The price of hot-melt adhesive is low, which makes it accessible for almost any job.
- Resistance to the influence of various factors. The adhesive joint is indifferent to temperature changes, scorching sun, exposure to household chemicals or water. Glued items can last for many years without the risk of the seam breaking.
- Easy removal. If the parts need to be separated, there will be no traces of glue left - just heat the surfaces and remove the product.
- Safe composition. When melted, no harmful substances are released, so hot melt adhesive is used in children's crafts.
- Possibility of replacing sealant. If it is absent, cracks, chips or holes are sealed with hot glue.
Glue is produced to suit any need and can vary in composition, color, length, and diameter of the rods.
Safety precautions
The device heats up from the mains, so you need to be careful when working with it. This condition must be met, otherwise you may get burns or damaged items. Safety regulations:
- The soldering iron itself should always be supervised.
- Place on the stand during operation.
- A faulty device must be repaired before work.
- Do not touch the tip of the mechanism or the heated glue.
- Turn off when finished working.
How to make a glue gun
To create a pistol at home, you need to know its internal structure. It is made from ordinary household appliances. A homemade mechanism will not replace what you bought, but it will work as a temporary solution.
How to make a tip
How to make a tip:
- Cut the aluminum can with a utility knife so that you get an even sheet. Then you should cut it and form a flat sheet. Rinse the tin for further manipulations.
- Cutting a rectangle. It should be 7.5 by 10 cm in size. First, using a measuring tool and a felt-tip pen, draw the outlines, and then divide the sheet with scissors.
- Rolling the sheet into a cone. To do this, you need to hold the sheet horizontally and roll the bottom left edge to the top right edge. If you can't make a hole, then you need to cut off the end.
- Cutting off an outside corner. It must be cut so that a straight edge emerges. This will make it easier to secure the cone with duct tape or tape.
- Wrapping the cone with insulating tape. It must first be attached to the middle and base. And then you should wrap the place where the pointed corner was cut off. You cannot move to the tip, otherwise the electrical tape will catch fire while the device is heating up.
How to make a handle
Handle manufacturing steps:
- The lighter must be placed parallel to the cone so that the trigger is pointing downward. It itself must be placed above the tube, and the end should protrude slightly beyond the boundaries of the tube on the lighter.
- Secure the cone with tape. It must be carefully attached to the tube.
How to use the gun
To begin work, you need to place the stick in the cone and push it as far inside as possible without breaking it. In some cases, it should be held motionless. Thin sticks are more suitable for these purposes. When working, keep the lighter parallel to the surface being treated. The upper long part of the cone should be positioned upward. Then you need to hold the trigger for a couple of seconds so that the glue begins to flow. When this happens, you should release the trigger and the fire will go out. After completing these steps, the hot glue gun is ready for use and can be used for gluing.
Hot glue crafts
Glue guns are a “weapon” not only in creative hands. For small household needs, a gun with such a solution is also useful. When working with hot melt adhesive, you must ensure good ventilation of the room and protect your hands. The glue coming out of the gun will be very hot, so it is safer to work with gloves.
To understand the value of this device, you need to familiarize yourself with useful ways to use a glue gun.
Anti-slip layer for carpets and shoes
Slippery shoes cause a lot of problems in winter. Moreover, such a sole is equally dangerous for both children's and adult shoes. Rugs in the bathroom also have a slippery base, or glossy floors do not allow them to lie tightly. For both problems, it is enough to use hot melt glue in the following way:
- The surface of the rug or shoes is thoroughly cleaned.
- The heated adhesive composition is applied to the desired places pointwise, spirally or randomly. Glue is dripped onto the mat only along the edges of the product, and sometimes a name or design is written on the sole of the shoe so that a funny mark remains in the snow.
- The applied solution is given time to dry.
You can perform a similar procedure with children: they will have fun painting their own boots with glue.
Light objects on the wall without nails or holes
There are many lightweight items that can be placed on the wall, such as Christmas lights, birthday banners, photographs or children's crafts. It is inconvenient to drive a nail into each element; it is better to use hot melt glue. The wall is first cleaned of dust and debris, and a small piece of electrical tape is glued to the area of future fastening, onto which glue is applied on the other side. After this, the edge of the desired picture or banner is connected to the electrical tape. When the relevance of the hung banner passes, it is enough to peel off the electrical tape without harming the finish.
It is important to understand that it is not recommended to attach pieces of furniture to the wall in this way: the maximum weight that the adhesive seam can withstand is 150 kg. It may seem that this is enough for a shelf, but as soon as books, vases and candlesticks “stand” on it, the structure becomes dangerous.
Aligning photo frames and paintings
A very common problem is that frames or pictures lovingly hung on the wall are skewed. The reasons usually lie in incorrect weight distribution, because objects often hang on one nail. To align them, a glue gun will come in handy again:
- you need to visually determine which edge of the frame is higher,
- Apply a little glue to the inner corner and let it dry,
- check whether balance has been achieved,
- add more glue if necessary.
This option will not only create the right balance for the frame, but will also allow it not to come close to the wall so as not to leave marks.
Pet scratcher
Pet stores sell many items for the enjoyment of animals, including scratchers for cats or dogs. These devices can be in the form of a regular comb or worn on the hand. The second option can be easily implemented at home. To do this, you need to choose rubber gloves of a suitable color and size and apply droplets of glue on them from the palm side. The more drops, the more productive the combing. The glue must be allowed to dry and you can begin the procedure.
Thanks to this “invention”, your pet will not only have fun, but will also be cleaned of faded fur, and much less hair will be scattered around the apartment.
Home made vase
You can add uniqueness to an ordinary glass vase with glue and creative skills. To do this, chaotic or even lines of patterns are applied to the vase using a gun, and small decorative elements are added if desired.
If you use a wide bowl, you can create a candy bowl. To do this, the container will need to be greased with thick cream or oil, applied with frequent patterns of glue, and then removed. A hemisphere with intricate lines will remain in your hands.
Wax crayons letter stamp
It’s convenient that you can insert not only hot glue sticks into the glue gun, but also wax crayons. This way you can actually get material for sealing envelopes:
- You must insert a wax pencil without a wrapper into the glue gun,
- wait for the material to heat up,
- When molten wax flows from the tip of the gun, you can begin to work.
Before starting work, you need to have a rough substrate nearby in order to get used to making beautiful prints. It is important to understand that after these steps you will not be able to clean the gun; it is better to purchase another inexpensive one and make stamps for envelopes only with it.
Bracelets
An activity that will captivate the female part of the family is creating bracelets from hot melt adhesive. To do this, you will need an empty aluminum can from any drink. Then proceed like this:
- Apply several thin strips of glue on top of the jar, depending on the desired width of the bracelet,
- remove the dried strips and rinse with water,
- decorate with additional elements or paint in different colors.
Another option for creating a bracelet is to make many large drops of glue where you can install rhinestones, beads, and figures. After drying, such drops are easily strung on a thread and form a bracelet. It is important to use a surface that the glue will not stick to: parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Eraser on the end of a pencil
Not every pencil is “equipped” with an eraser at the tip, but this is convenient. If your pencil lacks such an important element, use hot melt glue. It is enough just to apply a drop of solution to the tip: the dried glue copes well with the tasks of an eraser.
Fun and Unique Buttons
Any item of clothing can be decorated with designer buttons. To do this, just use your imagination and study the algorithm of actions:
- prepare a parchment or silicone lining so that the glue does not stick,
- squeeze out a drop from the gun that forms the desired diameter of the circle,
- if desired, decorate the glue or add glitter to it,
- Make holes in the frozen round piece with a toothpick.
If you want to decorate the entire button with sparkles, then the first drop should be squeezed onto a surface already sprinkled with them.
Hanger with non-slip hangers
Many things tend to slide off the hanger in the closet. This is a rather annoying phenomenon, because sometimes ironed clothes are waiting for a special occasion, and they are found downstairs, long fallen and crumpled. Hot-melt glue will help eliminate such situations: apply a few drops of glue at equal distances to the top crossbar of the hanger. After drying, the hanger will acquire reliable “barriers” that will prevent clothes from slipping.
Working with a glue gun will become familiar and easy in just a few minutes, even if you have never encountered it before. And the amazing adhesion properties of hot-melt adhesive to different surfaces will open up new opportunities for creativity, household chores or entertainment.
