Hot glue: what it is, features of application

Hot glue is a solid material that softens to a gel-like state under the influence of high temperatures. For work with such structure the special gun is used.

Thermal adhesive is produced in the form of solid polymer rods. The material is called hot for the reason that it acquires adhesive and sealing properties only after heating under a certain temperature. When heated, part of the rod melts and looks like a viscous dense mass. After hardening, the glue becomes solid again. Cool down composition in seconds.

This composition is convenient to use for needlework and decoration. However, the use of this adhesive is not limited to the creation of variouscrafts - hot mix perfectly glues a variety of materials and can be used for repair and construction works.

Hot glue rods are available in various versions, which differ in some properties, technical characteristics and appearance. A common feature of all varieties of this material is the ability to quickly and firmly glue together most types of surfaces. The effect of using warm glue can be compared with the use of welding.

Below are the main advantages of warm glue:

• Strongly fastens among themselves various materials. Breaking the glued parts is quite problematic.
• The heated liquid glue dries in a few seconds, returning to its former solid state, firmly holding the materials together.
• Negative environmental factors do not affect the adhesive composition and do not change it.technical characteristics. The product is not afraid of low and high temperatures, direct sunlight and moisture.
• Low cost. In addition, you can choose the most suitable rod size, since the tubes differ in length and diameter, which allows you not to overpay for the extra amount of material that is not required for repairs.

Despite the significant advantages of glue, the material has its drawbacks. The disadvantages of this adhesive composition include the following positions:

• Hot glue can glue between different types of surfaces. However, there are some limitations: the adhesive material is not used for concrete and plastered bases, as well as for some types of fabric and PVC products.
• Since hot melt glue has a rather high melting point, it is necessary to work with such material extremely carefully.

Today there are many varieties of warm glue. First of all, solid rods differ in size and weight: most often you can find tubes with a diameter of 7 and 11 mm, and the length of the material can be from 4 to 20 cm.

The next important difference is the color of the material. In the construction market you can find the following options for adhesive rods:

• Translucent tube white color. This kind of composition is considered universal for all materials. The product is used both for domestic needs and in the field of professional construction.
• Opaque tube white color. In this form, glue mixtures are produced for universal use and a special modification for glass fastening.
• Opaque rods of different colors. This option is convenient to use for gluing colored things so that the adhesive joint does not differ from the color of the material. The color range of hot glue is quite wide.

• Transparent tube yellowish tint. This type of warm glue is used to hold wood, cardboard or paper.
• Tubes black or gray. This modification is not used for bonding various items. In this case, the glue will play the role of a sealant for sealing joints. Also, this composition is used to isolate electrical conductors.

Suitable composition must be selected in accordance with the type of material that must be glued, as well as taking into account the characteristics of the glue gun.

The choice of suitable adhesive rods, first of all, will depend on the type of surface on which the composition will be applied, and on the general purpose of the work. The same factors should be considered when choosing a glue gun. It is important to pay attention to such characteristics of the adhesive composition as the color of the rod, the melting point, the degree of viscosity and the purpose.

As you know, the rods are available in diameters of 7 and 11 mm. Tubes of small diameter are suitable for the creation of various handicrafts, costume jewelry, decorative elements, as well as for the manufacture of soft toys by hand. Rods with a diameter of 11 mm are required for installation and construction work.

To work with hot glue, you need a special device. The easiest glue gun is relatively inexpensive. However, if necessary, you can make an analogue of such a device at home. This is especially true if you urgently need to glue together any materialsand the right equipment was not at hand.

A device for melting glue rods can be made from a conventional reboiler. In addition to it, the following devices will be required:

• Teflon tape or other material with similar properties;
• can;
• copper wire;
• a small bar of wood.

The handle for the future device must be made of a piece of wood. To do this, measure the distance from the beginning of the tube to the spiral, the measurement is transferred to the bar. Two pieces of the appropriate size are cut out of the wood and a small hole for the tube is cut out in the middle.

The handle is formed from two parts of the bar. The heating tube must be wrapped with Teflon tape, after which you can attach a handle to it. Connect the bars with the usual tape.

It is necessary to make a tube from a piece of tin can in which the glue rods will melt. The tin must be cut into two parts with a width of 9 and a length of 16 cm. A tube is made from one piece, which should correspond in diameter to the glue stick. To do this, you can wrap the adhesive product with a tin cloth.

A small piece of width 5 and 8 cm long is cut out of the second part of the tin piece. An open nose cone is formed from the resulting web, from which the glue will flow. Both parts of the tin blanks are interconnected and inserted into the hole between the spiral of the boiler. The tin tube is attached to the helix with copper wire. After completing all the steps, you can use the device.

For how to make hot glue with your own hands, see the next video.

Applying hot glue at home is not particularly difficult. To work with this material, you must purchase a special glue gun. The principle of working with such a device is quite simple:

• The rod must be placed in a special hole, which is located in the back of the device.
• The gun with a cord connected to the mains voltage of 220 volts. However, some types of devices may run on battery.
• In order for the core to begin to melt, you must wait a while. The waiting time can be from 5 to 10 minutes depending on the type of hot glue.
• To apply a hot liquid glue to the surface, pull the trigger on the device. In front of the gun there is a special hole from which a viscous mass will flow.

Despite the fact that almost anyone can easily work with a glue gun, there is a high probability of getting burns if you carelessly handle the equipment.

1. Care must be taken to ensure that the device does not overheat the glue stick, otherwise the viscous mass may leak from the body of the gun and cause injury when in contact with the skin of hands.
2. Do not leave the equipment turned on, if there is no need to use it at a given time for the application of glue.
3. When it is necessary to replace a rod of one color with another, it is important to clean the pistol tube from the remaining adhesive mass well. To do this, it is recommended to connect the device to the mains, heat it up for a few minutes and, pressing the trigger, squeeze out all the remaining hot glue.