How to choose the right and quality glue gun for needlework

Handmade work is interesting because amazing and wonderful things are born as a result of creativity. To create something like this, craftsmen and craftswomen today often purchase a glue gun for needlework. homemaster.techinfus.com/en/ will tell you how to choose this necessary and useful tool.

The right choice for a good job
PHOTO: tehnomuza.ru

Applications: is there a great need for a glue gun

The heat gun grants an excellent ability to quickly and firmly glue the details of the future masterpiece. All this happens thanks to molten polymers, which freeze very quickly without heat supply, gluing the elements together.

Polymer glue will bond wood, plastic, glass, leather, ceramics, paper, fabric, metal. Avoid using a heat gun when working with materials such as concrete and plaster, as well as polyethylene.

There are many brands of such products
PHOTO: rem-stroitelstvo.ru

If the technology of work was strictly followed, then the parts are very firmly fastened together, and only strong heating can damage such a seam.

The hot pistol is most commonly used in technical fields, but it is also quite a tool for handicrafts. For example, it is an irreplaceable assistant in scrapbooking... You can also use hot glue for decoration, this is an excellent textured material for finishing surfaces, with the help of it they even create beads for decoration. The unit will also come in handy in floristry, where it will not be a problem to glue some volumetric detail in the shortest possible time.

The device and principle of operation of glue guns for needlework: how it works

The heating tool proved to be very convenient.The principle of operation can be briefly described as follows: the product heats up, the heat is transferred to the solid rod, it melts inside the gun and flows out in the form of hot glue when you press the lever button.

Outwardly, the tool looks like a handgun. It doesn't matter if it's professional or for handicraft

Outwardly, the tool is similar to a personal firearm. It doesn't matter if it's professional or for handicraft
PHOTO: dekoriko.ru

You need to charge the tool with solid glue sticks through a rubber receiver
PHOTO: dremeleurope.com

The rod fills the device and at one end ends up in the heating chamber, where it melts safely.

To get started, you need to preheat the product for 3-4 minutes, after which you can pull the trigger. The device will push the rod into the melting chamber and adhesive drops will appear from the nozzle.

Heating occurs in the barrel of the unit thanks to a heating element or several heaters. The work also involves a feed mechanism with an annular pusher. This part of the product is the most fragile, most of the breakdowns occur precisely on the pusher. Therefore, it is important to wait until the tool is ready for work and not to pull the trigger with force.

Over time, the sleeve can still be damaged, which is responsible for ensuring that the melted glue does not fall back into the gun. Therefore, you should not scroll the loaded "cartridge" or pull it back. The simpler and better way is to just cut the rod and squeeze the residue out through the nozzle.

How to choose the right glue gun for needlework

If you need brief information on the choice, then you need to focus on the length of the cord, the manufacturer, the presence of the on (off) button, power. But in fact, it is better to study all the performance characteristics and know what you are dealing with.

Power

How much energy the thermo gun consumes will indicate its power. More watts will tell you how quickly the cartridge will melt. However, speed is not the main thing - you need to look at the volume of the melting tank.

With normal capacity, the adhesive will be supplied in sufficient quantity at normal speed. At the same time, you can not worry about whether a powerful device or not
PHOTO: leonardohobby.ru

The class of the device marked "pro" consumes more than 300 W, but 30-150 W is enough for handicraft use.

If the power is not enough for work, then there will be small pauses between doses of glue.

Advice! It is better to consider not the power, but the performance parameter.

There are models with power regulation and standby mode.

Power type and performance

The product always has an accompanying passport, in which you can find out information about the performance of the selected model. This will be indicated by the mass of molten liquid flowing out of the nozzle for the specified unit of time. This is usually 5 to 30 grams per minute. For needlework, the point gluing method is more often used, so it is not at all necessary to buy a professional thermal gun.

You need to find "your" device with a convenient performance
PHOTO: uvaleronchika.ru

As for the type of power supply, that is, units with a stationary and detachable wire, allowing you to work without electricity for up to 15 minutes.

Professional models with a lithium-ion battery work up to 45 minutes in autonomous mode, then require recharging for 1.5-2 hours.

By the method of supplying glue to the working part

A special convenient trigger is provided in the device for supplying glue, and in more advanced models it also rotates, adjusting the release of glue.

Convenient and easy
PHOTO: stroy-podskazka.ru

If the trigger is not provided, then the rod is fed manually, but such models are no longer found.

Features and capabilities

In addition to the above characteristics, there are additional functions that increase the possibilities when working.

Temperature regulation and fast heating

Typically, creative pistols operate in the 170-200 ° C range, although any rod starts flowing as early as 105-110 ° C. High temperatures significantly speed up the melting rate, allowing continuous operation.

Specifications depend on the purpose for which the product is purchased
PHOTO: bouw.ru

If the work takes place infrequently, it makes sense to purchase a model, the operating temperature of which will be 170 ° C.

If the model is advanced, then it may have temperature control.

Ready indicator and backlight

The small light on the side is called the ready status indicator. With the help of the LED, it will be easy to find out if the device has heated up to the required temperature, or while it is worth waiting.

Sometimes models are equipped with an on / off button that will allow you to pause during operation
PHOTO: workopt.ru

If a flashlight is built into the product, the creative process will be much more comfortable, since all hard-to-reach places will be highlighted.

What is needed for the work of a thermal gun

In principle, work is not possible without a glue stick, but they, like replaceable nozzles, are bought separately. The stand, however, is a built-in feature.

Than glued

Replacement gun stickers are available in 7mm and 11mm diameters, different colors and operating temperatures.

To avoid problems, either use native rods or search for a suitable brand by trial and error
PHOTO: prom.ua

The rods can be in the range of 4-20 cm along the length, and the long version is preferable in that it is changed less often.

Interesting color option
PHOTO: tiu.ru

Colored stickers are used to mask the glue seam, and if we talk about professional direction, then here each color has its own highly specialized purpose. As for creativity, hot transparent glue is easily stained with wax crayons and glitters.

Replaceable nozzles

Not all models have nozzles. Budget products have a basic nozzle as standard, but more expensive ones have special nozzles, long ones of which will help to bring a drop of glue to hard-to-reach places, and nozzles with flat holes will allow you to lay glue in wide strokes.

There are nozzles with "leakage protection", they have a ball that does not let the finished glue during idle time. But this is not an ideal solution, the product will leak anyway.

Stand

In front of the body there is a folding leg that allows you to hold the thermo pistol down with the "barrel". Laying a working product on its side is far from a good idea!

There are devices with a special plastic stand: it is convenient to place the model on it in any condition.

It is not so convenient to work without a stand
PHOTO: tiu.ru

Leading manufacturers and their models

Among the manufacturers who specialize in creating handguns for handicrafts are Sinchang Kayxing (China), UHU (Germany), Dremel (USA, Netherlands).

Let's consider their products in more detail.

Hobby and Pro DS-040

Needlewomen all over the world have long appreciated the Hobby and Pro DS-040, which glues everything and everyone in hand-made art. Oversized rods are suitable for large areas, application is very precise. Among the advantages of the product are a reasonable price, the presence of a stand, protection against leaks, and a long service life.

Hobby and Pro DS-040
PHOTO: 1sew.ru

Nevertheless, the body of the product heats up slightly during operation. You can buy the product for 400 rubles.

UHU Creativ 47360

German quality allows you to work perfectly at a relatively low temperature of 110 ° C. The work is safe, the pistol itself is compact and lightweight. It is great for them to glue any materials, even polystyrene or balloons, and quickly and firmly.

Lightweight and compact UHU Creativ 47360 thermal gun
PHOTO: market.yandex.ru

The product is on sale for 1400 rubles.

Dremel Glue Gun 930

High quality glue gun that is powered from the mains and does its job properly with rods with a diameter of 7 mm. The manufacturer states that the release of glue occurs in an amount of 5 g in 1 minute, and the warm-up time is indicated as 300 seconds. This is a device with a heating range of 105-165 ° C.

The kit already contains 18 rods 100 mm long
PHOTO: market.yandex.ru

They buy this product for 1320 rubles.

How to properly handle a hot glue gun

First, insert the rod, and then connect the device to the power supply. Approximately you need to wait about 5 minutes: the model brand, rod diameter, power affect the heating time. All this is learned from the instructions included in the kit.

As soon as the first drop appears, you can try to quietly press the trigger - the glue that appears on the nozzle exit notifies that the device is ready for operation.

Advice! Everything that needs to be glued should already be at hand, since the operating time of the unit is about 20 minutes. If the power is weak, then the work must be done faster.

Security measures

Electrical devices are always a potential hazard, so no mistakes should be made when handling the tool.

For example, it is very easy to get burned by a hot nozzle or by a drop of glue. Remember this when working. It is important every time not to be lazy to check the serviceability of the connecting wire.

Do not forget that you cannot put a working device on its side. It must be installed on a footboard or stand.