Hot Melt Glue question

[dansnow]

After the cutting and the sanding-sanding-sanding and finishing I have on occasion used hot melt glue as part of the assembly method. 

One of the main reasons I don't use it more often is because I find dealing with the threads that come off the tip of the glue gun a real pain in the kiester.  

 

Is there something I could do, or stop doing, or do differently that might help minimize these little suckers? I use a Cold Heat battery glue gun. It has two settings, low and high. I usually use the low setting as the battery lasts longer. 

Edited September 28, 2014 by dansnow

[LarryEA]

I have no answer, but I am going to follow and see if someone does.

[amazingkevin]

I have the cold, heat  soldering tool, but never knew about a glue gun of theirs ,thanks!

[Multifasited]

I've heard ,if you do it under water no strings ,Battery gun only works more than once for some reason .LOL ! short of a shut off nozzle ,I have no clue how to get around it,the stuff is so sticky and threds at every take away ,makes great artificial spider webs for Halloween !

[ike]

I hate hot glue

[LarryEA]

 

Click here: Hot Melt Adhesive Application Glossary Compiled by Nordson Adhesive Systems

 

 Angel Hair - Fine threads of adhesive caused by incomplete transfer of the adhesive mass

from applicator to substrate, followed by elongation of the connecting bridges.

May be caused by improper nozzle shutoff with a high viscosity adhesive.

 

 Stringing - A defect in adhesive application characterized by hair–like fibers of adhesive

emanating from the trailing edge of the bead. Stringing may produce continuous fibers

attached to the nozzle. It is most often caused by the gun temperature being too cold.
 

 

 

[LarryEA]

I hate hot glue

 

I use it, but I understand Ike 

[dansnow]

 

 

Click here: Hot Melt Adhesive Application Glossary Compiled by Nordson Adhesive Systems

 

 Angel Hair - Fine threads of adhesive caused by incomplete transfer of the adhesive mass

from applicator to substrate, followed by elongation of the connecting bridges.

May be caused by improper nozzle shutoff with a high viscosity adhesive.

 

 Stringing - A defect in adhesive application characterized by hair–like fibers of adhesive

emanating from the trailing edge of the bead. Stringing may produce continuous fibers

attached to the nozzle. It is most often caused by the gun temperature being too cold.

 

 

 

 

I wondered if the low setting might have something to do with it. I'll have to remember to try the high setting next time.  

 

Ike, I hear ya, but every once in a while I come across an application where it is useful.

[Phantom Scroller]

Well good question I use hot melt all the time and you right they are a pain but I just put up with it and pull them off when cool. I only have one setting hot.   Roly

[Rob Roy]

After the cutting and the sanding-sanding-sanding and finishing I have on occasion used hot melt glue as part of the assembly method. 

One of the main reasons I don't use it more often is because I find dealing with the threads that come off the tip of the glue gun a real pain in the kiester.  

 

Is there something I could do, or stop doing, or do differently that might help minimize these little suckers? I use a Cold Heat battery glue gun. It has two settings, low and high. I usually use the low setting as the battery lasts longer. 

Hi Dan, since I have nothing better to do with my time,I did a search and Walmart sell NO STRINGS hot melt glue sticks. Hope this helps. Retirement does have some good points.     .

[LarryEA]

"No Strings Attached" glue.

Sounds Oximoron.

[Rob Roy]

Hi Larry. Remove the OXI and what are you left with???. Is it ME or is it YOU. Both I think.               .

Rob Roy.

[Travis]

This is a guess, so don't take my word for it.  You might want to experiment with it first.  But I bet a propane torch or heat gun would shrivel up those strings in no time.  I think just a quick pass, even before the wood or finish gets warm would do it.  I'd test it out first on some scrap.  It might work the opposite and fuse the strings to your work piece.  But might be worth the experiential. Let us know what you find out.

[dansnow]

Hi Dan, since I have nothing better to do with my time,I did a search and Walmart sell NO STRINGS hot melt glue sticks. Hope this helps. Retirement does have some good points.     .

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out.

[MrsN]

you can greatly reduce the strings by not dragging the nozzle though the glue pile. you can wipe the nozzle on the wood, to sort of cut off the strings before going on to the next part.

hmm... that sounds about as clear as mud, but if you can figure out what I mean it works.

[dansnow]

I can picture it exactly, thanks,  Sometimes the spot I'm working in is tiny, so that technique might not work, but will give it a shot. Thanks.

[heppnerguy]

here I am living in la la land, I guess. I had no clue that anyone every used hot glue to assemble anything in scrolling. I have never even given it a thought as I have always found hot glue to be unpredictable for me..  I will now mess with it a little more and see what happens.

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[MrsN]

My middle schoolers use hot glue a lot. it is useful for holding two pieces together when nailing or screwing. A little bit of hot glue and the pieces are sort of stuck, then put the nails or screws in place and you are good to go! 

 

They do make wood glue hot glue sticks, I haven't played with them much, but they are supposed to have properties closer to wood glue and might be stronger. That is the down side to hot glue, it doesn't have the penetrating strength of some of the other glues.

[dansnow]

I use the hot melt to attach decorative bits to finished work, such as the ribbons and bows on the reindeer I just finished. That's pretty much it.

[keefie]

Hi Larry. Remove the OXI and what are you left with???. Is it ME or is it YOU. Both I think.               .

Rob Roy.

Hey Rob, I might not be able to come in here as often as I would like to, but don't leave me out of this, I've worked hard for my "moron" status !!!  

[Rob Roy]

Hey Rob, I might not be able to come in here as often as I would like to, but don't leave me out of this, I've worked hard for my "moron" status !!!  

Yo're top of the list Keith. No one has worked harder than you, ( not that it took much work). Nice to see you raising your head above the parapet. Leave you out........ Never        .

Rob Roy.

[vykus]

I read somewhere of a technique where you use small dots of hot glue to hold a piece in place while the wood glue sets, to prevent shifting. I want to say it was for intastia but I think it could work for other glue ups as well. 

[amazingkevin]

i had a suitcase full of glue guns and glue of all types for glue guns.lost them all from the recession,but i do remember the strings.i think i remember useing as little as possible so no excess was coming out to create strings or lessen it but its  been years since i uesed them.