Hot Glue Gun Experts?

[cholo71796]

So this isn't really a noob question but I don't know where to put it.

Okay, hahah, a while back (like last year) I got my 110# Cardstock and my hot glue gun and glue and the like to start doing pepakura. While I never started doing pepakura, I think I may start now!
But:
Being a genius I left my glue gun on overnight. Thankfully I propped it up properly, so my house didn't burn down. *phew* My hot glue gun is not unscathed, though. It turned the glue near the tip an ugly yellow, and, while the glue gun still works, it oozes this stuff out constantly as it cant really clean the barrel and I'm not going to go through 20 sticks just to see if that would clean it out. The glue that now comes out smells really... acrid, I guess, so I haven't used it since. I don't think this would really be a good idea for pep and it could even be a health (lung) hazard. I don't really even like the idea of hot gluing the stuff together because I'm not fond of the glue gun. Would it be better to use elmer's glue? It's cheap, in abundance, and lots of people seem to like it. Any ideas on how to fix the glue gun?

 

[mchammertime]

The only thing i could suggest would be to get another glue gun. I tried to use other types of glue, but found them much harder to use. Glue guns aren't terribly expensive, so that it what I would suggest. Just don't forget to unplug!

 

[box o crayons]

yea or take out the glue stick and let the remander ooze out and then try cleaning it a bit and i find hot glue easier to use then elmers it allows you to glue a lot more faster and i dont like waiting for a half hour for a couple peices pep is time consuming enough

 

[sharkhead7854]

The other glue thread I was in- someone said they found one in a craft store for like $2, even if it's a little more than that I don't think replacing it should be too bad.
But elmers is just fantastic.
I've been using tape until about 2 days ago when I ran out
Loved it ever since, it's quick drying (when you use little like you should) very strong as it goes into the paper, has great endurance and takes resin with no problem

 

[Slimguy379]

buy a new one ones at walmart are like $3, and elmers and fiberglass doesn't sound all that safe

 

[GMer56]

... I left my glue gun on overnight.

Never work on your costume when you are tired, you might make a mistake. (like with your glue gun)
I agree with the others and that you should get another gluegun (make sure that your glue sticks can fit in it!).

 

[Malechei]

buy a new one ones at walmart are like $3, and elmers and fiberglass doesn't sound all that safe

I agree. About the only substitute for hot glue that I've ever been willing to use is tacky glue, and even it takes a while to dry. I know there are a few 405th-ers who would disagree, but I think hot glue is definitely the way to go, and you would be better off just buying a new gun. I've destroyed a few in various ways, and in my experience, once that tip is "compromised", there's not getting it back.

Whatever you do, best of luck.

Mal

 

[cholo71796]

The other glue thread I was in- someone said they found one in a craft store for like $2, even if it's a little more than that I don't think replacing it should be too bad.
But elmers is just fantastic.
I've been using tape until about 2 days ago when I ran out
Loved it ever since, it's quick drying (when you use little like you should) very strong as it goes into the paper, has great endurance and takes resin with no problem

Yeah, I saw that too! I don't know about the quality of a $2 gun, mine cost like $15. Oh well. I don't know. Also, don't use tape! Resins eat through it happily.

Never work on your costume when you are tired, you might make a mistake. (like with your glue gun)
I agree with the others and that you should get another gluegun (make sure that your glue sticks can fit in it!)

Heh, yeah. My tip is to not have your glue gun on when you're out of the vicinity at all. I just went upstairs and completely forgot that I was going to go back down. I actually had a problem with the glue sticks the first time! Lol, had to return my gun.

Malechei:
No need to really quote you, but thanks. I thought I was definitely going to go with elmer's, but if I get around to getting a glue gun sometime I'll do that.

The only thing I dislike about hot glue is that it is kinda messy and not entirely accurate because if you put the tip on the paper it would burn it, as opposed to the precision you can get with elmer's.

 

[Slimguy379]

huh $15,you must of had the bigger diameter stick, glue gun. i stick with the small sticks. i have a few dual heat (15 w and 30w) glue guns from lowes ten bucks max. and have never had an issue and i leave them on for hours on end with no issues.

 

[ninjaspartan]

yeah go to walmart buy the 2 dollar gun and enjoy

 

[CPU64]

Unless I were using thick cardboard, I'd never use hot glue in place of Elmer's glue. I think the benefits of fast drying, and no risks of burning your skin, are enough to "stick" with Elmer's glue.. Haha stick, get it?!?
Not just that, but with hot glue, you have a thicker layer of adhesive between pieces that can cause warps when trying to match lines together..

I'll drill it again, Elmer's glue (yellow glue for wood is even better) is the best choice for paper bonds. And I have a $150 glue gun!

 

[sharkhead7854]

Yup yup
In regards to my comment just to make it clear
im not discouraging hot glue but to clarify (addressed to a previous post and other threads) elmers and fiberglass/resin are perfectly safe and effective
I don't know where someone in another thread got it in their head that the resin eats through the glue....
but for future reference Elmers glue has NO safety or integral hazards when used with resin/fiberglass/bondo other than the ones you need to protect yourself from otherwise (fumes, shards etc)
just a heads up

 

[delta38]

Unless I were using thick cardboard, I'd never use hot glue in place of Elmer's glue. I think the benefits of fast drying, and no risks of burning your skin, are enough to "stick" with Elmer's glue.. Haha stick, get it?!?
Not just that, but with hot glue, you have a thicker layer of adhesive between pieces that can cause warps when trying to match lines together..

I'll drill it again, Elmer's glue (yellow glue for wood is even better) is the best choice for paper bonds. And I have a $150 glue gun!

$150??!! Did you buy a diamond incrested freakin' gun? Glue guns are cheap as chips, did you make sure resin wont eat that glue your using? (From post before me, don't think it would) And who cares about the burning part? My hands have grown virtually immune to the hotness of the glue now, lol. And i believe that the trick to not getting warped products and not matched up numbers is not puting a heaping ammount of glue on the piece in the first place, just small ammounts make it wayyy easier. So all in all with a bit of thinking you should be fine..

 

[OrrionCarn]

I don't know what the Yellow stuff is, but, mine does that (When I leave it on for more than five minutes), it still works fine. It doesn't (To my knowledge) affect the glue in any way.

AKA, Keep the Glue Gun, it'll save you a small amount of cash and it should be alright (99% percent sure it will).

 

[andrew wukusick]

I've been trying different kinds of ways to put peps together for almost a year now & I've found that the easiest way (for me at least) is to first put it together with masking tape. Masking tape is the only tape that doesn't perminatly stick to paper, so afterwards I remove it one piece at a time & replace with super glue or elmers on the outside & hot glue on the inside. Sounds kinda weird but it's so much better & easier than just glueing it at the start.

 

[cholo71796]

Alright! So I'm going to start doing pep on this weekend- no pun intended- and then hopefully get to fiberglassing and the like soon!

 

[dung0beetle]

The yellow, orange, or sometimes red tint to the "ooze" is dye (and some plastic) from the wire shielding melting from the gluegun overheating. I did the same thing and took it apart to see what's up. The metal tip that the glue extrudes from is a pain to clean. Just buy a new one.

 

[timonemycat]

I don't see how there can be a difference between a 2$ gun and a 150$ gun. Squeeze trigger, glue comes out. Not that complicated. Micheal's arts and crafts store sold me a glue gun for $2 and a bag of 30 sticks for not that much more. It works perfectly.

 

[sharkhead7854]

don't use tape! Resins eat through it happily.

I've never had a problem with resin and tape.....

 

[Seno Ypsamee]

Eh, I had an old glue gun that I found and it was doing the same thing. I used it for everything I made, and it held up just as any other glue gun would have. Now, I lost that one and need to get a new one, but I guess what I'm trying to say is is that it is up to you rather you get a new one or not. I would get a cheap one just to be safe, but I think you'll be safe either way.