Glue guns are used in production and in everyday life. They are in demand by builders and needlewomen, home craftsmen and professional designers. With their help, you can easily glue those materials that even modern adhesives cannot handle.
The gun is an indispensable tool in the time-consuming process of decorating the surface using fine details. He will help you to prepare an original holiday gift with your own hands, to glue the strap of the bag or to seal the construction joints. Knowledge of the basic parameters of the gun, advantages and disadvantages will facilitate its choice.
Content:
The best manufacturers of thermal pistols - which fimra to choose
Glue guns have included in their range many companies specializing in the manufacture of power tools for construction and repair.
The products of the following brands have proven themselves in the best way:
1. Bosch
2. Steinel
3. Dremel
4. Bison
5. Kolner
Manufacturers have included in their range not only a tool designed for professional use, but also for use in everyday life.
The device of the hot melt glue gun and its principle of operation
The main structural elements and components of the tool:
1. Heating unit
It consists of a thermal chamber and heating elements. The chamber is a metal tank of cylindrical shape, under which a heating element is placed. The design of professional models used in the construction industry includes several heating elements for uniform heating of the adhesive composition.
2. Housing
The body is made of plastic, which reduces the heat transfer from the heating chamber. In front of the case there is a folding stand on which the instrument is installed during the break in work.
3. Feed mechanism
This is a pusher that actuates a lever connected to a carousel or slider trigger.
4. Nozzle
It gives the molten glue form, serves to dispense the adhesive mass. A shut-off valve that is located inside the nozzle prevents leakage of the composition.
The charge for a pistol is a cylindrical glue stick. The pusher propels it to the heat chamber where the glue melts. When you press the trigger pressure in the chamber rises, the glue moves to the nozzle and flows out onto the work surface.
Using a tool, elements made of a wide range of materials are fixed on the surface:
- Paper and cardboard;
- Wood;
- Glass;
- Metal to be preheated;
- Plastics;
- Leather and fabrics (with the exception of fine synthetic fabrics);
- Linoleum and carpet.
It should be borne in mind that not on all surfaces mounting with the help of molten glue is effective - it is not advisable to use the tool when working on concrete and plaster.
Types of hot melt glue guns
Scopes of the thermoglue gun are various. It is used by builders, amateurs, designers, florists.
Depending on the type of activity in which it is used, its power and performance, the tool is divided into:
- Professional (for repair and construction works);
- Amateur (for creativity, crafts and other uses in everyday life).
The amateur tool is distinguished by a lower price, it is used from time to time, therefore its working life is inferior to a professional pistol.
Professional construction gun
The thermogun, intended for the professional activity of specialists in the field of repair and construction, is designed for continuous use during the working day. It usually has an automatic feed glue stick. Automation of the supply is necessary with constant work with the tool.
Benefits:
- Considerable power (from 300 to 500 kW) and high productivity (25-30 grams of glue melt per minute) allow to carry out large volumes of work in a short time;
- Versatile use - sealing of construction joints in hard-to-reach places, fast bonding of hard surfaces, installation works;
- Most models are equipped with several types of nozzles to perform various types of work: universal, extra long (for processing places with difficult access), wide (for quick filling with glue of large gaps and surfaces);
- Long service life due to the high quality of the components that make up the tool.
Disadvantages:
- High price.
Battery Thermogun
Designed for domestic use, performance of work in the home workshop, for creativity and handicrafts. The instrument is powered by batteries.
Benefits:
- The lack of a network cable simplifies working with small parts, makes it particularly convenient to work with rhinestones, beads (you can accidentally knock over a container with decorations with a network cable);
- The ability to use a gun away from power sources.
Disadvantages:
- The need for periodic recharging.
Pneumatic thermogun
The tool applies molten polyurethane adhesive in the form of a spray due to pneumatic feeding. Designed to work with materials that are sensitive to high temperature, including for foam materials whose surface is prone to deformation when exposed to high temperatures.
Benefits:
- Glue is supplied with tiny droplets that do not harm the treated surface.
Disadvantages:
- More massive dimensions in comparison with conventional models.
Thermogun for needlework
The tool is used in creative activity. Heat gun used for decorating and making souvenirs. Its feature is a low temperature mode, which makes it possible to use the gun when working with materials that require delicate handling.
Benefits:
- Accurate dosage of glue;
- The ability to control the amount of adhesive composition for fixing small items (crystals, beads);
- Fast glue feed.
Disadvantages:
- Poor performance.
Selection parameters of the glue gun
When choosing a suitable tool for construction work or needlework should pay attention to the basic characteristics of the tool.
Power
From the power consumption of the heating element depends on the speed with which the glue will melt in the heat chamber of the gun. A professional tool has a power of 300 to 500 W, a semi-professional has a power of 150 to 200 W, and a household tool has a power of 30 to 150 W. Models of famous brands that can also be used in professional and construction activities have a power of about 200 watts.
Performance
The performance of a thermogun is the mass of glue melt that leaves the nozzle per unit of time. It depends on the heating ability of heating elements and the diameter of the glue rod used in the work. Rods with a diameter of 11–12 mm are used in professional tools, and 7–8 mm in amateur ones.
The performance of a professional model (up to 30 grams per minute) can be several times higher than the performance of an amateur low-power pistol (5-10 grams per minute).
Melt operating temperature
It is important to pay special attention to this indicator if it is intended to use a tool when working with materials sensitive to high temperature. For them, special low-temperature glue rods are used, the melting point of which is 105 ° C, and the glue gun should work in this mode.
For other materials, rods with a melting point of 170–200 ° C are used, and an appropriate tool is used to work with them.
Some models can operate in several temperature regimes, which allows them to be used to work with a wider range of materials.
Nutrition
Manufacturers offer several types of thermal guns with different power:
1. From the network.
2. Rechargeable.
3. Semi-autonomous - the design of some models allows you to remove the power cord after heating the thermal chamber, which allows you to use the tool without a cord for 10-15 minutes while the heat in the chamber remains. Using the cordless tool allows you to glue the parts or seal the seams in places remote from the power source, and simplifies the painstaking work that requires great precision.
Temperature adjustment
This additional function, which most models of leading manufacturers are equipped with, is convenient for prolonged use of the gun during the working day. A special switch puts the instrument into standby mode or turns it off during a long idle.
Automatic temperature adjustment
In some models, the function of automatic temperature control is applied. A temperature sensor is installed on the thermal chamber, thanks to which the adjustment is carried out in automatic mode. When the heating of the heating element is turned on to a maximum, after heating and reaching the desired value, the standard mode is activated to maintain the temperature.
Diameter of glue stick
Professional and semi-professional models of famous brands designed for glue rods with a diameter of 7 and 11 mm. As a rule, manufacturers take into account the errors and in the technical documentation indicate the range of values, but not the exact value: 7-8 mm and 11-12 mm.
Viewing window
A viewing window in the body of the gun allows you to control the flow of adhesive rods.
The presence of the stand in the kit
If the instrument is purchased for regular use, you can consider a model that comes with a special stand. It is convenient to locate the tool in those intervals when it is not used. It is comfortable and increases safety while working.
What glue thermogun to choose
Before choosing a tool, you need to decide for exactly what purpose the gun is needed and in what tasks it will be used.
Recommendations on the choice of a tool depending on the tasks performed:
1. Professional pistol with a capacity of 300 W and a capacity of 20 g / min - sealing of construction joints, installation of building elements.
2. Battery pistol with a power up to 200 W - for work away from power sources.
3. Low-temperature tool (temperature of glue composition up to 105 ° C) - for creativity using materials that are sensitive to high temperature: paper, thin fabrics and others.
4. The gun operating in several temperature conditions - to perform work using a wide range of materials, including sensitive ones.
5. A gun with automatic power adjustment will be convenient during operation, when the tool will be used from time to time, and between the application of glue on the material followed by certain pauses.
The cost of the hot melt glue gun
The price of the gun depends on the brand, country of manufacture and technical characteristics. The price spread is quite significant, you can afford a budget option for 250-300 rubles, you can and professional model, the price of which is more than 5 thousand rubles.
Prices for network glue guns of various capacities:
1. Up to 50 W - from 230 to 950 rubles.
2. From 51 to 100 W - from 300 to 1900 rubles.
3. From 101 to 200 W - from 450 to 4600 rubles.
4. From 201 to 300 watts - from 5400 to 6700 rubles.
5. From 301 to 500 W - 3300 to 7200 rubles.
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