glue gun?

hampshirebabe

Hi, I want to buy a glue gun, they seem so handy and are much cheaper than I'd imagined, but is there anything I should look out for when getting one? I want to use it for crafty things with my daughter. One thing is to make a bee sock as suggested on here recently, but the instyructions say use a cool tepurature so as not to melt the socks, but I've not seen that mentioned on any of the ones I've looked at. Any suggestions?

hampshirebabe

I forgot to ask, if you put a glue stick in and turn it on, but dont use all that glue, what happens to it, can it be reused?

midnightraven3

glue guns are great
buy one that takes the bigger thicker sticks of glue
the smaller ones are ok for one or 2 jobs but for long term use the bigger ones are much better and not much more expensive

you insert a "rod" of glue in one end
and switch i on, it heats up and you use by pulling the trigger, it heats the end you are using from and the stick pokes out the back
it just stays there, in it hardened state, as its only the end coming out the nozzle it melts

midnightraven3

as for your socks, i would put the glue on what ever you are sticking onto the socks
allow to cool for a few seconds and then place on (with something underneath or it will stick the socks together)
unless your socks are high nylon content (eeek)
i highly doubt it will damage them in any way

hampshirebabe

Thanks, the socks are 80% acrylic, 18%nylon and 2% elastine, and I want to glue the ends together once its stuffed.

Alcmene

I love mine.

As mentioned previously, buy the biggest one you can get (not those "mini" ones).
Also check it has a stand/something to prop it up with. This is very useful as you can put it down whilst in the middle of a project.

midnightraven3

aaaaaaaaah right you WANT to glue them together
i thought you were going to glue a motif etc on
alcmene is correct about a stand but i do think they are built into all of them as a wee flip down thing, like a stand on a bike, mines has anyways

i think you will be fine with your socks as well
i have glued almost everything with mine, and never had any adverse effects

you do need to master the art of finishing with a flourish though
it can have strands like eating mozarella cheese!!

LJM

hi i bought a small craft glue gun think it cost me about £6 i get my glue sticks from either my local craft shop or ebay, mine is always in use

moonpenny

I bought one of those small (hobby) glue guns from the cardmaking section of Wilkinsons. I think it was about £6 and they sell pks of glue sticks for £1.

I make Nappy cakes and it's perfect for sticking bows on etc.

cherydee

Hi, re: Nappy Cakes, are these glue guns okay to use when wrapping the ribbon around the tiers - can you just glue the two ends of ribbon together where they meet and does the glue set instantly (does the glue show through the ribbon) ? Many Thanks

moonpenny

Hi cherydee
I wrap Forist ribbon around cake and fasten at back with double sided tape. I also use bits of tape on Florist ribbon to hold fabric ribbon in place when I position it on top. I find if I don't, the fabric ribbon slips down after a while.

Overlap fabric ribbon at back and glue gun that. Dab it straight away with something (I use finger ouch!!!) to make sure it's stuck. Be careful, the glue is very hot! and you also have to use it quickly as you get "strings" off it. Just have a good look and pull these off.
Also, I very often glue bows on separately with glue gun.

IMPORTANT!
Use small strips of card to put behind anything you are hot glueing or it will stick to nappies etc.
It will stick almost instantly so have all your bows etc ready.