Geppetto
Member
Have you ever wanted to temporarily hold two parts tightly together when clamping isn't an option? The answer could be Hot Melt Glue (henceforth HMG). The properties of HMG are that it adheres quickly and is powerful in one direction but it has a lousy shear strength. This makes it useful in many situations where you want a firm hold but not a permanent bond.
For example:
The equipment and supplies aren't expensive. The gun averages $5 to $30 USD. More expensive guns will generally be bigger and will heat higher and faster. The hotter the temp, the stronger the hold. The glue runs between a few cents and a dollar per stick. They come in different sizes, heat ranges and intended applications. Clear is for general purpose and yellow is for wood. With a little experimentation, you'll learn which kind and how to apply it for the hold you want.
So if you thought HMG was just for froufrou crafts, pick up an inexpensive gun the next time you're at the BORG and see just how useful it can be in the noble wood shop.
For example:
- Hold a short blank to a long sacrificial strip of junk wood in order to keep your hands clear of a fast moving saw blade.
- Hold 2 blanks together for cutting matching inlays.
- Hold 2 pieces together for turning and then take them apart before final assembly.
- Use a few globs of HMG to make a cradle for a pen so that you can work on the side of it without having it move around.
The equipment and supplies aren't expensive. The gun averages $5 to $30 USD. More expensive guns will generally be bigger and will heat higher and faster. The hotter the temp, the stronger the hold. The glue runs between a few cents and a dollar per stick. They come in different sizes, heat ranges and intended applications. Clear is for general purpose and yellow is for wood. With a little experimentation, you'll learn which kind and how to apply it for the hold you want.
So if you thought HMG was just for froufrou crafts, pick up an inexpensive gun the next time you're at the BORG and see just how useful it can be in the noble wood shop.