What Are Hot Glue Sticks?
People use glue sticks for many projects. Glue sticks are thermoplastic adhesive in a long tube shape. The glue stick is loaded in a glue gun that melts the glue for bonding items together. Glue sticks come in regular, mini and double length. There are high- and low-heat varieties, and sticks in various colors and sticks embedded with glitter can also be purchased. Glue sticks for home repair contain caulking material for a strong, water-tight seal.
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Glue Sticks for Bonding
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All-purpose glue sticks work for most basic bonding projects. Insert the glue stick in the glue gun, plug it in for five minutes and use it to glue paper, wood, plastic or cloth to other items. The glue cools fast, so work quickly. As the glue cools, the glue bonds the objects together. Keep the glue off of your skin because it sticks to the skin when hot, causing serious burns.
High-Temperature Versus Low-Temperate Glue Sticks
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High-temp and low-temp glue sticks both bond items together, but the strength of the bond is different. Use a high-temperature glue gun with high temperature glue stick for bonding items that need a strong hold, for example, when bonding large pieces of board together. The high temperature glue heats to 380 degrees, so watch your fingers. Use a low-temperature glue gun with low-temperature glue sticks when gluing items that need a light bond, such as when you are gluing pictures in a scrapbook. The low-temperature glue melts around 250 degrees. Some glue guns take both types of glue sticks because they have a temperature setting switch.
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Caulking Glue Sticks
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Caulking glue sticks work well for home improvement projects. The glue sticks form a watertight seal between different materials. Run a smooth bead of caulking along the item you want sealed. For example, run a bead of caulking between where the tub rim meets the wall tile. Work quickly, and make a smooth bead because this bead is exposed when you finish the project. This caulking glue stick works for plumbing fixtures, sealing door casings, glazing windows or sealing holes.
Decorative Glue Sticks
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Choose colored glue sticks or glue sticks embedded with glitter for decorating craft items. Place the glue stick in the appropriate glue gun and make fancy swirls, patterns or dots on any item. This gives a decorative look to simple, plain items. For example, make different color glue patterns on a plain vase, and add glass beads, coiled wire, or charms to the vase, giving it an elegant look.
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References
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