- Plug in your glue gun a few minutes before you're ready to start applying the glue. Make sure there's a glue stick in the appropriate opening. The glue needs to heat up and melt before it is usable, so set the glue gun on a piece of cardboard to protect the surface underneath. The hot glue drips from the applicator once it is hot.
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Work a small area at a time, about a square inch. Hot glue dries quickly. Apply the glue, then apply whatever items you are attaching to your project. Press firmly. Be careful not to touch the glue with your fingers--it is very hot! Keep a bowl of ice water handy just in case you accidentally get it on your fingers. If this happens, immediately put your finger in the bowl of ice water. Don't touch another part of your body, such as another finger or your mouth, because you will burn those as well. Remove the glue from your finger once it has cooled.
If the hot glue gets onto your counter, table or a part of your project where you don't want it, allow it to cool and dry before attempting to remove it. The cooled glue should rub off the surface easiy. - Hot glue will make strings when pulled away from a project incorrectly. To prevent them, use the applicator to put glue on your project, then wipe the tip of the applicator on the next part of the project and roll the tip back and forth a little to remove the excess glue. Then pull the tip away from the project. You should be string-free.
- Allow the hot glue gun to cool completely before putting it away. Keep it in a plastic box to prevent dust from sticking to the applicator. Store the extra glue sticks in a plastic sandwich bag or another plastic box. Keep these as clean as possible so that little bits of dust or thread won't ruin your next project.
