
Dan writes – “I’ve been experimenting with making a hot glue gun more suited to intricate and precision modelmaking & prototyping jobs – smaller diameter nozzle, held like a pen rather than a gun, etc. It’s still work in progress, but I’ve put together an Instructable about the project so far.” – Link.










Is the hot glue suitible for this kind of work? It’s hard to get it to stick unless you use a lot because the surface will cool and refreeze it too fast.
It also is very temporary glue, it will stop holding in about a year.
I guess it depends. There are different kinds of hot glue sticks available (clear all-purpose type, opaque type for wood, and some others) and some of them do stick more permanently than others. You’re right though, it isn’t exactly the most high-quality stuff, but it’s quick.
If you use a spatula to spread out the glue a bit as you go along you don’t have to use too much to get reasonable adhesion.
I really like your idea. It would be cool to put threads on the oulet so you can screw on different sized nozzles.
If you look beyond the craft stores, you find hot melt adhesive that are really first class. 3M 3764 available from McMaster Carr is designed for use with plastics. I’ve used polyester based hot melts that have amazing adhesion.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#hot-melt-glue/=7l9pc1
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