Okay, I need some serious hot glue gun help!

[zoeymama]

I need some tips on how to use a hot glue gun! I know it sounds silly, but I string that stuff everywhere. I had been using fabric tac to glue my bows to the clips and the middle of the ribbon to the bow, but I want the super stick that hot glue gives. I am still going to use fabric tac on my sculptures. But, geez, just now I had more hot glue on the table, tips of my fingers, and other supplies than I did on my bow. Not to mention that my bow looked like crap with all the glue sticking out the sides and stringing off. So, hot glue masters, how do you use the gun smoothly or how to you clean up afterwards to make a nice, sleek bow?

[csrascmom]

I was seriously wondering if someone could invent stringless hot glue. I don't really get it everywhere, but man do I get strings. I think that it takes me just as long to clean up strings as it does to make the clips!!!!!

[LPLKaryn]

the best tips I have:

1. Use a low temp glue gun until you get the hang of it.

2. When you need a small dot of glue, squeeze out a teensy bit on the tip of the gun, then "wipe" it off onto the surface you want the glue on. This will help with the stringers.

3. If you get glue somewhere you don't want it, DON'T touch it! let it dry then 1 of two things will happen, it will peel off somewhat easily if it is not ground into the ribbon or 2, it won't come off, but scrape off as much as you can and then hit it lightly with a lighter (folding every other part of the sculpture back away from the flame). This will remelt what's left and make it clear.

Hope these help! Just keep practicing!

[zoeymama]

Thanks! Yeah, I had strings everywhere!!!! I would raise my hand up and another clip would be hanging off of it because of a glue strand.

[creativesidebows]

Originally Posted by Littlepinkladybug

the best tips I have:

1. Use a low temp glue gun until you get the hang of it.

2. When you need a small dot of glue, squeeze out a teensy bit on the tip of the gun, then "wipe" it off onto the surface you want the glue on. This will help with the stringers.

3. If you get glue somewhere you don't want it, DON'T touch it! let it dry then 1 of two things will happen, it will peel off somewhat easily if it is not ground into the ribbon or 2, it won't come off, but scrape off as much as you can and then hit it lightly with a lighter (folding every other part of the sculpture back away from the flame). This will remelt what's left and make it clear.

Hope these help! Just keep practicing!

Ditto on all of that! Also want to add when you need just a tiny bit squeeze the trigger o so gently the second before you need the glue. Then let the trigger go. The glue will kind of suck back into the gun and leave just enough for you to "wipe" on the bow. Hope that make sense.

[Dana]

I've also noticed that the longer I leave the glue gun plugged in the stringier it gets.

[aleah Porche]

Try a good quality glue gun if you don't have one already. I have a $1 one and a $20 and I can tell the difference but I do still get strings. But it is better.

[TinasK]

I started out using low temp because I thought it would be easier to handle, but it was just too messy for me. Using high temp I don't have much problem with strings (of course still some). My best advice is to actually use the tip of the glue gun to apply. I use it to spread the glue out perfectly when lining clips and like someone already mentioned if you kind of wipe the glue on you won't get as much stringing as you pull back. HTH

[butterflyladybug01]

I prefer a melting pot. You can get them from michael's. I have more control then with the oozing of a gun. You need to use a tooth pick though. I hope that this helps.

[Scubie Doo]

3. If you get glue somewhere you don't want it, DON'T touch it! let it dry then 1 of two things will happen, it will peel off somewhat easily if it is not ground into the ribbon or 2, it won't come off, but scrape off as much as you can and then hit it lightly with a lighter (folding every other part of the sculpture back away from the flame). This will remelt what's left and make it clear.

Hope these help! Just keep practicing![/quote]


Just a little story to share....the other night I was using my GG and had to add another stick. Well, that second stick didn't go in and "catch" the tail end of the first stick. Stupid me shoved the second stick in.....a HUGE glob of HOT glue shot out and landed on my leg! I was still wearing my good work pants, so Stupid me tries to wipe the glue off by grabbing it! I now have blisters on two fingers and a ruined pair of pants.