Did you know that there are hundreds and hundreds of different glue guns and that they all have one thing in common?
If you check out the Hobby Section of any store, on-line or a physical Hobby Store you are sure to walk up and down an aisle that is just filled with every kind of glue gun imaginable.
There are pink ones, blue ones and purple ones too, if that suits your fancy. There are some that a big and take bigger glue sticks and then there are the mini ones that work with little 4 inch glue sticks. But look closer….
If you do, you will start to see that there are many differences and it’s not just in the price.
There is a reason that some glue guns will cost a few dollars and others will cost a lot more. Your choice to buy one or the other may hinge solely on price, but I would beg you to reconsider.
Ask yourself a few questions before you buy!
- Will you use this tool often?
- Is it important to you whether it uses hot glue or cooler glues?
- How comfortable will it be in your hand?
- Does it come with different “heads” for different uses?
- What do others say about the ease of use? or lack of ease?
These are just a few of the questions that will help you decide what you will ultimately buy.
As the owner of several different glue guns, I will tell you right now, that one of the most important things for me, was the ability to use a large amount of glue for some of my crafts and at other times I needed pinpoint accuracy. So for myself, I look for a glue gun that has interchangeable heads.
The second thing that was important to me was how it felt in my hand. If I am working away at a large group of crafts that have different gluing needs, and I am going to be working for hours, then the Glue gun in my hand better be comfortable or there will be a very cranky crafter at work.
The next important feature is the ability to put the gun down without it leaking hot glue all over my work area. When I want glue, I will trigger for it, when I put it down I don’t want glue puddling everywhere.
Those are my most important criterion, yours may be different. I have a friend that insists on a cordless version, because it doesn’t seem to matter how the glue gun is designed, she can’t get that cord out of her way.
I also get together with other crafters, to find out what their favorites are as well. Then I get a chance to try theirs out and they get to try mine. I love this because standing in the store holding a glue gun, is not nearly as effective, as actually using it. No disappointments that way, and we always have a great gab fest while working away.
I’m going to share with you a few of my favorites and then leave you to make up your own mind.
For my type of crafting I go for the full size glue guns, the little ones are just too small and I end up spending more time feeding glue sticks into them, than working on my project.
Remember that some guns only work with hot glue, but more and more are variable and that is also a bonus. There are times when hot glue, will melt your projects. So think about that too!
Your own materials that are being glued together will play a part in your choices too, are you gluing fabrics, plastics, styrofoam, wood, metals, or a combination?
Your glue sticks will also be an important part of the equation. If you need elasticity as with fabric glues, then you won’t be happy if you use a cold glue……know your products and use the right ones for the job at hand.
Crafting should be fun, and it is so much more fun when you have the right tools!
So Many Toys, Each One Unique
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Some fun crafts with glue guns.