| Bob in Edmonton | 02 Jun 2008 7:09 a.m. PST |
I've had a glue gun for awhile (bought at Michael's) and it has always worked quite well. I ran out of glue sticks a few weeks ago and grabbed a pack of 6 stick at the dollar store. I was gluing last night and the new glue started to come out of the glue gun and was smoking as it did so. Didn't seem to effect the function of the glue (although its composition is different and yields a more rubbery glue) but I was a bit concerned. Anyone else have this happen? I'm going to switch back to the regular glue sticks before I use it again. Bob in Edmonton |
| Crazycavey | 02 Jun 2008 7:21 a.m. PST |
"Smoking glue gun" – well it's a step up from just sniffing the stuff. lol Seriously does the glue gun have a thermostat? It might be just too hot for the alternative sticks. |
| Bob in Edmonton | 02 Jun 2008 8:13 a.m. PST |
Crazycavey: No, no thermostat (very cheap glue gun). I was wondering about the level of heat. I was also wondering if the "smoke" was actually something (likely cancerous!) flashing off when the stick was heated. Perhaps the smoke is just steam? Anyhow, back to my old type of glue, I think. |
| DColtman | 02 Jun 2008 8:18 a.m. PST |
Nope, never seen that, and I use tons of dollar store glue in my dollar store glue gun. |
| Ferrous Lands | 02 Jun 2008 9:20 a.m. PST |
I don't know, but whatever you do don't put a crayon in there. My cousin put one in his glue gun to see what would happen. Since then all the glue comes out green. |
| Knight Templar | 02 Jun 2008 10:28 a.m. PST |
This topic is merely a "smoking glue gun", move along…. |
| CeruLucifus | 02 Jun 2008 11:15 a.m. PST |
… a pack of 6 stick at the dollar store … new glue started to come out of the glue gun and was smoking as it did so … I don't have any experience with this particular problem, but I think the people above are on the right track: you must have a high temperature glue gun and you have put low-temp sticks in it. There are two types of gun out there: high-temp and low-temp (plus some are switchable). And three types of glue stick: low-temp, hi-temp, plus a kind (dual temp? multi-temp? multipurpose?) which works in either kind of gun. Hi-temp flows better, gives you a little more working time before the glue sets, and is arguably stronger, but it's hotter so you need to be more careful of scalding yourself. Low temp is thus safer and good enough for many applications. So, look at the package and see if the sticks you just got are low-temp only. If so switch to hi-temp or dual temp. I was also wondering if the "smoke" was actually something (likely cancerous!) … Always a good question in these enlightened times! Read the fine print on this package; it probably has warnings or disclaimers intended to protect the manufacturer against inappropriate use. |
| Khazarmac | 02 Jun 2008 11:24 a.m. PST |
The smoke will probably not be cancerous, but will certainly be unpleasant. And smoke from burning plastics is known to cause/exacerbate asthma in certain industries (meat packers & dry cleaners), so if you carry on using it, make sure you do so in a well ventilated area. |
| Jovian1 | 02 Jun 2008 12:19 p.m. PST |
You got low temp glue sticks – the only real possibility – and you have a high temp gun. Smoke on the water, fire on your figs! |
| Bob in Edmonton | 02 Jun 2008 1:41 p.m. PST |
Thanks, that is helpful. No mention of that on the package--nor any H&S warnings. Bob |
| DColtman | 02 Jun 2008 1:43 p.m. PST |
Well dang, you learn something every day! Now I'll have to go check the labels on my sticks too. But I think all it says is "made in China"…plus the ubiquitous disclaimers of course. |
| DS6151 | 04 Jun 2008 8:41 a.m. PST |
I don't know, but whatever you do don't put a crayon in there. My cousin put one in his glue gun to see what would happen. Since then all the glue comes out green.
That could actually be very usefull… |
| frankthedm | 07 Nov 2008 1:11 p.m. PST |
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photographs the same figure, with different cameras and equipment.