101 uses for a hot melt glue gun.

[Phil Pascoe]

Well no, actually, but here's the first one. Someone asked in another thread what we used h/m glue for so I thought it might be interesting and informative to see how many we can get, so here goes.

Sled for squaring logs on a bandsaw. A sacrificial piece of MDF and some wedges - a damn sight safer than trying to hold it.

 

[NazNomad]

1. I hot-glued the 'fibre ring' from a Hayter Osprey lawnmower clutch back to the metal plate it had detached from... never had a problem since.

2. I usually hot-glue the piezo disc into a piezo guitar pickup when I make such a thing.

 

[Rorschach]

I use mine a lot when gluing flexible things, I use the proper glue on the item and a dab of hot glue almost like a clamp. A recent example was some PVC trim, it wouldn't hold it place on it's own because of the shape and position and the silicone I was using to attach it doesn't have enough grab while wet, it would pull away slowly, a dab of hot glue held it in place while the silicone cured and only required me to hold it for a few seconds. When I use hot glue like this I also often use a can of air duster to freeze the hot glue.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Hmm ... a quick chill could be very useful.

 

[MusicMan]

Used by me and many woodwind makers and repair techs to fix the pads on woodwind instruments. Older alternative is sold shellac, melted over a sprit lamp.

 

[novocaine]

I use it to stick thin pieces down so I can thin them even more with a plane.

although in my shop it's usually going from 3mm to 2 at one end and 0 at the other.

also, it's way better than those sticky bits of plastic for stopping your cupboard doors slamming.

 

[MusicMan]

also, it's way better than those sticky bits of plastic for stopping your cupboard doors slamming.

That's brilliant!

 

[rafezetter]

1 - An old trick but just to state it here - I've used it to position a drawer front in the correct place (with shims) so you can then pull the whole drawer out to screw the drawerfront from behind.

2 - I use it to hold items on my thicknesser sled, just a few short lines where the side meets the sled is enough. Using it this way you can gang up a whole load at once to speed up the work and ensure continuity, see below pic on the right.

3 - same thing with the thicknesser sled but I have squeezed it under any gaps below the wood as support if it's warped or twisted to stop the rollers from deflecting the wood thus deforming an otherwise flat cut.

4 - hold a template down onto wood to be routed when you don't want screwholes

 

[Aggrajag]

I use one to glue down LED strips, seems pretty permanent.

 

[novocaine]

it's pretty good for cable routing too. If I have to run a long low voltage cable I'll cut a groove, puss the cable in then run a bead of hot snot over it.

also for waterproofing connections (again low voltage stuff only)

quick way of attaching runners on a tablesaw sled ready for screwing them in later too.

I also use it when I'm making small draw or box dividers as it's quick to hold and makes a good strong joint for this application. if it's just little boxes I'll use mitrebond (CA with activator).
cant take credit for the door bump stop idea.

 

[monkeybiter]

puss the cable in then run a bead of hot snot over it.

:shock: :lol:

I haven't yet used HMG, I presume it must be quite easy to remove after a temporary application?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, cut through it, warm it up to soften or soften with isopropyl. You don't know what you're missing.

 

[monkeybiter]

It could be ideal for holding work on a temporary base while carving. I've got one carving vice but it's usual to have two or three pieces on the go at once. [Less usual to have one actually completed!]

I like the thicknesser sled idea, I suppose adding sacrificial pieces past the 'good' pieces could eliminate snipe [or move it onto the sacrificial bits]

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes - I use it for attaching small pieces of valuable wood to sacrificial cylinders to mount in a chuck for turning. Much the same.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Handy for this -

Get your faceplate it the right place and plane and tack it with the wedges before drilling and screwing.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I actually tacked a plastic water pipe into a channel in the masonry before plastering.

 

[Tortion-Stephen]

Love this thread, along with the other one about HMG I'm definitely buying one now.

Thanks all.

Stephen.

 

[Monkey Mark]

I sometimes use it like an extra pair of hands when soldering. i.e. if soldering a thin wire which tends to move, tack it a cm or so away from the intended solder joint to prevent movement.

It's also great for sticking your mates coffee mug to his desk.

I've actually only just bought one after always borrowing a friends, for two years.

 

[brianhabby]

It's also great for sticking your mates coffee mug to his desk.

Can't be very hot coffee..!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I commented down at the club how happy I was to have a gun with a quicker throughput when gluing bigger jobs ... and was told that someone else always has three well heated guns on the go when he sticks blanks of over a hundredweight. :shock: