Hi guys,

I was confused where to put this thread in, but finally thought it's still related to the building process, so...
OK, a question is maybe quite strange but... how do you usually clean your glue gun? I mean, do you dismantle it and clean the melting chamber by removing glue leftovers as well?

My glue gun has rapidly stopped working and I don't know why - maybe the melting chamber is blocked with glue... (but that would be strange because yesterday was the first day I used it - maybe there is a necessity to clean it day by day?). Or maybe my stick was too wide - I was using 11mm sticks so far (my glue gun is 11mm in diameter) and today I went to Castorama and bought 11,2mm. Of course, before I did it I asked the staff for their advice if it's possible to use 11,2mm to 11m glue gun (there were no 11mm sticks at all) and they told me "yes".
 

Sounds odd to me. It shouldnt be blocking after a day of using it. Hot glue guns do occasionally overheat, but all there is for it is to switch it off to cool & start again. It could be faulty......

...or those sticks caused the problem, I don't know, I'm confused a bit.
Everything was OK a moment before, I was gluing the foam, put a gun on a side for a while and after a few minutes gun didn't work. I waited couple of minutes, for reheating and... nothing. I checked my new stick, this 11,2mm in diameter, and it was melted just a bit. So in conclusion - after my old one (11mm) was gone and that new started to be used by a gun, a gun has stopped itself working.

btw - what do you usually use to clean a gun? I mean a nozzle e.g.?

I just pull the dried glue off.  If there is hair (fur) stuck to it I do the same.  I had a new glue gun stop working. Turned out the new stick was no longer being grabbed and pushing the other stick down so there was no pressure and nothing new for the gun to melt. 

Took it back and got a new one that works great.  Not sure why else a gun wouldn't work.  Can you take it back?

Puppet bubba is right sometimes the tip will just get clogged with hardened glue. just peel off and stick a piece of wire in the opening while glue gun is unplugged.


Billy D.

From my experience. I bough this cheaper glue gun, and started to used (Everything was working fine), and then started to used a glue stick of different (No much difference of thick, but longer than before), and I think I enforce the glue gun, because all of sudden the gun exploited!
I had to buy a better one (More money, but work better). Now I care no hair or fur stick on it, and another thing no different size.

An advice, don't use the glue gun to put together foam (Just if is really necessary, like mouth plate, etc.) And everytime you finish doing something with the gun, disconnect it.

Miguel!

I have never cleaned a glue gun and would not want to.  If you have to clean a glue gun daily or even weekly you might as well throw it out in the garbage it isn't worth the work.

Daryl H

I'd agree with Stiqman.  Here in the states, you can get a glue gun cheap, so I'd replace mine if it gave me that much grief.  Wish you lived nearby tsu, I have a few spare ones.

I have never cleaned my guns (I have two, in two different thickness) and sometimes from one use to the next several months can pass. I bouhgt them in a Spanish version of one dollar shop, you can be sure they are not high level !
 
Check if it gets hot. Different glues can have different melting points. The problem could be there. But if the gun does not get hot, I would think in a electrical problem.

Thanks for all your replies guys!

There a miracle has happened , hehe. I dismantled the nozzle, rummaged a little in it, and turned a gun on once again, waited it to reheat and tadam! it works now.
But anyway, I went to Castorama today (after I went mushroom picking :D) and bought a glue thinner. Just for a nozzle and its nut, hope it works.

@Miguel - why shouldn't I use a glue gun for putting foam together? It's very comfortable...

@Pam - here in Poland, glue guns aren't somehow particularly expensive, so if my gun wouldn't work anymore there was no problem to buy another one. But if I lived next to you, I wouldn't deny to receive one of your spare ones, of course. 

Iza

Answer:
Hi, Iza!
Is not that you can't with it, in fact you can. But you are going to make it work double (I guess glue gun is for minors work or when is really necessary), and beside, reading your posts how expensive they are, I would advise you to use the Foam glue (From Tacky) if you can find it out (Is not expense, easy to use. I guess work faster that the contact cement "Well, for me in 5 minutes is ready without using heat on it)

Is just my though!

Miguel!

@Miguel,

I appreciate your advice. I've got a glue for foam but hot, melted one dries approx 15 sec and my glue in a tube around 30 mins (I mean, I haven't used it yet but that kind of information is on a label), so especially due to that speed I prefer a gun. But, maybe I'll need to try it first to make a decision...

PS. Glue guns aren't very expensive in Poland, I didn't write they are.

Thanks!
Iza

Sorry, My mistake!

Miguel!

I personally like hot glue for foam.

Were you ever able to get the outside of the nozzle Clean? Mine has a brown, burnt look and I would like to clean that off(or do all glue guns get that way after a period of Time?). Steve