Hot glue sticks to wood, plastic, metal, glass, fabric and foam, by Gorilla’s and Surebonder’s lists. Low temp is for foam, fabric and ribbon; high temp for wood, hard plastic and glass. Gorilla says not for polyethylene or polypropylene.
Low temp or high temp
| Stick | Low temp | High temp |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks | Floral, fabric, foam, jewelry | Wood, plastic, metal, glass |
| Surebonder Clear Stik (mini) | Ribbon, craft foam, cellophane | Wood, aluminum, hard plastics, glass |
| Surebonder Clear Stik (full size) | Floral foam, tulle, lightweight plastics; craft foam, lace, felt | Wood, acrylic sheets, thick canvas, glass; ceramics, leather |
| Surebonder Cool Shot 840 | Ultra low temperature: styrofoam, paper, cardboard, fabric, ribbon, some plastics, wood | Not stated |
From each stick’s product page. Arrow’s AP10 lists wood, fabric, plastic and metal without splitting by temperature.
Surebonder’s own how-to sums it up the same way: low temperature guns for ribbon, foam or fabric, high temperature for wood, plastic or heavier materials.
How fast it sets
Hot glue cures by cooling, Gorilla says, so it depends on the gun’s temperature and the size of the bond, usually within minutes. Open time is each stick’s own: Gorilla gives 45 seconds of working time, and Surebonder 15 seconds for its Wood Stik. Surebonder’s how-to says most bonds form in 20 to 60 seconds.
Where makers say not to use it
- Polyethylene and polypropylene: Gorilla says not recommended, though roughening the surface may help.
- Constant water: Gorilla calls its sticks water resistant but not for continual water exposure, and its glue gun pages say not to use them outdoors or near water.
- Structural jobs: Gorilla’s gun pages say not to use hot melt glue to replace structural fasteners.
- Heat: Gorilla’s safety data sheet gives a softening point of 190°F, and its product page says to store sticks below 130°F.
- Food: Gorilla says its sticks are not food safe.
Gorilla’s Dual Temp glue gun pages say the nozzle and melted glue can reach 380°F. If molten glue gets on skin, its safety data sheet says to cool it under running water and not to remove the solidified glue.
Gluing foam?
Foam