Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks are not recommended for polyethylene or polypropylene, and Gorilla says they may not work well on rubber with a lot of oil or plasticizer in it. Surebonder and Arrow print no exclusions on the pages we read. Surebonder does sell silicone pads that cooled glue peels off.
What each glue stick maker says
| Glue stick | Surfaces the maker names | Ruled out or may not work |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks | Wood, metal, glass, plastic, floral, fabric, leather, foam | Polyethylene and polypropylene; rubber with high oil or plasticizer content (FAQ) |
| Surebonder Clear Stik, mini 250 pack | Low temp: ribbon, craft foam, cellophane. High temp: wood, aluminum, hard plastics, glass | None printed |
| Surebonder 840 Cool Shot | Styrofoam, paper, corrugated cardboard, fabric, ribbons, some plastics, wood | None printed |
| Surebonder 707 | Metals, plastics, ceramics, other non-porous and hard-to-bond surfaces | None printed |
| Arrow AP10 | Wood, fabric, plastic, metal | None printed |
From each stick’s product page or FAQ. Gorilla says roughening polyethylene or polypropylene may help its glue hold. We couldn’t reach Ad-Tech’s site.
Surebonder’s pads that cooled glue peels off
Surebonder sells a silicone glue pad that catches drips and peels off cooled glue, and a clear silicone tracing pad that it says lets dried glue lift right off with no residue. Its glue skillet stir sticks are Teflon and sold as non-stick. Surebonder’s how-to suggests a heat-safe surface such as a silicone mat or cardboard under the gun.
Getting it to hold
- Match the heat to the surface: Gorilla says high temperature for wood, plastic, metal and glass, and low temperature for floral, fabric, foam and jewelry. Surebonder’s how-to puts ribbon, foam and fabric on a low temperature gun and wood, plastic and heavier materials on high.
- Try again: Surebonder says that if a bond doesn’t take, let the glue cool, remove it gently and reapply.
- Test first: Gorilla says to test its stick before the intended use.
- Water: Gorilla rates its stick water resistant and not recommended for continual water exposure.
Gorilla’s Dual Temp glue gun page says the nozzle and melted glue can reach 380°F, and not to use hot melt glue to replace structural fasteners. Its glue stick safety data sheet says to cool molten glue on skin under running water and not to remove the hardened glue.
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