Hot Melt Glue Sticks

We are a key supplier of glue sticks to Arts and Crafts professionals. There are many different types of glue sticks for different types of crafts. You need to find the right one for what you are making. Some glues work better for cards, others for home decoration, and some for binding fabric. We have a huge range of glue sticks for all of your arts and crafts needs.

In addition to supplying arts and crafts professionals, we supply glue sticks to the furniture manufacturers, the joinery industry,  door manufacturers (including fire doors), window manufacturers, edgebanding and flat lamination, caravan manufacturers, and static home and glamping pod manufacturers. We also supply glue sticks for packaging, print and point of sale, boxes, corrugated board, and food & beverage (tray erecting, box sealing) manufacturers. Our glue sticks are also used in breweries and craft beer and micro gin distillers. We also supply glue sticks for building components which are used for drainage to insulation, construction (polystyrene bonding), flooring – parquet, laminate, carpet (manufacturers to fitters), foam bonding/laminating & upholstery sofas. Additionally, we supply glue sticks to filter manufacturers which are used for a huge variety of uses from medical to electronic. Our glue sticks are also utilised by electronics manufacturers for a variety of uses from potting & encapsulating, over-moulding, electronic component encapsulation, connector potting, PCB over-moulding, moulded connectors and also sensors.

With over 40 glue stick types Tecbond hot melt adhesives are formulated and manufactured in the UK and are typically based on EVA, Polyamide, Acrylic, Polypropylene and Polyolefin polymers for the most demanding application within manufacturing and industry. Tecbond adhesives are available in 12mm, 15mm and 43mm glue sticks and most formulations are available in bulk format for volume glueing.

What are hot melt adhesives?

Hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic resins that contain no solvents, and no water. They set by loss of heat. This gives them a very fast setting speed. Polymers give the adhesive strength and a degree of flexibility. Resins give the immediate hot-tack of the adhesives. Wax thins the adhesive so that it can be applied. Antioxidants help preserve the adhesive at high temperatures. Hot-melts are applied to a material in the liquid (molten) state. The time between applying the adhesive and then bringing the second material in contact is called open time. When the second material is brought into contact, the adhesive cools down and solidifies very quickly. https://youtu.be/6MXs393c67A

Can I use glue sticks for exterior gluing?

Hot melt glue gun sticks can be used for external applications. Hot melt adhesives being a thermoplastic polymer are waterproof by nature, however for external applications the glue line must be sealed and protected with a secondary material, e.g. EB25 against the elements as water can ingress/penetrate between the glue line and the substrate, this may cause the bond to fail, especially if there is a frost as this causes expansion. Exterior gluing with hot glue sticks should be avoided with standard hot melt adhesives as a general rule, unless specified by a member of the Glue Guns Direct team and following your own application tests, as over the years we have found many applications, where in theory a hot melt adhesive would not be recommended, but in practice they have worked a treat especially if you can protect the glue line from the elements!

What is a cold bond?

Hot melt adhesives, being a thermoplastic, are applied by heat and set by the loss of heat. A cold bond, which can cause a bond to fail, occurs when the adhesive has started to set (loss of heat) before the materials have been brought together. The bond will often appear to have been made and be solid but may fail at a later date. Always get the glue down hot, bring the substrates being bonded together quickly and apply compression.

Best glue gun glue stick for bonding polypropylene?

Bonding polypropylene (PP), as you may have experienced polypropylene can be tough to bond. Achieving good bonds depends on the ethylene content of the polypropylene, more ethylene the tougher it is to bond. If the Polypropylene is a straight forward block polymer then you can achieve good bonds with Tecbond 261 available in 12mm & 15mm glue gun sticks. High ethylene content and Tecbond 267-43 is the only option! Always apply Tecbond adhesives with a suitable Tec glue gun, get the glue down hot (avoid cold bonds), bring the substrates together quickly and apply compression.

Are glue stick fumes dangerous?

When used correctly, hot melt glue and glue sticks aren’t toxic, and they shouldn’t release toxic fumes. There’s no clear evidence that hot glue releases toxic fumes if used at the recommended temperatures. Equally there’s no clear data around the safe concentration or exposure limits of hot glue fumes. Hot glue fumes can become toxic if they’re overheated. Overheating, by at least 30°C-40°C, could cause chemical breakdown in the adhesive, causing organic material would be released – which may be toxic. Any toxic fumes are likely to be in low concentration, and unlikely to cause any serious harm. Nevertheless, overheating should always be avoided. Many hot glue guns have thermostatically-controlled heaters to maintain a pre-set operating temperature. Turn the gun off if it won’t be used for 40 minutes – this can prevent overheating. Always read the health and safety data sheet (SDS) before use.

Why use Tecbond glue sticks vs competitors?

Tecbond hot melt glue sticks advanced technology formulated at the UK manufacturing facility with a continuous programme of research and development which ensures that we continue to meet the ever changing and challenging needs of industry and staying one step ahead of the competitors. Tecbond adhesives are often formulated using raw materials harvested from sustainable managed forests. Our packaging is recyclable, and where possible made from recycled materials. We are the only manufacturer of both the hot melt glue gun and hot melt glue sticks in the UK offering a complete system sell. Over 90% of the Tecbond hot glue gun sticks and Tec glue guns are made in the UK. Buy British and support British manufacturing.

Why buy from gluegunsdirect.com?

With over 40 years of gluing knowledge and experience we are challenged on a daily basis to find the answer to various adhesive problems and new applications. You will be amazed at what we have been asked to bond and the majority of the time we have surprised ourselves by providing the answer to some very difficult adhesive problems. Gluegunsdirect.com offer a comprehensive range of market leading adhesives technologies, technical support and training, UK stock holding across three warehouses and delivery when the customer needs it. We are the complete adhesive package!

What can we GLUE for you?

We are probably the UK’s if not Europe’s leading supplier of Tecbond shaped hot melt adhesive. Offering the largest range of performance adhesives and hand-held applicators

40+ years’ experience, offering specialist knowledge on all aspects of commercial gluing operations – try our Glue Selector

Advanced technology at the UK manufacturing facility and a continuous programme of research and development ensures that we continue to meet the ever changing and challenging needs of industry

Tecbond adhesives are often formulated using raw materials harvested from sustainable managed forests. Our packaging is recyclable, and where possible made from recycled materials

Over 90% of the Tecbond adhesives and Tec glue guns are made in the UK, and we offer 12 months warranty as standard on all our Tec glue gun range 12mm, 15mm, 43mm and spray tools

 “How do Hot Melt Adhesives work?