Dollar store glue gun melted my project in 20 minutes

I picked up a $3 hot glue gun from Family Dollar last Tuesday and figured it would work fine for a small craft. Within 20 minutes the plastic body started warping and the glue was dripping out of the sides instead of the tip. Turns out the cheap ones don't have any temperature regulation so they just overheat. Has anyone actually found a decent budget glue gun or am I better off just spending $15 at a hobby store?

2 comments

2 Comments

barbaraschmidt5h agoMost Upvoted

Nah, I gotta respectfully disagree with @lucas_johnson on this one. A cord placement issue might cause it to tip over but that doesn't explain the glue dripping out the sides instead of the tip within 20 minutes. That's straight up a temperature control problem, the thermostat is basically nonexistent in those dollar store models so the element just keeps climbing until the whole thing starts melting from the inside out. I've had better luck with the $8 Surebonder mini guns at Walmart, they actually have a bimetallic strip that keeps temp steady.

lucas_johnson11h ago

The real trick with cheap glue guns is you gotta watch the cord placement. I had one melt a hole clean through my carpet once because the cord wedged under the base and the whole thing tilted sideways while I was grabbing a snack. Probably the same thing happening with yours, just the plastic getting too hot and losing its shape. Might be worth checking if any thrift stores have old Craftsman ones, those things are built like tanks.