How to use a hot glue gun
Updated: 23 October 2026
You have a corded glue gun on the table and the stick is still in the bag. Learning how to use a hot glue gun is a sequence: fit the stand, load from the rear, wait until the glue flows smoothly, press the joint at once, then unplug and let the tool cool. The [hot glue gun comparison](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/hot-glue-gun) ranks the twelve kits. This page does not pick a winner. Peter F. used UK manufacturer guides and the amazon.co.uk listings on 20 October 2026, not a lab. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
You have a corded glue gun on the table and the stick is still in the bag.
You have a corded glue gun on the table and the stick is still in the bag. Learning how to use a hot glue gun is a sequence: fit the stand, load from the rear, wait until the glue flows smoothly, press the joint at once, then unplug and let the tool cool. The hot glue gun comparison ranks the twelve kits. This page does not pick a winner. Peter F. used UK manufacturer guides and the amazon.co.uk listings on 20 October 2026, not a lab. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Heat-up claim | Stick size | Stand or switch | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  MAXDONE MAXDONE 50 W mini glue gun kit | 1–3 min | 7 mm | LED switch | 8.8 | about £7.39 | View offer |
| Best value |  MAXDONE MAXDONE 20 W mini glue gun | 1–3 min | 7 mm | Stand | 8.5 | about £6.99 | View offer |
 RUNSAI RUNSAI 30 W mini glue gun kit | About 90 seconds | 7 mm | Stand | 8.4 | about £7.59 | View offer |
On this page
Set the gun up before it is hot
Do the fiddly part while the nozzle is cold. Fold the stand out so the gun is not on its side. Dremel’s UK manual tells you not to lay a hot glue gun on its side, and Electrical Safety First wants a non-flammable surface under it. Load the stick into the rear, not into the nozzle. Bostik’s first-time guide uses that order: stand, then stick, then power. If a stick is too short, load a new one behind it. Plug into a UK socket with a BS 1363 three-pin plug. If the table says 120 V, stop and read the nameplate. Voltage shopping belongs on the hot glue gun buying guide. A silicone sleeve is not a handle.
How you know it is ready
Budget listings in this set are faster on paper than UK guides. The RUNSAI claims about 90 seconds, the FAHEFANA 60–90 seconds, and both MAXDONE kits 1–3 minutes. The Haltons bullets say about five minutes. Bostik’s UK guide still says about five minutes for a first use, and Dremel’s UK manual uses about five minutes and a test on scrap. Use the flow, not the number on the title. Squeeze gently over the scrap sheet. If the bead is lumpy, stringy, or reluctant, wait. If it runs out in a smooth line, you can move to the work. None of the twelve listings publishes a dual-temperature switch, so do not borrow a low-temperature time for a standard mini. Dremel’s manual gives a working range of +5°C to +50°C. A gun left in a cold garage below that may take longer.
Place the bead and live with drips
Work on surfaces that are clean, dry, and free of grease. Put down a short line, then press the parts together straight away, while the glue is still open. A gentle trigger on a 7 mm mini lays less than a hard squeeze on an 11 mm gun. The 7 mm or 11 mm glue gun page is the refill choice if the bead is always too fine or always too heavy. Drips are normal on these kits, including the ones with anti-drip in the title. Sampled reviews of the pink DEKO and of the Tilswall 10-stick kit still describe drips. Keep the nose over the scrap sheet between joints, and wipe only when the gun is cold. If the material is foam, artificial flowers, or a thin ribbon, test on a scrap of the same material.
If glue touches skin, then switch off
Hot glue on skin is a burn. NHS guidance is to cool the area under cool running water for 20 minutes. Do not peel the glue off, and do not use ice, butter, or creams as the first step. Dremel’s manual says the same: cool with water, and do not pull the glue off. If the burn is large, deep, on the face, or also involves electricity, call 999. After cooling has started, unplug the gun and let it cool before you coil the cable. Do not lay it on its side to speed that up. Hot glue is the wrong adhesive when the joint has to carry a load or stay outdoors.
Common questions
Which end of the gun does the stick go into?
The stick goes into the rear opening, then you squeeze it forward once the glue is molten. Do not poke a stick into the nozzle. If you push a new stick in behind a short one, the old piece feeds through. Pulling a softening stick back out of the rear is how the chamber clogs.
Why does glue drip on the bench?
The nozzle stays hot, and these guns drip between squeezes. Anti-drip wording has not stopped review complaints on the pink DEKO or the Tilswall 10-stick kit. Rest the gun on its stand over a scrap sheet. A silicone sleeve reduces a brush burn. It does not seal the tip.
Can I pull the stick back out?
No. Once the stick has warmed, leave it in and feed a new stick behind it if you need more glue. Pulling it out of the back leaves melted glue where the next stick should slide. Clear a cold gun only after it has cooled, and only if the stick is still loose.
When do I unplug it?
Unplug it as soon as the joint is pressed and you are finished, then leave the gun on the stand until the nozzle is cold. Do not store it warm in a drawer or a craft box. If you are only pausing for a minute, the stand and a non-flammable sheet are the place for it, not on its side.
What if the room is very cold?
Dremel’s manual quotes a range of +5°C to +50°C. Below that, warm-up takes longer and the first bead can look dull. Bring the gun and the materials indoors before you decide the heater has failed. A garage in January is a poor test of a 20 W mini. If the joint must carry real weight or live outdoors, hot glue is the wrong adhesive anyway.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources used for this comparison. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts were taken from the listings on 19 October 2026.
- Electrical Safety First, glue guns (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- NHS, burns and scalds (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- BS 1363-1:2023, 13 A plugs (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Dremel UK glue-gun manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Glue Guns Direct, safety (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Cromwell Tools, glue guns (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Amazon.co.uk Best Sellers, Glue Guns (retrieved 19 October 2026)