Does Hot Glue Work on Wood – All Your Need To Know

Does Hot Glue Work on Wood

We all know glue and the uses you can put it to. But one question bound to come up as you use glue is, “does hot glue work on wood” glue isn’t uniform in the way people use it.

Sometimes you need it to be hot to use it on a surface. Some might specifically require you to heat the glue for it to work. Is wood one of those surfaces, though?

Hot glue will work for most porous and nonporous materials, including wood. In fact, you will be better off using hot glue to stick wood joints or other uses because it dries fast.

How does Long Will Hot Glue take to Dry on Wood?

Hot glue has a faster drying rate than regular glue. Once you apply it to wood, hot glue will take about ten minutes to set. Once it sets, it will take about 24 hours to dry completely.

It is the setting time that makes it ideal for use with wood. Because when you are using glue to stick wooden joints together, you will want the glue to dry as fast as possible to continue with your work.

The slower the drying rate than the slower your work. That’s why you will be better severed using glue for your woodwork projects than cold convectional glue. Hot glue is excellent at joining uneven surfaces like that on wood together.

That’s because it is highly viscous, which makes it the ideal sealant for porous surfaces. Think wooden joints on cabinets, tables, chairs, and porous surfaces. That’s why hot glue is such an attractive proposition for carpenters and other woodworkers.

What Temperatures Do I need to Make Hot Glue?

Hot glue is commonly called hot melt. That’s because it is melted glue. To make melted glue, you will need extremely high temperatures in the range of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Glue has such a high melting point, which makes it the ideal companion at home. You don’t have to worry about it suddenly melting in the car no matter how high the temperatures get.

Why Is Hot Glue Better for Wood than Liquid Glue?

Besides the fact that hot glue will dry faster, they are also other merits to using glue for wood.

Hot Glue is Durable

If you buy glue to use for woodwork, you will want o e that can last as long as possible. Hot glue performs well in this regard since it has a relatively longer shelf life than your everyday glue.

That’s why it’s a good option for woodwork. You can buy lots of it without worrying that it will expire or be unable to do its work effectively.

Hot Melt Glue Is Easier to Store

Liquid glue is one of the hardest glues to store. There’s always the chance that it can dry in the container, making it hard to use. Also, the drying might make the container hard to open once you want to use it again.

On the other hand, hot melt glue doesn’t offer such problems in storage. Therefore, it is a better top option than the conventional glue and perfectly fits a wood worker’s plans.

Hot Melt Glue and Moisture

One quality of superglue that makes it so widely used is that it is waterproof. But can we say the same about hot melt glue? Well, hot melt glue isn’t waterproof. Therefore, once you use it on the wood, you can’t expose it to moisture or water.

Moisture is a bigger enemy of thermoplastic hot glue than polyurethane hot melt glue, though. Fr the latter, moisture will make it a more robust bond creator than the former.

Disadvantages of Using Hot Glue

Since there are cons to using hot melt glue, there are also a few situations where you’d feel like another type of glue would be a better prospect for woodwork.

  • The Material Needs to Be Heat Resistant

This isn’t much of a problem with most wood since wood is heat resistant. However, if it is the softer and less resistant wood type, you will have issues using hot melt glue.

  • You Can Burn your Skin

Hot melt glue is precisely as its name suggests: it will burn you if you don’t handle it well. That is a problem you will want to avoid whenever you use hot glue. There is always the danger that it might fall on your skin and burn you.

  • Some varieties Aren’t Waterproof

When working with wood, there are some you are sure will be used out in the open and exposed to water from the rain. Also, some will inevitably come into contact with water causing problems.

If you are using thermoplastic glue, you will have to contend that they aren’t waterproof.

What Other Glues Will Work with Wood?

Hot melt glue isn’t the only option for working with wood. Several other types of glue work perfectly, and the chances are that you already know them.

  • Epoxy Glue

This mixture of resin and a hardener makes one of the finest wood glues. It is waterproof and will need you to take some time to prepare it for use. It, however, makes a good glue for joining wood and other different materials such as metal.

  • Polyvinyl Acetate Glue

This is the most common wood glue. You can distinguish it from other glues with the yellow color it exhibits. It is also waterproof and thus easy to clean off a surface once you apply it.

Choosing The Right Glue for Wood

You need to consider several things when selecting a wood that will be a good fit for woo-this doesn’t matter if the glue is hot or not. It would help if you remembered a few things when looking for wood glue.

Waterproof

The glue you choose needs to be waterproof, especially if you will use it on wood exposed to rain and water.

The Setting Time

This is important if you are clamping together different pieces of wood. You will need the glue to set as fast as possible to continue working on the glue. The ideal glue sets within ten minutes.

The Drying Time

It isn’t only the setting time you need to consider when working with wood. The drying time also matters. The ideal drying time should be less than24 hours. However, most glues will fully dry in 24 hours or less.

FAQ About Does Hot Glue Work on Wood

Does hot glue last forever?

No, hot glue does not last forever. Hot glue is prone to leaking out of the joint it was applied to, and over time the glue will dry up and harden. Hot glue also has a tendency to get brittle when it dries. The material loses its flexibility over time.

What can hot glue be used for?

Hot glue is a type of adhesive that, when heated, becomes liquid. It can then be applied to two or more surfaces to produce an instant bond between them. Depending on what the user needs, hot glue can be used for many different things including making repairs to items, decorating items with glitter, or adhering items together.

Is hot glue better than Gorilla glue?

Gorilla Glue is a much stronger bonding agent when compared to hot glue. The adhesiveness of Gorilla Glue is much stronger when compared to hot glue in a variety of different situations. Gorilla Glue, in its viscosity and in its structural composition, is an adhesive designed for permanent or long-term use, whereas hot glue has a shorter lifespan, and it bonds less effectively in some applications.

Is hot glue waterproof?

Hot glue is not waterproof. If it is used in a wet environment, the materials will be ruined.

Can you use a hot glue gun on the tile?

Can you use a hot glue gun on the tile? Well, technically, yes. However, it is not recommended. A hot glue gun will not stick to tile because it does not have the surface tension that is necessary for the hot glue to adhere to it.

Can you use a hot glue gun on a hardwood floor?

A hot glue gun is not a suitable adhesive for hardwood floors. The adhesive melts the top layer of the floor and will cause damage to the hardwood. Hot glue guns should not be used on any part of a hardwood floor.

Can you put a hot glue gun on wood?

A hot glue gun is not designed for this use. The adhesive material will melt the wood.

Final Thoughts

Does hot glue work on wood? Yes, it does. Hot melt glue works perfectly on wood projects and offers more waterproof quality and ease of use than other glues. However, it is worth remembering the risks of working with hot glue.

Relevant Resources:

  1. What Does Hot Glue Not Stick To?
  2. Is Hot Glue Toxic
  3. Why Doesn’t Glue Stick to The Inside of The Bottle or Tube
  4. Is Glue Edible? – See What Experts say
  5. Is Glue bad for your Skin -Things You Must Know