Hey, all of you fine folks out there in the wide world of woodworking – carpenters, furniture factory managers, contractors, handymen and handy women, and everyone in between - today’s blog post is for you.
We know you’re no strangers to hot melt. Most of you know how useful it is to bond two pieces together while you apply hardware fasteners, and a lot of you have also used EVA, polyamide and PUR hot melts as primary adhesives for things like soft- and post-forming, profile wrapping and architectural or aesthetic elements.
So today’s post isn’t trying to convince you of anything, because you already know that woodworking hot melt is versatile, fast and easy to use. However, shopping for it can be overwhelming. There are tons of different options to choose from, and sometimes it’s hard to find information that answers your specific question, or even just offers some guidance on which product is right for your job.
Let’s fix that right now. Here is your essential guide to hot melt and woodworking applications:
Our Top Woodworking Hot Melts
Infinity WoodTAC - Infinity WoodTAC is a premium woodworking hot melt that offers a strong bond to not only wood but most porous and non-porous substrates. This versatile adhesive is a must have for general purpose woodworking.
Power Adhesives 7718 - A polyamide hot melt formulated specifically for woodworking, this one specializes in knot-filling and other wood repairs. It has a low viscosity, it’s tough enough to use on hard-wearing surfaces like laminate flooring, and it comes in a variety of colors to match your materials.
Surebonder 739 – Looking for super strength? Surebonder 739 High Strength Glue Sticks are so strong that they’re not just used in woodworking, they’re also used for paintless dent repair in auto body shops. If you want a superior bond for wood, metal and glass, look no further. As a bonus, this hot melt also features a 25 second open time, which lets you make all the adjustments you need for high-precision jobs.
Ad Tech 962 – Available in glue sticks and bulk pellets, this polyolefin hot melt’s high delivery rate makes it the go-to for high-volume woodworking applications. It’s formulated for wood, but it’s also a general purpose adhesive, so it will work on plastic, cardboard, metal and glass, as well. Ad Tech 962 also features a working time of 30-40 seconds.
Power Adhesives Tec Bond 1942 – this hot melt is perfect for those of you in product assembly. It works great on wood, but it’s also formulated for plastics, nylon, ABS, rigid PVC, ceramics, glass fiber and a bunch of other materials, so you get plenty of versatility.
Power Adhesives Tec Bond 23 – this multi-purpose, medium viscosity adhesive is great for fabric, hard & soft wood, and numerous plastics. If your woodworking project involves paper, light metal or plastics, we recommend this one. It comes in 1/2", 5/8" and 1 3/4" sticks.
Titebond – Far and away, Titebond is our best selling woodworking hot melt. Specially formulated to work with the HiPURformer System, WW30 and WW60 are the glues of choice for gap filling, as well as wood-to-wood and wood-to-wood-composite bonding. They are waterproof, they have set times of 30 and 60 seconds respectively, and feature low viscosity and unmatched durability. They’re great for both indoor and outdoor use.
Other Sweet (Non-Hot Melt) Woodworking Products
AdTech PRO 200 Glue Gun – What’s a hot melt without a great gun? Well, a bunch of useless sticks, that’s what. Check out the light industrial Pro 200 – it’s our bestselling glue gun, and not just because it’s ideal for woodworking applications. It puts out 3.5 pounds of glue per hour, warms up in just three minutes, and most importantly, it’s built to last, so you get maximum value for your money.
Power Adhesives Knot-Tec Professional Repair Kit - All the tools you need for knot filling and wood repair in one sweet carrying case: A TEC 820 glue gun, mouse plane, silicone release mat, two metal heatsink blocks, and a whole lineup of polyamide hot melt sticks in a variety of colors.
Titebond HiPURformer Hot Melt Gun – Look, we don’t name these things, and we’re as upset about that pun as you are, but just this once, let Titebond off the hook: The HiPURformer system is actually one of the most cost-effective PUR systems on the market, making it extremely popular with our customers. It works with the array of HiPURformer hot melts (WW30, WW60, and MP75) and is a great choice for both professional and hobbyist woodworking projects.
There you have it – the lowdown on woodworking hot melt applications. Still have questions? Contact us online, or call us at (877) 933-3343.